Can't find denoised DNG file in Library module in Windows

[Jeyaram]

I can't find the denoised DNG file in library module in Windows after Denoise is complete. I see that the DNG file is created in the respective folder from explorer. The DNG file appears in the library module if restart Lightroom. This works seemlessly in Mac and the problem occurs only in Windows. Please suggest how to resolve this issue.

[Ian Lyons]

Check if the denoised DNG file has been stacked with the original.

[Jeyaram]

No, it is not stacked (I disabled the option to stack as well)

[Jeyaram]

Issue : Can't find denoised DNG file in Library module in Windows

Version : 13.2 Release Camera RAW 16.2

OS Version : Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, 10.0.22631 Build 22631

Steps to reproduce : 

1. Invoke Enhance 

2. Select 'Denoise', disable 'Create Stack' and click 'Enhance' button

3. After Enhance completes the DNG file is missing in the Library module

4. Restart Lightroom Classic DNG file is present in the Library module

This issue is confirmed in the discussions forum as a bug and hence reporting the same. It is really annoying to restart LrC after Denoise every time.

[dj_paige]

Expand all stacks (Photo->Stacking->Expand All Stacks)

If that doesn't work

Sort by file name (View->Sort->File Name)

[Jeyaram]

Both options didn't work.

[dj_paige]

There have been occasional reports here in this forum of photos that can't be found until Lightroom Classic is re-started. I don't remember if any of them are related to DeNoise. I thought this issue was solved at some earlier version of Lightroom Classic, but apparently not. Unfortunately, as this bug does not affect most people, it is probably difficult for Adobe to reproduce and then solve.

[Jeyaram]

Thanks. It is unfortunate that this is a bug that is not fixed. It is very consistent in my system. I will see if I can report this

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

A new thread is not necessary and should not be created. 

Please see: 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/how-do-i-write-a-bug-report/idi-p/12373403

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-do-i-post-in-discussions-or-bugs/idi-p/13691...

This is more likely a catalog issue or a preference file issue. 

[ricky336]

Hello,

I had this very problem you are describing! I could not resolve this issue. My only solution was to create a new catalogue.

In order to keep all the settings from the old catalogue, I had to Export as Catalogue and Import it into the new catalogue I created.

It took a while and jumping through a few hoops, but worked out in the end.

You won't find any solution here as I looked. I don't think this is a common problem. I think your only solution is to create a new catalogue.

My issue wasn't related to Denoise, but merging HDR or Panorama, but the mechanics are the same. It's merging or creating a new DNG file that seems to be the problem. Only when Lightroom was restarted, did the 'missing' file reappear.

[dj_paige]

@ricky336very useful information, and possibly a way for Adobe to reproduce this issue ... the OP would have to send Adobe both the catalog file that is in use now and having this problem, and also the new catalog created which does not have this problem. @Jeyaram if that works, I would post this in Bugs, and offer the new and old catalog to Adobe to help them reproduce the problem.

[Jeyaram]

Thank you for your response.

It is unfortunate to hear that this is a bug and there is no fix. 

Before I try the workaround you have suggested, I have a query. I have enabled syncing on many of the collections in my catalog. What will happen to the synced collections if I export and import it into new catalog?

[ricky336]

Ahh... well, this creates another problem. You get double images. ☹️But the images are created as virtual images. So in the new catalogue, under synced images in Library, you can select all Virtual images and then delete them. This seemed to work for me.

How to delete multiple virtual copies | Lightroom Queen Forums

Obviously, make sure you have backup copies, just in case.

[Jeyaram]

I am little reluctant to take this approach as I have more 16,000 images in this catalog

[ricky336]

 I had a huge folder - 32000 images.

This is a disadvantage when it is suggested to have just one catalogue. The catalogue can get huge, so when this issue occurs, it can cause a few headaches!

You will have to export your current catalogue, and you might have to divide it....

But then in the new catalogue, you can merge it.

This is from Copilot:

1. Open Lightroom Classic and go to the catalog you want to export.
2. Navigate to File > Export as Catalog…
3. Choose a location where you want to save the new catalog.
4. You can choose to include the original image files by selecting ‘Export negative files’.
5. Click Export, and Lightroom will create a new catalog in the chosen location.

If you’re encountering errors or issues during the export process, it could be due to missing images or other problems within Lightroom. In such cases, you can use the Library > Find All Missing Photos feature to locate any missing files...¹.

For renaming a catalog, you don’t need to export it. You can simply copy the catalog file (with a .lrcat extension) to a new location and then rename it ...¹.

....

Creating a new Lightroom catalog and importing an old catalog into it is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Create a New Catalog:

   • Open Lightroom Classic.
   • Go to the File menu and select New Catalog.
   • Specify the name and location for the new catalog folder, then click Save (Windows) or Create (Mac OS).
   • Lightroom Classic will reset and display an empty Library module, ready for you to import photos¹.

2. Import from an Old Catalog:

   • Still in Lightroom Classic, go to the File menu and choose Import from Another Catalog.
   • Navigate to the old catalog .lrcat file and click Open.
   • In the Import from Catalog dialog, set the following:
     • Check the All Folders checkbox in the Catalog Contents section.
     • In New Photos > File Handling, set the pop-up to Add new photos to catalog without moving (if available).
     • In the Changed Existing Photos section, set the Replace pop-up to Metadata and develop settings only (if available).
     • If some photos are duplicated in more than one catalog, and you want to keep both versions of the se...².

3. Backup Your New Master Catalog:

   • After importing, it’s a good practice to back up your new Master Catalog. This way, if you make a mistake or end up with an unexpected merge result, you don’t have to start b...².

4. Clean Up:

   • Once all the photos are in a single catalog, you can finish cleaning up by removing duplicates, merg...².

Remember, when you upgrade a catalog, Lightroom Classic leaves the old catalog untouched, makes a copy of the old catalog, and renames its previews file. So, after the upgrade, you will end up with both the old and the new catalog files¹. If you need backward compatibility, keep the old files¹.

For more detailed instructions, you can refer to the official Adobe help page¹ or The Lightroom Queen’s guide on merging catalogs². 

Learn more

helpx.adobe.com

lightroomqueen.com

community.adobe.com

I had exactly the same problem as you so this was the only solution. 

I don't have this problem now with the new catalogue I created.

Exporting as a Catalogue keeps your original catalogue so you can experiment, as the old catalogue will remain. 

It's even worth trying with just a few photos. Maybe export one folder as a catalogue, create a new catalogue, import that catalogue and see what the result is like.

[Jeyaram]

Thank you for the detailed instructions on how to export a catalogue and also your tips on how to go about the entire process. I will do some more homework and plan this.

[Jeyaram]

I did a quick experiment by exporting a catalogue with a folder that has 2 images. When I initiated Denoise on an image from the new catalogue, I see the DNG file as expected. This seem to confirm the workaround suggested by @ricky336 

[GoldingD]

So, after LrC accomplishes the AI Denoise, you should have a new file, a new photo with a file name with syntax 

????-Enhanced-NR.dng

(where ???? is the old file name such as _DSF0247)

You can search on that, either in LrC or in your OS File Manager, to see where the heck it went. Do that before restarting LrC as to see if it is just hard to see.

[Jeyaram]

The new file is there in the file system as I expected and I can see it using explorer. However, it does not show up LrC until I restart LrC

[dj_paige]

As suggested above by @Rikk Flohr: Photography , please try deleting your preference file.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

[ricky336]

Deleting the Preference file did not work for me when I encountered this issue. ☹️

[dj_paige]

We shall see if it works for @Jeyaram 

[Jeyaram]

Deleting the preference file (I tried by clicking 'Reset all preferences and relaunch' button) did not help sovling the issue. I still don't see the DNG file until I restart LrC