Cannot convert .lrtemplate to .xmp presets. Lightroom 8.1

[g.nyus]

Hi there,

I actually have two issues happening.  I have no "User Preset" dropdown menu under the main Preset dropdown on the left column of the main screen.

I also can't seem to get my .lrtemplate presets to convert to .XMP.

I have moved them from my Lightroom "Develop Presets" folder to my Camera Raw "Settings" folder, as per the tutorials I have watched.

I have also tried to drag and drop the .lrtemplate presets into the folder via the Lightroom > Preferences > Presets > Show All other Lightroom Presets route. I have tried having just the"PhotoSerge" folder in the Camera Raw folder, as well as opening the folder and having the actual files in the Camera Raw folder.

I am using Lightroom 8.1.  There seems to be be lots of advice on this subject, but when I follow it, I am no further ahead.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Glen.

No User Preset

PhotoSerge Preset Folder in Camera Raw Settings Folder

Misc.

[GoldingD]

Perhaps

https://blog.thomasfitzgeraldphotography.com/blog/2018/4/managing-lightroom-presets-in-lightroom-cla...

[g.nyus]

Hi, thanks for the quick reply! 

I tried the re-install technique suggested in the article, but unfortunately no luck.  It seems odd.  All the videos I watch, just have the user drag and drop the preset folder into the Camera Raw Settings folder and Lightroom recognizes it and converts it. I don’t know why mine is different.

Thanks for the help though.

Glen.

[JohanElzenga]

g.nyus  wrote

All the videos I watch, just have the user drag and drop the preset folder into the Camera Raw Settings folder and Lightroom recognizes it and converts it.

Are you sure about that? That is not the correct procedure. Lightroom places the converted presets into the Settings folder, but you have to place the old .lrtemplate presets in the old Develop Presets folder for Lightroom to find them and convert them. I'm not sure it will also convert them when you place them in the Settings folder.

Another thing: Your first screenshot shows that you have selected a TIFF file. If these presets apply a raw-profile, they won't work with non-raw files and so they are not available. In versions up to Lightroom 8.0 they would simply vanish in that case (causing a lot of confusion), now you can have them shown in italics. That is something in the preferences - presets tab, so check that out too.

[g.nyus]

Ah, Ok.  Thanks.  I did try it a bunch of different ways, but it was late and I was frustrated.  I'm sure I was rushing and more than likely made some mistakes.

Right now the "PhotoSerge" presets are in the "User Presets" folder inside the "Develop Presets" folder in Lightroom.

I have removed any copies that I placed in the Camera Raw "Settings" folder.

You can see the location on the info window in the picture.  Is that correct?

I have tried having the PhotoSerge folder in the User Presets folder as well as just dropped into the Develop Presets folder.

I also followed the advice from PhotoSerge tech support, but it's to no avail.  It's obvious I'm the problem, but I just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.  I feel like I'm following the advice properly.

Thank you for your help, and I apologize for my lack of understanding.

P.S.- I have tried using a .CR2 file instead of a .tif file as you suggested.  No difference for me.

[JohanElzenga]

Try putting them directly in the Develop presets folder, like the instructions say, not in the User presets subfolder.

[g.nyus]

I actually have tried that too. Tried that way first.

I also tried taking the files out of the main Photoserge folder and placing just the individual files in either location (not both places at the same time though).  Just for the heck of it.  No dice.

Seems odd.

Thanks.

[GoldingD]

And you did restart Lightroom?

[g.nyus]

Sorry, forgot to mention that.

Yep, I’ve restarted Lightroom. Several times actually. Ha.

[Rob_Cullen]

The '[new' system for XMP presets has created problems for many!

I have a couple of suggestions-

I have no "User Preset" dropdown menu under the main Preset dropdown on the left column of the main screen.

First- Click on the [ + ] icon on the Preset header bar and choose [Manage Presets...]

in the dialog- check that every box is ticked so that no Preset Groups are hidden from view. In particular the [User Presets] box.

 

If [User Presets] is already checked, then try creating a preset of your own and see if it appears, because Lightroom will not show 'empty' folders in the Presets panel.

I also can't seem to get my .lrtemplate presets to convert to .XMP.

I have moved them from my Lightroom "Develop Presets" folder to my Camera Raw "Settings" folder, as per the tutorials I have watched.

I have also tried to drag and drop the .lrtemplate presets into the folder via the Lightroom > Preferences > Presets > Show All other Lightroom Presets route. I have tried having just the"PhotoSerge" folder in the Camera Raw folder, as well as opening the folder and having the actual files in the Camera Raw folder.

I understand there are two common ways to install .lrtemplate Presets-

1. Click on the [ + ] icon, choose [Import Presets...] and search for the {PhotoSerge} folder of presets with Finder.

2. Copy the .lrtemplate files into the 'old' folder in {....Lightroom/Develop Presets }  (Not the 'new' {Settings} folder ). If you "moved" them out of {....Lightroom/Develop Presets } instead of copying, then move them back! Restart Lightroom.

When you restart, Lr should convert and place the new XMP versions in the {Settings} folder automatically, and leave the .lrtemplate files renamed with a tilde prefix.

Note:

-The folder structure in {Settings} may no longer 'mirror' the folder structure in the Presets panel. It is internal data within each Preset file that determines where it installs in the Presets panel folders (Groups). Your {PhotoSerge} presets may all install in the User folder!

-Some Presets have been known to contain "illegal" characters that Lightroom baulks at and will not install.

Some more links to confuse you further!

lrtemplate to xmp preset installation tutorial - new lightroom update - LR CC Classic 2018 - YouTube

Even the [+] menu has changed from v7.3 [Add Presets] since this linked video was made, but most info still applies-

Updates in Lightroom Classic: How to Install Presets and Profiles April 2018 - YouTube

And many found this plugin to be helpful in sorting out Preset chaos!  Fix Presets Lightroom Plugin

[GoldingD]

Ok, back on a PC (with my stored links)

In this one the author starts talking profiles, but eventually gets to presets, slightly dated, but take a long look:

Updates in Lightroom Classic: How to Install Presets and Profiles April 2018 - YouTube

[g.nyus]

Hi David,

I watched that video last night actually, but couldn't get it to work following his instructions.

When I use the "import Presets" option, I get a pop window telling me that I have the wrong type of preset.

Which we both know is true, but the automatic conversion does not happen as the author states should happen.

(I see I'm back on a selected .tif file in the screenshot, but I've tried using a .CR2 file as well)

[Rob_Cullen]

"the wrong type of preset" might suggest these are PROFILES and not Presets.

Have you tried the [Import] option from the PROFILE browser in the Basic panel?

I do not know if this will work any differently, but worth trying.

[g.nyus]

Good idea! 

I just tried that, but they are greyed out with option.

I cant select one to import. 

Must be presets...

[GoldingD]

Ok, well sort of not Ok, I was going to make the statements shown below (stuck out) but when I went to test this out (and I would have included screenshots) I found out this was no longer true. BUT, try out one preset by itself just in case as none of my presets I was moving around are the old format.

hmmm, looking again at a few of your earlier screenshots

How many directories down are these templates?

It would look like you have a directory named PhotoSerge-Lights, then directories under that like SergeLights-Big Lights, and probably withing that, the actual files that the preset calls for.

Ok, not sure if they ever altered this. or perhaps altered it in a bad way, Might be one two many deep on those directories.

Instead of copying the main directory PhotoSerge-Lights, with all its sub directories, copy the sub directories to settings. In other words, a preset folder in settings should have in it, immediately in it, all the various files that make up the preset, not another directory.

.

[GoldingD]

Is this the product??:

https://www.photoserge.com/p/serge-ramelli-signature-light-profiles

Profiles, not presets

or maybe: https://www.photoserge.com/p/lightroom-presets-lights

ones profiles, other is presets

[g.nyus]

I’ll have to verify when I get back home.

I can’t seem to find my invoice for the product right now.

Do you know if profiles use the .lrtemplate file extension as well as presets?  That could be my problem. My pride hopes it’s not that easy, but my patience hopes it is.

Thanks.

Glen.

[GoldingD]

Apparently I have not been getting enough sleep, some obvious questions and notes have gotten right past me.

First off, You were looking in User presets. Typically those are ones you made, not third party you bought.

Second, the author of the presets will have included code in the package that tells Lightroom how to display them. So, it is quite possible that the one particular preset you are looking for is in PhotSerge-Lights

Now in a bit, I will scroll up and look at your screenshots again. Something like this:

That's the Manage option in the Presets panel.

You will notice that you cannot go one deeper and turn on or off individual presets in any of those third party sets.Now as a test, I tried to import just one preset, one from a third party set , well, it imported, it showed up in another OS folder (Imported Settings instead of Settings) but it never shows up in the presets pane. well, not under User, and not by itself, its back within the third party set (group), exactly where it was before, I just have two copies, one LR opens, one LR ignores.

So, in your presets, make sure the one you are looking for is not within a group

[g.nyus]

HI David,

Sorry for my very late reply!  I have had a busy last couple days.  So I have received an email from the PhotoSerge tech support.  What I have is definitely a preset, but it’s a “Brush” preset. Which gets installed in the “Local Adjustment Preset” folder. Not the Develop Preset folder.  It will also only display after you select the Brush tool on the right side of Lightroom.  The presets should then show up and be selectable.  I will try that tonight.  That would explain why I can’t see them on the left side.  I have actually never used them, so I didn’t realize this,  but wanted to make sure they got transferred over since I did purchase them. Looks like I misunderstood that there can be different types of presets.   I’ll let you know what I find out!

Glen.

[g.nyus]

Ok, so the saga had ended.  Once I placed them in the Local Adjustment Preset folder, they show up if I select the Adjustment brush > Effects.  I'm sorry I put you through all the trouble and thank you very much for your patience with me and all your help!

[Rob_Cullen]

Pleased you have it working.

What is the saying- "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new"