Flexible workflow for LR smart object stacks to adjust as RAW in Photoshop?

[Corniger]

Hey there,

Since years, I've been shooting stacks and importing them into PS as layers.
Since a while, LR allows to open as Smart Object layers in PS.

Is there any way to link the files to LR instead of embedding them - so when I change a setting to the entire stack in LR, the changes automatically carry over to PS?
Or ist there an efficient way to batch edit SO layers in PS so I don't have to create a preset in CR and apply that to 100 layers separately? Even if I create an action I have to manually select and OK the CR preset, since CR is an external app, apparently. 

[Ian Lyons]

> Is there any way to link the files to LR instead of embedding them - so when I change a setting to the entire stack in LR, the changes automatically carry over to PS?

What you're asking for  above is not possible.

[Corniger]

OK, then I'll move on to the PS forums, maybe there's a feasible way to batch-edit the Smart Objects.
Thank you!

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

"> Is there any way to link the files to LR instead of embedding them - so when I change a setting to the entire stack in LR, the changes automatically carry over to PS?"

It is possible in a very limited way-

Unfortunately Lr-Classic cannot send multiple files to Photoshop as Linked (Smart Objects). It can Open them as Smart Objects in layers of one document, but I believe they are 'Embedded' Smart Object layers (ie. not what you are asking for).

However if in Photoshop you start with a blank background layer and then [Place Linked] multiple files ('painfully' -one at a time), you can update all the layers from the files in Lr-Classic by this method-

1) Select the photos in LrC and edit as you want, or change the current edit settings.

2) Select the photos in LrC and Save metadata to files [Ctrl+S]

3) Back in Photoshop you will see the Linked layers update with the changed edits.

Example screenclips-

1) Linked layers in Ps-

2) Files in LrC converted to Mono AND metadata Saved [Ctrl+S]

3) Linked layers in Ps update from the changed metadata-

[Conrad_C · Accepted solution]

No, there is no easy/automatic way.

Yes, I do something similar to what Rob_Cullen does: I manually add Lightroom Classic images to a Photoshop document as linked Smart Objects. Having them as linked Smart Objects makes a two-way edit link possible:

If you edit any of the images in Lightroom Classic and use the Save Metadata to File command to save/update the images’ metadata outside of the catalog (e.g. XMP sidecar files or DNG embedded metadata), when you switch to Photoshop those changes can be picked up by Photoshop and applied to the linked raw Smart Objects. (If that doesn’t happen, you can manually have Photoshop update the linked Smart Objects.)

If you edit any of the linked raw Smart Objects using Camera Raw in Photoshop, that also changes a raw file’s metadata, so in Lightroom Classic you can select that image and use the Read Metadata from File command to update the instance in the catalog (although this is quirky).

It sounds like you don’t really need the changes returned to Lightroom Classic, but you do want to change images in bulk and have them update in Photoshop. To do that, this is one way (most of this is the same as what Rob_Cullen showed with his screen shots):

1. In Lightroom Classic, select the images you want to use in Photoshop and choose Photo > Save Metadata to File. This makes sure the current Lightroom Classic edits can be seen by Camera Raw in Photoshop. It’s a necessary step when manually using Lightroom Classic raw images in Photoshop (compared to using one of the Photo > Edit In commands where the edits are automatically included).

2. Add the images to the Photoshop document using the command File > Place Linked.* (You can’t use any commands in Lightroom Classic because I think the ones that send to Photoshop as a Smart Objects all create embedded Smart Objects, which won’t work for this.)

3. When you need to make a bulk change, such as applying a preset, select the images in Lightroom Classic and apply it. 

4. Leave those same images selected, and choose Photo > Save Metadata to File. 

5. Switch to Photoshop. Camera Raw should notice the metadata changes and update the images. If it doesn’t, you can choose Layer > Smart Objects > Update Modified Content. 

I think this will be easier than any method of automating a batch edit in Photoshop, although I could be wrong.

*I’m on a Mac where the Place Linked dialog box lets me select only one image. To get around this, I drag multiple selected images directly from the Lightroom Classic grid/filmstrip and drop them in the Photoshop document window while holding down the Option key, then confirm each import. That way I can import many images at once. However, the reason I didn’t include this tip in step 1 is that your post is marked Windows, and I have heard that this time-saving multiple-image drag-and-drop technique doesn’t work in Windows, but you should try just in case it does work. Or, try dragging and dropping multiple images directly from a folder in Windows Explorer in case that works. If either way works, hold down the Alt key while dragging so that they’re placed as linked Smart Objects. If you drop the images into the Photoshop document without any key pressed, they drop into the Photoshop document window as embedded Smart Objects.

[Rob_Cullen]

Thanks @Conrad_C  for your comprehensive reply.

Unfortunately (in my experience) in Windows you cannot Drag&Drop images from the LrC Library Grid view directly into a Ps document (as can Mac).

You can however Drag&Drop images from Windows File Explorer into a Ps document, holding the [ALT] key and they do load as Linked Layers in Ps. So if all the images required in Ps are in one convenient folder it is possible in LrC to select one file and [Show in Explorer], then select multiple files in FIle Explorer, hold [ALT], Drag&Drop to Ps document. (Exchange editing metadata as in previous posts)

I think this as near as we will get to an answer for the OP.

[Corniger]

@Rob_Cullen thanks a lot for both your answer with the files and @Conrad_C  for making it especially easy to understand. You should write Adobe's help docs..

I think this is as good as it gets so far, I'd almost say it'll take about the same amount of time bulk placing 100 files via drag & drop (I did NOT think about saving metadata to image!!!) as it will to open them via LR - I will though submit LR linking as a feature request. That would just be the most straightforward, easy way. But hey, there's a great community here! You perfectly understood what I wanted to achieve. If I alter colors or detail level or anything in one RAW file, well, no need to explain.

btw @Rob_Cullen - seeing your screenshots, guess what I'm working on!