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Serena Yu
Serena Yu
Inspiring
September 24, 2021
Answered

Have I lost my originals after editing and syncing from Lightroom Classic?

  • September 24, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 1007 views

I have updated a few hundred original RAW photos on the Cloud. At the day before yesterday, I decided to have a taste with Lightroom Classic. I synced the online photos into Classic and did some editing in Classic.

 

Yesterday when I opened Lightroom CC again, I realized in astonishment that these photos had ben synced from Lightroom Classic and had come "There is no original backed up on the cloud, but a smart preview is available", and in "Info" tab it said "Cloud: Smart Preview". 

 

I have checked the online recycle bin and my originals are not there. Have I lost my originals?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Serena Yu

I have confirmed it is a database constency on Lightroom CC on the local machine. These photos do have their originals sitting in a perfect condition on the Cloud, but since I synced them into Classic and then synced some editing from Classic to the Cloud, Lightroom CC believes they were smart previews and wouldn't allow me to export original. 

 

I have downloaded all photos using Adobe Lightroom Downloader and re-imported these photos into Lightroom CC, deleting those mistaken "smart previews".

5 replies

Todd Shaner
Todd Shaner
Legend
September 26, 2021

Some good information here with caveats.

 

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-cc-vs-classic-features/

 

Serena Yu
Serena YuAuthor
Inspiring
September 25, 2021

Lesson Learned:

 

Either use Lightroom CC with Adobe Cloud, or use Lightroom Classic with an external file syncing solution like OneDrive or Google Drive etc.

 

Do not use Lightroom Classic with the Adobe Cloud or it will leave a nasty mess.

    Rikk Flohr_Photography
    Community Manager
    Rikk Flohr_PhotographyCommunity Manager
    September 27, 2021

    One note: If the original in the cloud is synced to Lightroom Classic and changes are made and the resultant file is >200 MB, Lightroom Classic will sync back a Smart Preview as it has a 200 MB limit. 

    Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org
    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 24, 2021

    If there are originals in the Adobe Creative Cloud storage from the Lightroom Cloud-Based and Mobile apps, when you have sync selected the a copy of thew Originals w2ill sync down the your computer system.

    They will be stored at the location which shows in the Preferences > Lightroom Sync tab, you have the option to select that location. You will see from the screen capture that I have chosen a folder with my Pictures> My Pictures folder that way they automatically show in the Library Module Folders section. I have named the folder " Mobile Photos ".

     

    Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
    Serena Yu
    Serena YuAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    September 25, 2021

    I have confirmed it is a database constency on Lightroom CC on the local machine. These photos do have their originals sitting in a perfect condition on the Cloud, but since I synced them into Classic and then synced some editing from Classic to the Cloud, Lightroom CC believes they were smart previews and wouldn't allow me to export original. 

     

    I have downloaded all photos using Adobe Lightroom Downloader and re-imported these photos into Lightroom CC, deleting those mistaken "smart previews".

    F. McLion
    Community Expert
    F. McLionCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 24, 2021

    Please describe in more detail with which program you did what and in what sequence.

     

    --- Got your issue resolved? Please label the response as 'Correct Answer' to help your fellow community members find a solution to similar problems. ---
    Serena Yu
    Serena YuAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 24, 2021

    Originals already on Cloud ->

    Synced into Lightroom Classic ->

    Edited in Lightroom Classic ->

    Synced back ->

    "There is no original backed up on the cloud, but a smart preview is available"

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 24, 2021

    Lightroom Classic syncs smart-previews to the Adobe Creative Cloud storage. It does not sync origionals .

    Lightroom cloud-based app syncs original files to the cloud storage.

     

    Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
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