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Answered

How do I change a virtual copy into the new "original"?

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
January 24, 2017
5 replies
10208 views

I create a virtual copy of an image in order to experiment. I end up liking it better than the original. I only want to keep the new version around. How do I get rid of the original without affecting the virtual copy.

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Correct answer dj_paige

Click on the virtual copy, then select Photo->Set Copy as Master. This makes the edit that was the virtual copy now appear to be not a virtual copy, and the edit that was the first edit now appears as the virtual copy.

I don't know if this is exactly what you want to do.

As DdeGannes said, the original file isn't changed in any way.

techman444

Participant

It depends on what version of LR you have......older ones may not be able to do "set the copy to master". I am using LR5

( why change if it's enough? ££$$ )..... For those of us who cannot do the "swop", do this > Copy and paste all the settings and changes from your virtual copy, tick everything as you do it, and your original file will match the adjusted virtual copy.

Remove the VC when you are happy. Simple.

dj_paige

Legend

It depends on what version of LR you have......older ones may not be able to do "set the copy to master". I am using LR5

By @techman444

I started using Lightroom with Lightroom 2, and this command was in there. So it has been in all versions since Lightroom 2.

techman444

Participant

Well, you are palinly wrong.

I assuming that you mean select the virtual copy and then go to the top of page drop down menu, and try to do what you said form "photo" in that menu.....it isn't there pal.

If you mean something else, give clear instructions.

B

BPDoyle

Participant

If you wish to replace the original with a "real" file and permanetly delete the original, it will work fine, as mentioned in other answers, to use Set copy as master and then manually deleting the virtual copy. If, however, you wish to place the virtual copies into different folders than the original folders, or if you have many virtual copies to process, then you can use the Export function:

With the setting shown above, it will replace the original with the virtual copy, keeping the original name.

NOTE: make sure all the other settings in the Export dialog are unset, unless you really want to change the image in some other way while exporting.

If you with to make the virtual copy into a real copy without deleting the original, then you will need to either export it to a different folder, or rename it using the File Naming section of the dialog:

In either case, the virtual copy will remain and you will have to delete it manually if you no longer need it. The new "real" image will retain all of the edits you applied in Develop when it was a virtual copy.

Because Lightroom is not doing much actual processing of the images, other than file copies, this export is very fast--basically at file-copy speed for your computer.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

You can also export (and then reimport) a VC as a DNG. Now that VC is a real document that can 'live' outside the Catalog. In such a case, you can keep both.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

rptmaestro2

Participating Frequently

Is there any way to do this to multple files with one command. I have thousands of virtual copies that need to be changed to the original, but when I select multiple files, the command Photo > Set Copy as Master only applies only to one file in the selection (the last item in the selection it seems).

Jim Wilde

Community Expert

Sadly, no that's not possible. I wish it were! It can only be done one at a time.....

B

belimarj

Participant

Fastest way I got to set all VC in a collection as Originals was:

1. Filter Virtual Copies Only. (This will make the pics "go away" as soon as you set them as originals, automatically selecting the next virtual copy.)
2. With the first pic selected hold ALT (windows user here, not sure about how this works in a Mac), press "P" three times and then "Enter". (This will get the cursor to the "Set Copy as Original" option and select it.)

3. Repeat step 2 for the next picture, which will be selected already.

😉

dj_paigeCorrect answer

Legend

Click on the virtual copy, then select Photo->Set Copy as Master. This makes the edit that was the virtual copy now appear to be not a virtual copy, and the edit that was the first edit now appears as the virtual copy.

I don't know if this is exactly what you want to do.

As DdeGannes said, the original file isn't changed in any way.

DdeGannes

Community Expert

Thanks for this info DJ, not sure why one would like to have this as an option but so be it.

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.

JP Hess

Inspiring

I think the idea behind that feature is that it is conceivable that one could create a virtual copy and make adjustments to that copy that makes it preferable to the original master. I think what the feature does is simply switch the metadata for the two images.

DdeGannes

Community Expert

As far as I am aware the Original is always the Original , Lightroom does not ever make changes to the original file.

In addition a Virtual Copy is just info stored in the Catalog File, it is just "Virtual" it is not an actual image file.

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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