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hbbk
hbbk
Inspiring
February 18, 2022
Answered

How to view lightroom edits in dng files from window explorer

  • February 18, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 3641 views

Hi


As the title say, I'm wondering how to view edits I made from withing Lightroom CC from outside Lightroom (Windows explorer preferably). Is there a way to achieve that without exporting jpg versions of my edited photos ?


Thanks for any clues

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Per Berntsen

Windows Explorer cannot display raw files, so it displays the DNG's embedded jpg preview instead.

You can have the preview display your edits by selecting the image in Library, and go to Metadata > Update DNG Preview and Metadata. This command is also available when right clicking the thumbnail.

I don't know where your DNGs come from, but if they are created by the DNG converter, there are three options for Jpg preview – None, Medium and Full size. Medium is only 1024 pixels on the long side.

 

If you stop paying for Lightroom, the Develop and Map module will stop working, but you can still export.

If you change OS to Linux, I suppose you could keep a Windows computer with Lightroom installed.

1 reply

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
February 18, 2022

Lightroom Classic edits are not written to the image portion of original DNG files. (Lightroom Classic never writes to the image portion of your original files). So you can't view those Lightroom Classic edits in your operating system, these can only be viewed with the proper Adobe software.

 

Is there a way to achieve that without exporting jpg versions of my edited photos ?

 

Other methods are exporting TIF or exporting PSD files.

 

Which brings up the question, why do you want to do this in Windows Explorer? What is the benefit of doing this, if it did work?

    hbbk
    hbbkAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 18, 2022

    Thanks for the answer

    Yes, I can export to tiff or any non-raw format, I just took jpg as an example.

     

    Regarding your question, the answer is: if I have to stop my Lightroom usage (many reasons: lack of money, change OS to Linux...) so all my edits are lost, isn't it ?

     

    So this brings me to another question, is there a way to automatically export (or at least list) all the Lightroom edited dng files so that I can make a whole list (HUGE) export at once.

    Per Berntsen
    Community Expert
    Per BerntsenCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2022

    Windows Explorer cannot display raw files, so it displays the DNG's embedded jpg preview instead.

    You can have the preview display your edits by selecting the image in Library, and go to Metadata > Update DNG Preview and Metadata. This command is also available when right clicking the thumbnail.

    I don't know where your DNGs come from, but if they are created by the DNG converter, there are three options for Jpg preview – None, Medium and Full size. Medium is only 1024 pixels on the long side.

     

    If you stop paying for Lightroom, the Develop and Map module will stop working, but you can still export.

    If you change OS to Linux, I suppose you could keep a Windows computer with Lightroom installed.

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