Import preset using Auto Tone does not always apply

Report · Dec 10, 2023

Light Room Classsic v 13.0.2, Camear Raw v 16, OSX v 14.1.2

I have a preser that I apply automatically on import that includes using Auto Tone. It sometimes works but most often applies just a part of the preset.

When I import a batch of Canon RAW files, a few of them get the auto tone applies but they all get some other settings like sharpening, sharpening masking, texture, clarity, etc. I am often importing 1,000 to 2,000 raw files in a batch.

It seems like smaller batches have a higher probibility of the preset applying correctly.

I have attached my preset.

[moved from bugs to discussions according to the community rules - Mod.]

Report · Dec 11, 2023

You may want to consider Jeffrey Friedl's Bag-o-Goodies Lightroom Classic plugin, and in that his Personalized Auto Tone:

http://regex.info/blog/lightroom-goodies/bag-o-goodies

http://regex.info/blog/lightroom-goodies/bag-o-goodies#personalized-auto-tone

If using the Personalized Auto Tone, red the directions carefully. it can be a bit trickey at first.

Report · Dec 11, 2023

I wasn't able to reproduce this problem. I repeatedly imported a batch of 500 raws (over ten times) applying your preset in Import, with both Minimal and Standard selected for File Handling > Build Previews.

Which setting are you using for Build Previews?

As I wrote in reply to your previous post about this several months ago, LR has always had bugs with applying Auto to large batches of photos. In fixing some of the older bugs, Adobe introduced new ones.

In the most recent one from 2022, which hasn't been reported as fixed, syncing develop settings to a large batch of photos can wipe out the previous settings of a batch Auto. Your symptoms could be the result of the same underlying problem: Perhaps LR is first applying the Auto from the preset, then applying the rest of the settings (Texture, Clarity, Sharpness), which wipes out the Auto settings.

Unfortunately, if your particular symptoms can't be reproduced by Adobe, then they're not going to pay much attention. (That bug from 2022 could be reproduced easily, but it hasn't been reported as fixed yet.)

You could try a variant of the workaround from the other bug: Define two presets, one that applies Auto only and the other that applies Texture, Clarify, and Sharpness. Apply the Auto preset in Import. After the import completes, use the Quick Develop panel in Library to apply the second preset to all the imported photos.