Lightroom Classic auto upon import vs auto after import

[AZstarman]

Something I just discovered: any explanation?

I started having Lightroom apply AUTO develop upon import (along with lens corrections). The results are not the same as when I do the AUTO develop on the imported image that was not AUTO developed upon import. Another way of saying it is that there is a change if you do AUTO on the already AUTO-developed imported image! Any thoughts as to why??

[johnrellis]

One issue is that when you apply Auto Settings to more than one photo at a time (via Import, Quick Develop > Auto, or a preset), LR uses reduced-resolution versions of the photos to make Auto go faster. Usually, there's no difference between applying Auto to the full- and reduced-resolution versions, but on at least 6% of the photos, there are visually significant differences.

After applying Auto to a photo in batch and then go to the photo in Develop, if the Auto button is not greyed out, that means that the batch version of Auto has produced different settings than if you click Auto in Develop.  Click the Auto button to get the full-resolution "real" settings.

See here for a feature request for an option to always use full-resolution versions in batch Auto (which Adobe has ignored):

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/p-option-to-batch-apply-auto-settings-with-fu...

On modern computers, Auto is fast enough that many users would prefer to just always use the "real" Auto and wait a little longer for the batch operations to complete.

[DdeGannes]

@johnrellis , good tip to be aware of, in my normal workflow I do not include Auto tone in my import process as I wish to see the default produced by LrC in rendering my raw images. This also allows me to return to the original if I use the restore button.

When I hit the Auto tone in the basic panel develop module I can see the adjustments made.