Lightroom Classic - HDR

[Smiths Gore]

Hi,

I am not exactly sure how to ask this question - excuse my wording.

Due to my monitor (Mac Studio with LG monitor) not being 100% RGB I am wanting to transfer all of the HDR files to my Macbook Pro for colour grading. I use the same account on both devices. I wanted to know if:

When you merge the images to HDR through lightroom - is the final single image that is generated edited as one or are the original images edited almost like 'layers'?

If I transfer just the HDR image without the original photos into lightroom on my Macbook, will I get the same range when using sliders?

If I need to transfer the images from Mac Studio to Macbook, but keeping all the links from HDR image to original, how would I do that?

I hope that all makes sense.

Many thanks

[JohanElzenga]

The generated HDR is a completely new image. It is not layered and does not have/need to have any links to the original images.

[Smiths Gore]

Great, many thanks for this!

[Conrad_C]

Any file processed by a multi-image merge in Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera Raw, including an HDR merge or panorama, is a new, independent file in DNG format. It can travel on its own without bringing any other files, and will be fully editable the same way if you transfer it to another computer or phone/tablet for editing in Lightroom or Lightroom Classic.

If I need to transfer the images from Mac Studio to Macbook, but keeping all the links from HDR image to original, how would I do that?

By @Smiths Gore

There are three ways to do this, depending on what you require:

If you just want to edit the files on the other Mac, you just copy the files.

If you want to edit the files on the other Mac, and you also want to keep the edits with each file so that they are still there when you copy the file back to the Mac Studio, then you want to select the files and choose Metadata > Save Metadata to File. That will embed the edits into the HDR DNG file.

If you just want to edit the files on the other Mac, and preserve not only the edits to each file, but also the catalog data associated with each file (virtual copies, membership in Collections, etc.), this is a lot how like many people use Lightroom Classic on a second Mac that’s used for travel. The directions are here:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/classic-on-vacation/

However, those directions are for those starting from scratch on the laptop. In your case, you probably want to select the images you want to edit on the laptop and export them as a catalog, transfer them to the MacBook Pro, and then import the catalog and images when they come back.

But there is one more thing…you said:

Due to my monitor (Mac Studio with LG monitor) not being 100% RGB I am wanting to transfer all of the HDR files to my Macbook Pro for colour grading.

By @Smiths Gore

I am guessing the LG display can show most or all of the sRGB color gamut, because that is extremely common. The MacBook Pro display can show the Display P3 color gamut, which is much wider.

However, for photography, color gamut and dynamic range are two totally different things. If you are concerned about color gamut, then sure, it makes sense to edit them on the MacBook Pro display, especially if it’s the very good, HDR-capable Liquid Retina XDR display on the 14"/16" MacBook Pro. But if you are editing a merged HDR image for delivery on common displays or prints, an HDR display is not required and you could do that just as well on the LG.

One way the MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR display has a real advantage for HDR editing is if you are using the HDR Output display capability that’s currently a technology preview in Adobe Camera Raw. But that is not available in Lightroom Classic yet.

In short, make sure you are deciding to edit on the MacBook Pro for the right reasons, in case you don’t actually need to.

[Smiths Gore]

Thank you so much for this answer. This is great.

I will be creating the HDR's on my Studio, and airsropping to my macbook - 16 inch and better colour!

Thanks a bunch