Undo Conversion to DNG?

[billt71060097]

I mistakenly converted existing raw files to DNG with raw embeded. I have too many files (RAW plus xmp and DNG for each image). Can I delete or undo DNG conversion?

[Rob_Cullen]

I question why you have the RAW+XMP?  Is it the RAW version that you have imported into Lightroom and edited in Lr?

Do you have both versions as separate files  a RAW version and a DNG version?

If indeed you have the "DNG with raw embedded", then the Adobe Digital Negative Converter has an [Extract] function.

Consider carefully how your photos are indexed in Lightroom. If you imported them as DNG then you will find that Lightroom will not find ('Missing') your images when the proprietary RAWs (NEF CR2 etc) are 'extracted'.

Really we need a little more explanation of what you have, and how you created the DNGs.

[billt71060097]

I only recently (July) began importing as DNG, so those files are only a DNG. However, I thought I could save storage by converting all of my previously imported CR2 files to DNG. I unfortunately selected embed RAW file in DNG and the result was a CR2 and .xmp file plus the converted DNG for each image. I need to delete something, whether it's the DNG with embeded RAW file or the CR2 and .xmp file. Where is EXTRACT and what will it do? I'm running out of space in my 4-day old 8TB drive.

[JP Hess]

It's possible to work with your original raw files in Lightroom WITHOUT having XMP files. Just don't choose the option to write changes to XMP files, and all the changes will be written to the catalog. The key is to make sure your catalog is backed up on a regular basis. This is how I have utilized Lightroom Classic and formerly older versions of Lightroom now for years, and have not regretted it. No need to convert to DNG just to avoid XMP files. Just rely on maintaining a reliable Lightroom catalog.

[billt71060097]

I only recently (July) began importing as DNG, so those files are only a DNG.  However,  I thought I could save storage by converting all of my previously imported CR2 files to DNG.  I unfortunately selected embed RAW file in DNG and the result was a CR2 and .xmp file plus the converted DNG for each image. I need to delete something, whether it's the DNG with embeded RAW file or the CR2 and .xmp file.  Where is EXTRACT and what will it do?  I'm running out of space in my 4-day old 8TB drive.

[JP Hess]

The extract Option is a feature of the standalone DNG converter. It will enable you to select a folder on DNG files, and will extract the original raw file from each of the DNG files in that folder and place those raw files in a folder of your choosing.

[Rob_Cullen]

Thanks Jim for continuing the conversation (I have been away a while)

billt7.... 

Do not delete any files just yet!

As Jim says- you Extract the CR2 data from within the DNG file using the (standalone software) Adobe DNG Converter.  And this presumes that you did in fact 'Embed' the CR2s within the DNG. And you did use that option (Embed) right? (and you doubled the file size?)

Find the Download link for the Converter in this article- https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/digital-negative.html

If you converted those previously imported CR2 files using the menu within Lightroom, then the Lightroom only knows about DNG files that are shown in the Catalog.

So if you now Extract, and separate, the CR2 from the DNG- Lightroom still only knows about a DNG filetype and will NOT reference the CR2 filetype in the catalog. The problem now would be that the Develop history associated with the DNGs is not easily transferred to the extracted CR2 files.

If you Import the extracted CR2 files you now have BOTH a DNG and a CR2 showing in the Catalog. You can Copy&Paste Develop from the DNG to a CR2 one photo at a time, but you might be better with a plugin like "Syncomatic" to copy Develop work from the DNG to the CR2 files.

https://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/jbeardsworth/syncomatic/

So "going back" is not easy unfortunately!

[billt71060097]

My head hurts. Signing off for now. Thanks, Bill

[Geoff the kiwi]

Bill,

not as complicated as it seems.. for the files you converted to DNG with the raw embedded use the tool to extract. Then you decide whether to keep the DNG or raw files.

It is wise to have xmp if you have raws files as an additional safety factor. 

Personally I write to xmp but convert to DNG to keep everything in one file as xmp us inside the DNG.

BTW DNG is not a space saver really. 

Going forward convert to DNG without including the raw and have the conversion delete the original, that is my way of doing it 👍🏿

[billt71060097]

Geoff, Does Extract tool work through Lightroom? If so, then it goes to Windows folders where images reside?

[Rob_Cullen]

"Does Extract tool work through Lightroom?"

No.

Run the Converter. Click on [Extract] button-

[billt71060097]

Thanks to all for your suggestions.  I tried extract tool and all it seemed to do was make a copy of my RAW file and put it in the folder I created.  When I looked at embeded DNG, the file was still as huge as before the extract process.  So, no luck for me.  I have another (hopefully) simple question: My list of dated folders in the Library module under the Folders panel will not completely display.  I import images from a card and they are there, but the dated folder does not display.  The folders with images appear in my Windows photos folder.  Easy fix?  Bill

[Rob_Cullen]

Your last post has two parts-

1) Extracting-

This is what you see- (the DNG remains 'large')

[DNG+CR2]  > Extract >  [DNG+CR2]  +  [CR2]

Note: It is the [DNG+CR2] that remains referenced in the Lightroom Catalog!

You could now Convert the [CR2]  files to [DNG] once again with the Converter App and NOT embed the [CR2]-

[CR2] > Convert > [DNG]

This new [DNG] could replace the [DNG+CR2] files and remain referenced in the Catalog. 

BUT if you want the [CR2] files referenced you would need to Import these and still need to use the 'Syncomatic' plugin mentioned earlier to copy any editing from the [DNG+CR2] over to the [CR2].

Lightroom 'sees' the [DNG+CR2] and [CR2] as different files and can reference both in the Catalog.

Get you head around all that 🙂

2) Folder display-

Maybe some screen-clips could help your description!

Did you 'Remove' any folders from the Catalog?

Have you Imported the images in those folders that do not display?

[billt71060097]

Thanks.  I'll try to understand part 1 answer.  Regarding 2, in Library module, under Folders Panel, all of my folders are individual dates (2019-10-27) with the images taken on those dates.  The string of folders runs to the bottom which is 2019-09-21, even though I have imported several dates of images up to 2019-10-27.  However, the folders 2019-09-21 through 2019-10-27 are not visible.  The images are visible and editable by selecting the root folder where I have all my images in Windows 10, archive folder on an external hard drive.  The folders are visible and contain all my images in the Windows folder. Why are they not visible in Folders Panel but are through my root archive folder in LR? Here is bottom of Folders Panel, but I'm missing 14 folders. Bill

 

[Rob_Cullen]

And you cannot scroll down the folder list any further?

"The images are visible and editable by selecting the root folder"

Is this in Lightroom?

If in Lightroom, then the images and folders have been imported to the Catalog, but they could be in a totally different location to the one you are expecting to see.

View, select, one image in Lightroom (from the Root folder) and [Right-click] , choose [Go to Folder in Library] - what Folder is highlighted in the Folder panel?

(A common mistake is to Import images already in a dated folder using the 'Copy' option- thus creating a second copy of the files that the Catalog now references.)

[billt71060097]

Wobert, 

I cannot scroll down any further.

The images are visible and editable by selecting the root folder in LR.

In Grid view, I select an image from a "missing" folder, right-click, choose Go to Folder in Library, and NO folder is highlighted in the Folders Panel.

I'm hunting for a copy of those folders in Windows.  Thanks, Bill

[Rob_Cullen]

Strange!

If you hover and 'let sit' the mouse cursor over a thumbnail image- Do you see a pop-up showing the Folder name?

You can also modify the Info shown on thumbnail borders by a [Right-Click] on the four locations on the top border edge, and set it to Folder.