Want to export original unedited version of a photo I already edited

[Kevin24492528mkh7]

Hey there,

How do I export an original unedited version of a photo I aready edited? I need something I can use and not the lightroom file and metadata I keep getting when I try to export an original. I edited these photos months ago. I don't see why this should be so difficult so any help is much appreciated. 

Kevin

[GoldingD]

Several ways

Method 1

Select the image desired, bring up the Develop Module, Over on the left, in the History Panel, select the first history state (probably import), In the Lupe view, right click, and select Export.

One weakness with that is any default mods LrC accomplished at import, typically some sharpening.

Method 2

In the Develop Module, once again select the first history state, right click on the image, select Create Virtual Copy. The virtual copy should open. Accomplish any desired edits such as undoing any import actions such as sharpening, or perhaps, if desired, use the Classic General Preset Zeroed (overkill?)

This has the advantage of being able to modify the perceived image without fouling up any previous edits on the source.

[Per Berntsen]

Click on Import in the History panel, which is the unedited state, then export.

Note that any presets that were applied on import will still be active, and you have to reset them manually if you don't want them to be included.

[dj_paige]

Is the original image a JPG and you want to export a JPG? No need for history panel hijinks.

Is the original image a RAW and you want to export a RAW? No need for history panel hijinks.

Select your edited image. In the Export dialog box, set Image Format to Original. This produces an unedited export.

If the original image is a RAW and you want an undedited JPG as export, then follow the above instructions if a preset has not been applied at Import. If a preset is applied at import, then clicking on the first (bottom) step of the history panel does not give you the original unedited image, it gives you the image with the preset applied (in other words, edited). In this case, what you really should do is click on Reset in the Develop Module, do the export to JPG, and then in the develop module undo the Reset action by selecting the step in the History Panel below Reset. \

[Conrad C]

It’s my opinion that rolling back the History panel is not a good way to do this. First, Import absolutely does involve a Lightroom Classic rendering, and second, that import rendering includes any default import preset settings (by Adobe or the user), which also count as editing. So if you don’t want edits, you don’t want any of that, so you don’t want the Import step. Second, I think it’s risky to roll back the History panel because after exporting, you must remember to set the History panel back to the most recent state because if you forget to do that, all History states will be wiped out when you make an edit from the Import state. If you must reset to the Import state (which again, does not necessarily mean no edits), at least hit Reset Settings instead, because that adds a Reset Settings state at the end — which preserves all the previous History states…much safer. That way, after exporting, all you have to do is roll back one step. But again, I still think mangling the History panel is a non-ideal way to solve this, so…

…I think the simplest ways are:

Option 1: What dj_paige said — Export with the format set to Original. Original literally means what it says, the original unchanged file, absolutely no Lightroom Classic rendering or developing or metadata changes of any kind. (A non-raw or DNG original file may include edit metadata if Lightroom Classic or Adobe Camera Raw were used to save metadata to it,)

Option 2: Select the photo and choose Photo > Show in Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS). That will switch you out to the desktop and select the source file in its folder there, and especially if it is a raw file, it will not have been modified afer importing (since Lightroom Classic edits are stored in its catalog). So you can simply copy that original wherever you wanted to use it. (If there is an accompanying XMP file, do not copy that, so that you can leave those edits behind.) That Show in Explorer command is also available if you right-click the image or its thumbnail preview.

[Rob_Cullen]

+1 to Option#2 from @Conrad C 

[Right-Click] in Library Grid > Show in Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) > Copy & Paste the file anywhere you want.

[Kevin24492528mkh7]

Thanks everyone for the help! I was able to get it figured out because of you guys. A preset company wanted to feature the before and after of an image of mine and I was stressing over not being able to figure it out but now I know. Cheers to you all.