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Rudyrb
Rudyrb
Participating Frequently
April 29, 2022
Question

Why can’t Lightroom Classic sync RAWs to the Lightroom cloud

  • April 29, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 1696 views

I just got into the adobe ecosystem and I use Lightroom and photoshop a lot. I love using both applications they are almost perfect. But, why can't you upload RAWs from Lightroom Classic to Lightroom Cloud for mobile editing instead of smart previews.

There is many times where I will come back from a shoot upload all my pictures via Lightroom classic onto a hard drive. Then I will sync a collection of photos to Lightroom cloud and then I will cull, edit and sometimes export on a mobile device since as an iPad Pro. I want my RAW files sync not smart previews, so I can export full quality pictures on my mobile device and post. I pay for the storage so I don't get why I can't choose what gets sync to it.

    2 replies

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    April 29, 2022

    You can probably wait and see if one of the engineers will answer your question, but the short and simple answer is that Lightroom Classic isn't designed to save original full-sized images to the cloud. That's what Lightroom (the cloud version) has been designed for. That's why there are two separate versions. Yes, I'm sure if Adobe chose to do it the way you are suggesting it would be a simple thing to do. But that isn't the model. And from what I understand (which is very elementary), that model isn't going to change. If you want your raw images in the cloud then you'll have to use the right version of Lightroom. They will Synchronize to Lightroom Classic automatically, so you can use Lightroom in the field To start your editing, and then finish when you get back to the computer with LrC if that is what you prefer.

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    April 29, 2022

    Because that is the way Adobe has designed Lightroom Classic. If you want raw images in  the Lightroom cloud then you have to import them directly into that program and not in Lightroom Classic. By doing it that way, they will synchronize back down to Lightroom Classic, and you will have the raw files in both applications.

     

    Remember that you can edit the smart previews in Lightroom cloud, and those adjustments made on the smart previews WILL have an effect on the raw files. You just wouldn't want to do critical adjustments such as fine tuning focus on the smart previews.

     

    Also, remember that the smart previews have no impact on your allotted cloud storage space.

     

    After considering my answer AND the initial question, it occurs to me that I may not have fully answered the question. There are two versions of Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom (for the cloud). Both versions are included in the photography plan. The interface for Lightroom is quite different from Lightroom Classic. It IS possible to use both programs on the same computer. It IS possible to synchronize images back-and-forth between the two computers. It has been recommended in the past that both programs should not be used on the same computer, but I have done it for quite a while. I suppose it's a matter of personal preference.

    Rudyrb
    RudyrbAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 29, 2022

    I am talking from a tech point of view. I want to get a response from a software engineer from the adobe Lightroom team. As a software engineer it makes no sense why the feature is not available. I believe most professional photographers use Lightroom Classic to organize their photos and also want the ability to sync their RAWs on the go from one application and not a hacking way of using two. 

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    April 29, 2022

    Rarely do software engineers comment here, and even more rarely do they explain their decisions about why to include feature A and not include feature B.

     

    From a customer point of view, and from a design point of view, it makes perfect sense to me for a company to separate some of the functions of Lightroom from Lightroom Classic. Software engineers do what the designers want.

     

    Lastly, there are probably thousands of features that are possible to add into the software, and wouldn't be that hard. No software can include every possible feature, and the designers and product team have to draw the line somewhere. It's fine if you think the line should have been drawn somewhere else, but it is what it is.

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