Inspiring

Answered

Some basic questions: virtual copies, edits, collections

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 26, 2019
3 replies
1494 views

I've been using Lightroom Classic for a long time. I finally decided to try using a Smart Collection to collect photos flagged as Picks. I figured if I create a Smart collection than if I add any picks, or take any away, they will be added or deleted to the Smart collection without my having to manually move them.

I created the collection, which did exactly what I needed it to do, and started working on one of the files. I created a virtual copy, and did not see it in the bottom strip. So I tried again a few times. Then I decided to just edit it in Photoshop. Again, the edits did not show up in the bottom strip.

So, to my questions:

1) Can you not create virtual copies or edits in another program in a Smart Collection?

2) If not, where do I do those? This all works in a regular collection. Do I create the copies and the edits in the regular collection, then flag those for the Smart collection? That seems like a roundabout way to do what I need.

3) How do I delete the 14 virtual copies I created?

4) How do I delete the 2 extra Photoshop edits I did? I only need the first one.

I hope this makes sense. I have a feeling there must be a better way to do what I want to do.

Thanks,

Marcy

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer johnrellis

I still don't know how to delete a Virtual Copy.

In Library grid view, select one or more of the virtual copies and do the menu command Photo > Remove Photos. (The menu will show you the keyboard shortcut on your configuration.)

R

richardplondon

Community Expert

If you make a new Virtual Copy, that only inherits membership in a particular (manual) Collection if you were viewing that image in the context of this particular Collection when you made the VC. Similar applies, when you make a new external edited version. This must be borne in mind if using Collection membership as one of the criteria for a Smart Collection.

Any new VC or external edit version made from within (whatever) context, will show up when you view the respective folder. So that is probably the better context to use, for identifying and getting rid of unwanted image versions. If you delete an image from within a Collection, you have only withdrawn that image's membership in this one particular Collection and it remains in the Catalog otherwise.

And you cannot directly add or remove images anyway when it's a Smart Collection - as already nicely explained by Tony_See.

M

MarcySBAuthor

Inspiring

I'm not sure I understand everything you said. I did understand Tony - I had already done that. It was what happened after I created the Smart Collection and selected photos within the Smart Collection, having the Smart Collection selected, that the trouble started.

I was in the Smart Collection when I created the Virtual Copies and when I did the edits in Photoshop. I discovered they showed up in the original folder and in other collections, just not in the Smart Collection.

I still don't know how to delete a Virtual Copy. I have 14 and I don't need them.

I may just delete the Smart Collection and work in a regular collection. Obviously I don't completely understand Smart Collections. I've spent 3 days on this, and I'd like to move on.

Thanks,

Marcy

johnrellis

Legend

I was in the Smart Collection when I created the Virtual Copies

That's the cause of your issue. When you're in a regular collection and create a virtual copy, LR will add the virtual copy to that collection as well as the folder containing the master photo. But when you're in a smart collection, LR will add the virtual copy to the folder but not to any regular collections containing the master -- in general, the master could be in many regular collections, and LR wouldn't know which regular collection should receive the virtual copy.

In your case, since the virtual copy wasn't added to the regular collection Prickly Pear_04.07.19, it won't be picked up by the rules of your smart collection (which only match photos in that regular collection).

An alternative is to use filters in the Library Filter bar, rather than smart collections. Select the collection Prickly Pear_04.07.19. Then in the Library Filter bar, select the picked icon:

Filters are often more convenient than smart collections. You don't need to define a different smart collection for each different source (collection or folder) you want to work with. And you can turn filters on and off without losing your place in that source.

Tony_See

Inspiring

This might answer part of your question (and I hope its not in Japanese ). . .?

You can’t remove an image from a Smart Collection just because you don’t want it in there – it can only be removed if it fails to meet the criteria you set up for the collection.

The only way you can remove an image from a Smart Collection is to configure it so it no longer meets the criteria for the Smart Collection.

M

MarcySBAuthor

Inspiring

Tony, That part I had figured out. That is the reason I created the Smart Collection. Then everything else happened that I don't know how to fix: 1) why virtual copies and edits don't appear in the Smart Collection, 2) how to delete the many extra virtual copies from the regular folder, and 3) how to delete the extra edits from the original folder. I don't want to delete the photo itself. Let me know if I'm still not being clear. Thanks, Marcy PS - in English, not Japanese. Whew!

johnrellis

Legend

why virtual copies and edits don't appear in the Smart Collection

Please right-click the collection, do Edit Smart Collection, and post a screenshot of its rules, e.g.

M

MarcySBAuthor

Inspiring

OK - this is interesting. My email approval of this question came in Japanese! I know because when I put the text into Google translate, it said it was Japanese and that my post was approved! Wow!! Hopefully the answers I get won't be in Japanese.

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