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Scott Loftesness
New Participant
May 26, 2018
Answered

How to Duplicate or create a Virtual Copy in Lightroom CC?

  • May 26, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 31058 views

I must be missing something obvious. In my Lightroom CC Classic workflow, I frequently create a virtual copy of an image and then make adjustments on the virtual copy. This leaves the original alone and unedited. I've gotten used to that workflow - but now I can't find a way to do the same thing in Lightroom CC. I don't find either a duplicate or a virtual copy menu item - what am I missing?

Thanks,

Scott

    Correct answer JP Hess

    If you right-click on an image there is an option to "Make a copy". This will create a copy of the image. It isn't designated in Lightroom CC as a virtual copy. However, I just checked in the linked catalog in Lightroom Classic CC, and it shows as a virtual copy there. In Lightroom CC, both images show in the info column as original and backed up. Not very intuitive, but that seems to be the way it is.

    4 replies

    gswierczynski
    gswierczynski
    New Participant
    August 11, 2022

    Keep in mind that in Lightroom CC (non-Classic) it is called Duplicate on purpose (even though most likekly only one RAW copy is stored in cloud, Adobe charges for each duplicate - when you create a duplicate it counts agaist your quota). If it were called Virtual Copy it would be somewhat troublesome to charge for additional space (apart from the applied changes which is <1MB).

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    savanna30405895z6qc
    New Participant
    June 26, 2023

    So I'm a recent convert from LR6 to LRCC and am having trouble with this. I've been able to make a duplicate, but it will not export the original or the duplicate when I try to export them. any ideas? It keeps giving the error 'this file could not be found'. 

    Velile Sipho
    Velile Sipho
    Known Participant
    June 26, 2023

    I create multiple duplicates regularly. I have never had this problem. I always change the time stamp of each to differentiate them.  Possibly try that?  It could be that the OS is not letting you Crete identical files simultaneously?

    Jim Wilde
    Jim Wilde
    Community Expert
    May 5, 2021

    Consider using Versions on the phone/tablet in lieu of a duplicate function. 

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      TravisGarcia
      New Participant
      May 21, 2020

      Ok how about doing this on Lightroom mobile? On an iPhone?

        JP Hess
        JP HessCorrect answer
        Inspiring
        May 26, 2018

        If you right-click on an image there is an option to "Make a copy". This will create a copy of the image. It isn't designated in Lightroom CC as a virtual copy. However, I just checked in the linked catalog in Lightroom Classic CC, and it shows as a virtual copy there. In Lightroom CC, both images show in the info column as original and backed up. Not very intuitive, but that seems to be the way it is.

          S
          Scott LoftesnessAuthor
          New Participant
          May 26, 2018

          Thanks for that answer - worked great on the desktop. How does one do the same thing (make a copy of an image) in the iPad and iPhone versions of Lightroom CC?

            JP Hess
            JP Hess
            Inspiring
            May 26, 2018

            Don't know. I don't use either one. Someone else will have to answer that question.

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