I'm having trouble seeing changes made in LR while inside of LRC.

[Phillip M. Burrow]

I’m a long-time user of LRC. I have decided to try out LR after its recent update which has the ability to use local files. However, I was surprised to find that I was unable to view the changes to any of the images that I made in LR from LRC.

Now I understand that the images are non-destructive therefore they aren’t actually changed inside of the folder. However, is it possible to view changes made from LR in LRC? If not, then aren’t we back to having to choose one program or the other?

What I would like to do is try out LR for a period of time without losing the ability to stay with LRC. Even if I go with LR, there are still some things that can only be done in LRC.

Phillip

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

The edits in Lightroom-Desktop (in Local folder mode) are saved to the hard-drive as XMP sidecar files for proprietary raw files, and embedded in rendered RGB files (JPG, TIF).

These edits done in local mode would need to be 'read' by Lightroom-Classic  MENU: Metadata > Read Metadata from file, to modify the preview of the image in LrC, and overwrite/add-to the edits done in LrC.

If you do NOT read metadata from file, then the edits stored in the LrC catalog take precedence, not showing any 'external' edits by Lr .

If you edit in Lightroom in 'Cloud' mode, then the edits automatically 'download' (via the Cloud) to change the image previews in  LrC when sync is active.

[Phillip M. Burrow]

Rob,

I believe that I found what you were describing but I got a warning, and I would like to understand what I’m doing before I screw up my folders.

Can you please explain the options that are listed in the first screen?

Is this a per image choice or will it only affect images that are changed in LR?

Is there somewhere that I can learn more about this?

I have attached a couple of screen shots.

[Rob_Cullen]

The warning means exactly what it says-  If you [Read metadata] into LrC, your edits done in Lightroom (Local mode) will overwrite the edits you have made in Lightroom-Classic.

You will need to decide which 'editor' is going to be the 'Master of edits'- Lightroom or Lightroom-Classic.

If you do not [Read metadata] into LrC then you are left with two versions of your edits- (Lr-Local  &  LrC-Catalog).

My example-

1)  Converted to B&W in Lightroom

2) The same file edited in Lightroom-Classic

3) And I [Read Metadata from File] in LrC and the image in LrC takes on the Lr edit.

[Phillip M. Burrow]

Thanks Rob

[Phillip M. Burrow]

Rob, now I have another question. When I chose to read the metadata. I got a small indicator at the top of the files that I had changed alerting that the metadata had been changed. I then had to click this and choose to import the new metadata. Now that I understand what is happening, is to automate this. My local folder has several hundreds of photos. If I could see all the files in question in a group or collection it would me a little easier. If I just choose not to see this again, would be better.

Thanks again for your help.

[Rob_Cullen]

You can do a Metadata Filter Search for [Metadata Status].   (also then Select files and create a Collection if wanted.)

But many people find that the Indicator for 'metadata change' is somewhat unreliable, because so many outside influences can trigger the icon.

Some even prefer to turn the 'metadata changed'  icon off altogether. But your use of Lightroom in Local mode complicates the matter.