RAW File storage on iOS, Creative Cloud, and Lightroom Classic

[Sam Bancroft]

Hi,

I have recently bought a new iPad Pro and am trying to incorporate it into my workflow (lots of travelling), however am having some issues with how the Creative Cloud sync works (and whether it's working correctly as designed for me, or not!)

My understanding is that my workflow should be as follows:

1. Import RAW files from camera SD card onto iPad Pro directly into lightroom

2. Ensure these are in a targeted collection for syncing

3. These RAW files will upload to the Adobe cloud

4. RAW files will download into Lightroom Classic (on my Mac)

5. RAW files on the cloud will be replaced by Smart Previews

6. "Clear cache" on iPad to remove RAW files and work with Smart Previews

However, the following is happening:

1 - Upload RAW files onto iPad

2 - RAW files get synced to the cloud and downloaded into Lightroom Classic

3 - RAW files remain in the cloud, and also on my iPad, in addition to being saved locally on my Mac. (I am therefore utilising all space on my iPad, and in the cloud!)

Additionally, if I look at these photos on my iPhone, it says that the RAW files are in the cloud, but it has downloaded the Smart Preview.

I am asking this as I want to delete photos on my iPad and the cloud, as I am quickly filling up my 100GB storage space.

I have uploaded screenshots (using one photo, there are thousands like this) of my Lightroom app on both my iPad, my iPhone, and Mac. Any help you could provide would be much appreciated!

[JohanElzenga]

If you import a raw image on your iPad, it will get synced to the cloud. On your iPad the image will get replaced by a smart preview -as by your settings- but the raw file remains in the cloud. Letting it be downloaded by Lightroom Classic does not change that, so that explains why your cloud space is getting full. If you want to remove the image from the cloud and from your mobile devices, you must do so by removing it from 'All Synced Photographs' in Lightroom Classic. It will then only remain in Lightroom Classic.

[Sam Bancroft]

Johan, 

Thanks for the response.

Could you please talk me through how I get the RAW images replaced on the iPad by Smart Previews? Currently (on my iPad) both the 'Local' and 'Cloud Backup' shows 'Original - ARW'. It's only on my iPhone where the local is 'Smart Preview' and Cloud Backup shows 'Original - ARW'. I have tried clearing the cache however I am still using over 164GB of storage as 'Locally stored copies' (please see attached screenshot).

Assuming I can solve the above, is there any way of removing the RAW file from the cloud whilst just replacing it with a Smart Preview (like the images that have been imported in Lightroom Classic directly and synced to a Collection)??

Thanks

Sam

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

"...is there any way of removing the RAW file from the cloud whilst just replacing it with a Smart Preview..."

Yes. The words of @JohanElzenga are Setp #1) "If you want to remove the image from the cloud and from your mobile devices, you must do so by removing it from 'All Synced Photographs' in Lightroom Classic. It will then only remain in Lightroom Classic."

Step #2) is to select these images in the folder where they downloaded in LrC, then create a (new) Collection to Sync back to the Cloud.

[Sam Bancroft]

Thank you both - I didn't realise I'd have to effectively delete & re-add the images on the cloud, I assumed they would automatically get replaced with Smart Previews.

Have followed both of your instructions and now have successfully got these images as Smart Previews on my iOS devices with the RAWs in Lightroom Classic.

Thanks for your help 🙂