New Participant

Answered

Unable to download original file

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
November 4, 2019
5 replies
10724 views

I synced a Lightroom Classic Collection so that i could access the photos from cloud enabled apps.

I open the Lightroom progtram (non-classic version) on my PC and I see the synced photos.

I then right click on one of them and select "Edit in Photoshop" and I get an error message saying:

" Unable to download original file.

Original file was not found. Only a smart priview can be used at this time."

It then gives me the option to edit the smart preview or cancel.

How do I access the original file?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer selondon

Lightroom Classic only syncs lower quality Smart Previews to the Cloud but Photoshop requires them at full resolution.

Therefore either use Classic for this or the other option is to import the full res into Lightroom (Cloud) whch will replace the Smart Previews.

JP Hess

Inspiring

I don't share to Instagram, so I can't really give you any advice there. If you create a collection of the 25 images that you want to edit (in Lightroom Classic) and share that collection then you can edit those images while you are on the road. The adjustments you make will transfer back to Lightroom Classic. I don't know if that workflow will work for you or not. Probably not, because to edit in Photosho you would want the full-sized images. So that means you would want the full-sized images in Lightroom for the cloud. Just don't migrate a catalog. Keep them separate. If you import the images to Lightroom for the cloud they will automatically be added to your Lightroom Classic catalog as well. If you DON'T migrate the catalog then Lightroom Classic can still be your controlling version. If you migrate the catalog then Lightroom for the cloud pretty much takes over control. Just don't expect perfect coordination of everything because I have found that sometimes things don't quite work the way I expect them to. Good luck. I know, that isn't a very good answer. But the system isn't really as perfected as it should be. You will just have to play with it and figure out what works best because the way you want to use it just seems to sort of work. What you are looking for (I think) is the best of both worlds. And it just isn't there yet. So in the meantime you'll have to create your own hybrid "system" to make things work the way you want them to. This is especially true if you're going to use both versions on the same computer. I do it, and when things don't work out the way I expect them to then I just figure another way to do it because I know I'm not supposed to use the programs the way I'm doing it.

JP Hess

Inspiring

You do not want to try to use Lightroom Classic and Lightroom on the same computer. It will not work the way you think it should. Adobe does not recommend it. You can try to make it work but it won't and you will just become frustrated. Don't do it!

C

ChrisPhotoClimb

Known Participant

Then what is your recommendation for the workflow I need

500-1000 images - in LR classic

25 selects -> LR CC

I use CC for 2 reasons

1) sharing to Instagram from the phone

2) making images available that I can edit in Photoshop when I am travelling.

LR CC seemed like it could support both 1 and 2

selondon

Correct answer

Community Expert

Lightroom Classic only syncs lower quality Smart Previews to the Cloud but Photoshop requires them at full resolution.

Therefore either use Classic for this or the other option is to import the full res into Lightroom (Cloud) whch will replace the Smart Previews.

B

b_p_w2

New Participant

"...import the full res into Lightroom (Cloud)..."

How?

selondon

Community Expert

That certainly sounds easy!

But it isn't that easy, unfortunately. These images (Smart Previews as it turns out) are already in Lightroom. For each one I want to work on, I must locate it on my hard drive and import it. Lightroom has no link to a file on a local drive. The whole idea of Lightroom, as far as I understand it, is that we don't need a local drive - the full-size images are in the cloud and we access them from anywhere.

So when I right-click the image, select Edit in Photoshop, and I see the message 'Unable to download original file' - 'Original file was not found' - what does this mean? I looks to me as though Adobe has 'lost' the original, and had I not kept copies on a local hard-drive I'd be stuffed.

The file-storage/synching options seem way too complex and fraught with danger/bugs for my liking. I've decided to revert to Lightroom Classic and keep the originals locally as well as online.

You are correct regarding the Cloud Based Lightroom, your full res files can be accessed from anywhere. It depends how you import photos into the Cloud though.

Uploading your original photos into the Cloud via Lightroom Desktop, Web or Mobile will import full res and within Desktop you’ll be able to edit in Photoshop.

Syncing Collections from Classic will only upload Smart Previews.

If you are seeing Smart Previews locally that have not come from Classic this would normally be because Lightroom stores the full res in the Cloud, but not all of them locally (depending on your preferences).

It stores proxies (Smart Previews) locally and accesses the full res from the Cloud If required for certain edits. If there is no network connection then it cannot access the full res.

Could this be what is happening for you?

You can Edit Offline by Storing Albums Locally whilst you still have connection.

thomask46353530

New Participant

Neraly same problem:

I´ve the original also on my ext. drive. LR can´t accces them and can´t donwload it from the cloud!

Fraoulla

New Participant

I have the same problem.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded