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jozo10
Inspiring
September 23, 2017
Answered

CR2 and xmp files

  • September 23, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 6439 views

Hi,

I started editing a CR2 in Camera Raw (but it was one that had been previously edited, so an xmp had already been generated). I didn't realize I needed to trash the old xmp file if I wanted it to register the new changes made in camera raw. Why is this? (I essentially took an already edited CR2 file and moved it to a new folder - so the xmp file came with it, before I opened the CR2 up again in Camera Raw)

I saved my document as a PSD and I kept my image as a smart object - so I can stil access camera raw (I like to go back and make adjustments in camera raw as i work). Is there a way to generate an XMP file with the new changes made and attach them to the CR2 file. I saved the file as a TIFF but it does it separate the image between CR2 and xmp.

Not sure if any of this makes sense.

Josie

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    Hi

    You are misunderstanding this.

    When you open your raw file in a Photoshop smart object - the smart object contains a copy of the raw file and the adjustment info for camera raw.

    The original is separate to that file. It has to be that way as you may use the same raw file in several different PSD documents (or as separate layers in the same document each with different adjustments) and you do not want those reflected in the original.

    You could however place the raw image in your Photoshop document as a linked smart object (use Place Linked). If you do that any adjustment you make to the raw file outside of Photoshop will be flagged in the Photoshop document with a warning triangle.

    If you right click the layer and choose "Update Modified Content" then the layer will reflect any changes made in the original RAW file xmp.

    Conversely if you double click and open the SO to make an adjustment - then those changes will be written into the original XMP file (i.e. you are updating the original raw file xmp).

    Dave

    2 replies

    Chuck Uebele
    Community Expert
    Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 23, 2017

    If the XMP ACR file is older than 2012, you need to reset the file to default to have ACR use the new ACR settings - well worth the effort to do this.

    J
    jozo10Author
    Inspiring
    September 23, 2017

    I don't understand what an ACR file is. I am working with the latest version of Photoshop. I'd like to know if I can somehow extract the xmp file from photoshop (the one that is associated with the PSD document I am working on - I can still access my image through camera raw because it is a smart object). Usually when I edit a photo in camera raw, there is a CR2 file and an xmp file. I'm not sure why the xmp file didn't update the changes I made in camera raw when I started editing the CR2 image again. I basically want to have a fool-proof work flow so I don't lose any recent changes I've made to the image. I usually have a PSD document that I'm working on (with the image as a smart object), and I thought it was saving any changes I made to the corresponding CR2 file & xmp file. Am I misunderstanding this?

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 23, 2017

    Hi

    You are misunderstanding this.

    When you open your raw file in a Photoshop smart object - the smart object contains a copy of the raw file and the adjustment info for camera raw.

    The original is separate to that file. It has to be that way as you may use the same raw file in several different PSD documents (or as separate layers in the same document each with different adjustments) and you do not want those reflected in the original.

    You could however place the raw image in your Photoshop document as a linked smart object (use Place Linked). If you do that any adjustment you make to the raw file outside of Photoshop will be flagged in the Photoshop document with a warning triangle.

    If you right click the layer and choose "Update Modified Content" then the layer will reflect any changes made in the original RAW file xmp.

    Conversely if you double click and open the SO to make an adjustment - then those changes will be written into the original XMP file (i.e. you are updating the original raw file xmp).

    Dave

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 23, 2017

    If you open your RAW file into Photoshop through ACR as a smart object layer. The smart Object layers object will be  an embedded RAW file with your ACR settings stored in the embedded object.  Anytime your editing the Document in Photoshop. All you need do is double click on the layers smart object content icon in the layers palette.  The embedded RAW file will be open in ACR with the settings you set and are recorded in the layers object. All you need to tis change the setting to what you now want and Click OK in ACR when you Click OK in ACR the smart object ACR setting will be updated and Photoshop will render a new set of pixels to be used as the smart objects layers pixels.  As far as I know you can not trash the smart object layers ACR settings.  You may be able to reset them to your Defaults. The settings are not your RAW files XMP sidecar file they in the layers embedded object which has a copy of you RAW files and ACR settings for its conversion..

    JJMack
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