Don't want Lightroom to change Settings

[jcabbott]

I import DNG files into Lightroom that I have adjusted and saved the way I want using Bridge. When I bring the DNG files in to Lightroom, it applies development settings and changes the colors. I have not been able to figure out how to stop Lightroom from applying these settings. Can anyone help me?

 

[DonRicklin]

Well the first thing to check is that 'Auto Tone' is not set Preferences. Under the Preset tab, first item.

Don

 

[jcabbott]

Thanks Don. Just checked and I do not have the "Apply Auto Tones Adjustments" box checked under the presets.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Also check in the Import dialog, to make sure you're not applying a preset on import.

 

[jcabbott]

That is possible, but is there no way to reset things to what the original file looks like once it is imported in LightRoom?

 

[DonRicklin]

Unfortunately Reset zeros LR and ACR adjustments. However, if you have not since import, exported(written) metadata to XMP, then a read Metadata, from the File or Sidecar, should show the ACR (what you call Bridge) adjustments.

Library Menu/Metadata/Read Metadata from File

Don

 

[jcabbott]

I'm talking about DNG files without xmp sidecar files though. That is why it is so frustrating. I get the image like I want it in Bridge, make a DNG in Bridge and then import it in Lightroom for cataloging purposes only. All I want it is for Lightroom to look at the DNG file, the same way Bridge, Photoshop or any other program that reads that format would look at it.

 

[Kiwigeoff]

I'm talking about DNG files without xmp sidecar files though. That is why it is so frustrating. I get the image like I want it in Bridge, make a DNG in Bridge and then import it in Lightroom for cataloging purposes only. All I want it is for Lightroom to look at the DNG file, the same way Bridge, Photoshop or any other program that reads that format would look at it.

DNG has the 'sidecar" inside. Now what Don is meaning about the import preset is that LR preset none is not no adjustments but the LR basic preset. Zeroed will import files with no adjustment.
Have you tried zeroed?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

DNG has the 'sidecar" inside. Now what Don is meaning about the import preset is that LR preset none is not no adjustments but the LR basic preset. Zeroed will import files with no adjustment.
Have you tried zeroed?

Hang on a second. When I import with the import dialog develop preset set to None

it imports with any existing settings, which is surely what jcabbott is looking for. None doesn't use the LR basic preset for me. Zero'd changes all of my settings to zero, which is NOT what I'd be looking for.
Is this different for DNG then?

 

[cdifoto]

I import DNG files into Lightroom that I have adjusted and saved the way I want using Bridge. When I bring the DNG files in to Lightroom, it applies development settings and changes the colors. I have not been able to figure out how to stop Lightroom from applying these settings. Can anyone help me?

I think I know what you're talking about, but I don't know the solution either. When I import my files and only look at the small thumbs, I usually like what I see for a quick instant, but then Lightroom does something to the files that changes their appearance and I don't like it. It isn't my calibration settings, I know for a fact, because it would do it before I ever started using calibration. Zeroing isn't the solution.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Don, I think jcabbott's referring to files that have already been adjusted in ACR in Bridge, and wants to keep those adjustments.

The issue you're talking about is seeing the embedded camera jpeg preview for a split second, and then LR reads the raw data and has to apply settings to it. The camera manufacturers aren't kind enough to share their settings, so LR has to make up it's own previews. Workarounds here.

 

[cdifoto]

I thought maybe the changes he was seeing were based on the same process...



Thanks for the link, but it's not very helpful. How can I adjust my LR settings to give me my JPEG preview style processing, when I can't see my JPEG preview for more than a split second?



That's a rhetorical question, by the way, since I'm already getting images I'm happy with. It'd just be nice if the starting images were a bit nicer. Since Adobe's the software engineer, I think it should be up to them to analyze the images Canon's (and other makers') processing produces and give us presets to match. A lot of work, sure, but a lot of users want it and they're the ones getting the big money from selling the software.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

How can I adjust my LR settings to give me my JPEG preview style processing, when I can't see my JPEG preview for more than a split second?

You shoot some images Raw+Jpeg, so that you can see the in-camera Jpeg for longer than a split second.... and then try to adjust the raw file to match. You'll find the same with ALL raw processing software, other than the manufacturer's own - each raw software gives it's own rendition of the scene.

 

[Denis de Gannes]

There has been lobbying to have camera manufacturers adopt a standard raw format (DNG) or some other for several years with very little success. The problem is that the firmware/software for processing the raw data to a viewable image is still rapidly improving.

In this senario the camera manufacturers view their firmware/software as a key marketing ingredient in the sale of their equipment and are not about to share their secrets.
You can search different LR forums to see if anyone has come up with a preset you are looking for or start the process your self. Lightroom-news.com is a good place to start.

You never know Canon may update the firmware for your camera model and you may have to redo the process. That is the challenge in raw processing, one thing for sure is LR has provided a full range of tools neccessary for you to achieve the results you would be happy with or to be as creative as you wish. The most critical step in this process is to run a calibration of your camera using a color chart (e.g. greytag Macbeth) and fors script in PS or similar.

Its like telling the wife to cook the baked beas just like her grandma did. Trouble is grandma never wrote down the recipe.

 

[jcabbott]

cdifoto is correct about what it is happening. I feel like there are a lot of peripheral topics being addressed here. I don't understand why I can look at DNG file in Bridge (where it was originally created) and have it look like I want, but then when I import in Lightroom (without development settings), it changes. The thumbnail looks great, but then the full size preview is usually way over exposed. Doesn't there have to be a setting somewhere to say, don't do anything to the images? I don't feel like this is anything particularly difficult or unexpected that I am asking for.

 

[cdifoto]

cdifoto is correct about what it is happening. I feel like there are a lot of peripheral topics being addressed here. I don't understand why I can look at DNG file in Bridge (where it was originally created) and have it look like I want, but then when I import in Lightroom (without development settings), it changes. The thumbnail looks great, but then the full size preview is usually way over exposed. Doesn't there have to be a setting somewhere to say, don't do anything to the images? I don't feel like this is anything particularly difficult or unexpected that I am asking for.

I agree. If LR can read the JPEG preview thumbnail properly for a split second, there doesn't seem to be any valid reason to my mind that LR cannot read the final thumb and preview/full size images the same way. LR isn't unable to read the settings....it's changing them at import.

 

[cdifoto]

The most critical step in this process is to run a calibration of your camera using a color chart (e.g. greytag Macbeth) and fors script in PS or similar.

Already done.

Its like telling the wife to cook the baked beas just like her grandma did. Trouble is grandma never wrote down the recipe.

Actually it's more like the wife tasting grandma's beans then adding more sugar, even when you said you didn't want more sugar.

 

[Denis de Gannes]

I agree. If LR can read the JPEG preview thumbnail properly for a split second, there doesn't seem to be any valid reason to my mind that LR cannot read the final thumb and preview/full size images the same way. LR isn't unable to read the settings....it's changing them at import.

The initial jpeg preview is what was created by the camera firmware and includes all the in camera settings you may have applied. When LR is creating its own preview it is only using the raw data. The only in camera settings that affect this rendetion are white balance, ISO and exposure any special settings you may have used saturation, contrast, sharpening or other special settings high key, low key, vivid, landscape, portrait etc are not applied. Only your camera software will read these special settings. LR does its rendition according to its default settings along with any other settings calibration or precepts to be applied on import. So there are lots of things that can contribute to the difference in the camera rendered jpeg and the LR rendition.

 

[DonRicklin]

The only real remedy is lobbying the Camera Manufacturers to release their Proprietary Info used to produce the JPEGs.

Not likely to happen.

You can, however create your own preset that will, with care, closely mimic the in camera settings for most images.

There are some presets to start at Lightroom-Extras as well as other places mentioned in other threads, here.

Don

 

[jcabbott]

I again think these comments are not relevant. I'm don't shoot jpgs or CRW + jpgs with my camera, nor do I want to see what I originally shot with my camera. I take my crw images into Bridge, adjust them they way I want them, then I create a DNG file in bridge. I then import the DNG file to Lightroom and it changes the settings to what it thinks the image should look like. I don't want that. I want Lightroom to leave it alone. If I reopen the DNG image in Bridge or Photoshop, they don't monkey with it, so why is Lightroom? There has to be a way to turn off the autocorrections and have it simply read the settings that I have made in Bridge that are now embedded in the DNG file.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

jcabbott (what's your name?), I agree, something's wrong somewhere. LR should be able to read your changes that you've made in Bridge. Can you post one of the DNG's somewhere that we can download? Then we can see whether it's specific to the files themselves, or to your settings in LR somewhere.

 

[Denis de Gannes]

Bridge is using ACR to apply the adjustments to the original raw file. What version of ACR? I believe compatability between ACR and LR began with v4.' when LR 1.' was introduced.

 

[billg71]

Hang on a second. When I import with the import dialog develop preset set to None

it imports with any existing settings, which is surely what jcabbott is looking for. None doesn't use the LR basic preset for me. Zero'd changes all of my settings to zero, which is NOT what I'd be looking for.
Is this different for DNG then?

I just ran a quick test, opened a .nef file in ACR from Bridge, made adjustments and saved it as a .dng. Using the settings Victoria posted for import(Develop Settings: None), the DNG looks the same in LR and in Bridge. I did try using the General-Zeroed preset and it reset my file back to what the original .nef looked like.

Bridge is using ACR to apply the adjustments to the original raw file. What version of ACR? I believe compatability between ACR and LR began with v4.' when LR 1.' was introduced.

This could be your problem, if you're using the "None" develop setting and the imported DNG's are still getting a preset applied. You can download the latest version of ACR here, for Windows: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1'6&platform=Windows
or here, for Mac: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1'6&platform=Macintosh

I'd suggest getting the DNG Converter/ACR update if your version of ACR is older than 4.' just for compatibility.

If this doesn't help, I'm at a loss.

P.S. posting your system and software versions in your signature can be a great help to those trying to help you. See this thread: http://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/showthread.php?t=29

 

[Denis de Gannes]

This quote is taken from Martin Evenings update book on LR 1.1
" Viewing Camera Raw Edits in Light Room
If you want your Camera Raw edits to be visible in Lightroom then you also need to make sure the .xmp adjustments applied in Camera Raw are saved to the .xmp file space, to do this, launch Bridge, got to the Bridge CS3 menu and choose Camera Raw Preferences where you need to go to the Save Image Settings menu and select sidecar".xmp files". This will ensure that the Camera Raw Settings are always saved to the xmp space by default."

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Yep, Victoria was right and I made an error!!!
None is the preset to use but make sure you have auto tone turned off as well.
Zeroed is all settings to zero,
Sorry for any confusion.........