Question about how files are saved

[dovbaer]

Lightroom Version

LR 12.0.01

Operating System

1. macOS 12 Monterey

Most of my files are on an external hard drive, and most of them are still dngs.
Let' say I want to re-import them, not just move them. Regarding the edits I have made, are they now embedded or will they be fresh out-of-the-camera raw.

 

[Califdan]

As they are DNG's, It depends.

If you have "saved Metadata to XMP" at any time, then re-importing those files will retain the edits in place when you saved the metadata. However it will not retain the edit history, virtual copies, snapshots, or participation in collections

If you have never "saved Metadata to XMP", then the re-imported DNG will be as it was when it was created.

 

[Califdan]

BTW, if the goal is to revert to the original unedited image, you can simply select the image in the Develop module and click the "reset" button at the bottom of the right panel group. If you have many, then select them all on the filmstrip, turn on Auto-Sync and click the "reset" button - REMEMBER TO TURN AUTO SYNC-BACK OFF. Both of these methods will ratin VC's, participation in colelctions, and other metadata.

 

[dovbaer]

So, if I go back over my old files and save the metadata to XMP, can I still revert to the original imported file, or is it now locked into the files as-is?

 

[Hal P Anderson]

You can always revert the the imported state of the files. Just hit the Reset button in the lower right corner of the Develop module.

 

[Califdan]

Good question. As Hal said, saving Metadata to the files does not overrite the original image.

What's going on is that inside the image file (or in a seperate XMP file for proprietary RAW files), there is a place set aside to store "XMP" type data. Saving metadata puts information in this area but does not alter any of the actual image pixels or anything outside of this "XMP" area. What goes in there are your libary module metadata fields such as keywords, titles, cattions, copyright info, etc. and the values of develop module slider positions, mask info and healing info. This info is just text fields and mathematical notations, not pixels. For example "Exposure=+0.25".