Editing in LightRoom

[compleks]

I was just developing an image in LightRoom for the first time.

I'm wondering when I click into the 'develop' tag and start playing around with an image, am I effecting the original copy?

I have two basic folders for all my photos. One contains everything I shoot and the other is my 'portfolio' folder where I save all the photos I think are worthy (the majority of these have undergone some editing).

Anyway, so I would like to keep the original image where it is, and then same the edited version to my 'portfolio' folder. In LightRoom it appeared as though I was directly manipulating the original copy.

How do I duplicate it for editing and then save to my other folder?


How do you all store your edited images? Or do you work with the original?

Cheers.

[DannyF1966]

All editing in Lightroom is non-destructive - even after you've closed the program and reopen it, you can still undo what you did on a particular image. You can create virtual copies by clicking on an entry in the Photo drop-down menu (on the PC you can also click Ctrl+'), and you can use the virtual copies to see the effects of a different editing process.

When you export the image you can save it as a jpg or whatever, but when working in Lightroom itself everything is non-destructive.

Edited to add: when you click file -> export, you can choose to save the exported image in a subfolder.

[Algernonep]

The best resource for this issue is the 'DAM book'.
Read the 'DAM book' by Peter Krogh...
Very informative book!

[Samanax]

As DannyF1966 stated, editing in Lightroom is non-destructive...it doesn't alter the image file itself. It logs all the edits you've done to a image and then applies them to a copy of the original image file when you do the "Save As" operation. The original image file is never altered.

Are you shooting in RAW or JPEG?

[Algernonep]

Parametric Image Editing software...
That is what Lightroom is. The 'DAM Book' talk all about that and more...

[compleks]

Thanks for the replies, exactly what I wanted to know
I keep getting recommendations for this DAM book. I'll have to get my hands on a copy.

Samanex - I'm still shooting in JPEG (as I don't have a DSLR yet).

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by compleks

Samanex - I'm still shooting in JPEG (as I don't have a DSLR yet).

Make copies of all the JPEGs you want to keep and just edit the copies. Store the original files someplace safe so you'll always have them in the future if you want to go back and try different editing techniques. Work on the copies and not the original JPEG files. JPEGs don't stand up well to a lot of editing (like when you edit in Photoshop CS3 or CS4, not in Lightroom 2 or 3...Lightroom editing is non-destructive...the original file remain untouched).

[compleks]

Ah okay.
Thanks for that. At the moment I'm just getting familiar with lightroom.

I'm editing the originals and exporting them to another folder, then removing all changes made to the original.
If I start using photoshop I will be sure to make copies.
(Does that still apply if you're shooting in RAW? Or do they hold up against the editing?)

Thanks for the help everyone.


PS. I love LightRoom.

[fletch]

Lightroom is non destructive whatever file format you use. Making copies to work from is not a necessary step. (You should back up your work though).

When using Lightroom simply import the originals and work away, it will not affect the original file in any way. Not one little bit. You can see this if you open the original in another program, it will not show any of the LR adjustments.

When you need a copy of the photo with Lightroom adjustments Export the images and this will show all of the adjustments. You can treat this file as a temporary file, safe in knowledge you have your original and all of your LR still intact.

When you need to edit in PS you can launch from LR using the "Edit in" comand. This brings up a dialogue asking if you want to edit the original or a copy with LR adjustments. Choose the copy and again you won't have to worry about damaging your originals at all.

Simple really and saves having multiple copies fo your files everywhere.

[compleks]

LightRoom is fantastic

Thanks for the help.