How to export virtual copies in LR3

[rickp1]

I took a bunch of images for a family member getting married.
Once in LR I created some virtual copies so I could use some presets and not mess with the original.
Now I want to export all the DNG files but the virtual copies will not export. Any ideas why or how I can export the copies?

Thanks
R.

[corvus2606]

right click on the virtual copy, click Export->export to DNG

I know this works, I just did it today. unless you have a problem with lightroom.

[rickp1]

that's exactly what I was doing. It does export the virtual copy but without the changes.

R.

[rickp1]

well i just learned that if I expor the virtual copy to JPG, then it export just fine. It only fails when i export to DNG.

I need them in their RAW format so I can go back later and work on them if I need to.

R.

[rickp1]

Originally Posted by corvus2606

right click on the virtual copy, click Export->export to DNG

I know this works, I just did it today. unless you have a problem with lightroom.

What version are you using. I'm using 3.3

[Photologyst]

All “photos” in the LR data base are virtual copies until you export them. You can make as many virtual copies as you need and then export those as “real” photos.

You can export either: Via the Library module choosing from JPGs, TIFFs, etc. or you can export smaller pixs from the Web module via HTML or Flash.

There is only one, actual DNG. You can covert your RAWs to DNGs.

[rickp1]

what I'll end up doing then is burning the original files through filer (using a mac) then I'll export the virtual copies as jpgs so I'll have a copy of those as well. Then i can have a separate copy of the files for the girl.

It's shame, I thought an export would export everything as DNG.

R.

[inkista]

Err... DNG is the internal file format for Lightroom. It's like another RAW format, and unless you specify it, none of your edits would be included, which is why LR is stopping you from exporting as DNG. Remember, most of the editing you're doing is just adding editing instructions to be performed on the original data. This is why we have non-destructive editing. When you make a "virtual copy", you're just making a second set of instructions to run on the same data.

DNG: "Digital Negative". Think of the DNG as a negative; the JPEG, TIFF, or PSD file as a print. You typically don't make a negative of a negative.

[Jim Poor]

Lightroom is non-destructive so there is no need to work on a virtual copy to begin with in terms of "not messing with the original." If you want side by side comparisons, then virtual copies can be useful. Otherwise, you're just wasting time and space making copies.

[sk66]

When you export a DNG doesn't it also attach the xmp file? The xmp file might not be read by whatever program is viewing the DNG, I'm pretty sure there's an option to export the xmp with the DNG or not. (** I don't use DNG's)

I find virtual copies useful. I use them to compare "versions" as "reset" sucks and going back thru history states is time consuming..(I believe there is a trick to set a particular history state as the "before" for comparison...I should use that).
I believe a virtual copy is not a copy of the RAW file...that would be a huge wate of space. It is just another set of metadata (xmp file). Two xmp files are not really much larger than just one with all of the information from both in it.