Exporting RAW files as RAW files from LR into CS3

[snoopy]

Hi

I just checked Lightroom 1.3.1. There is a point which I do not understand. LR and PS CS3 are using the exact same ACR. As far as I understood, they are "talking" also the same language for XMP files to memorize non-destructive image editing.

But when I open a RAW file in LR, make some changes and then want to continue to work in CS3 with this RAW file, it offers me only to export it either as a TIFF file or as a PSD file into CS3.

How can I transfer it as a RAW file to CS3 and keep all modifications I made already in LR? Technically this should work, since both have the same engine and same language. I just do not find that option in the settings.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Dirk

Addendum: in Expression Media, I can click also on an image and say "open with" and it opens the RAW file.

[andris]

Hi Dirk,

I believe what you'll need to do to have your lightroom changes reflected when you open the raw files through ACR in Photoshop is to export your Lightroom edits to the original files (Choose 'Save metadata to file' from the metadata menu) and then open the file into ACR either via Bridge or via 'file -> open' in Photoshop.

Can I ask what kinds of adjustments you want to make in ACR that you can't make in Lightroom?  This process seems a little redundant.  Once you open a raw adjusted file in Photoshop and make layered adjustments, you will no longer be able to save the file as a raw file anyway.  Saving the file as a PSD or TIFF out of Lightroom just saves a step for you.

Thanks,

Andris

[snoopy]

Hi Dirk,

I believe what you'll need to do to have your lightroom changes reflected when you open the raw files through ACR in Photoshop is to export your Lightroom edits to the original files (Choose 'Save metadata to file' from the metadata menu) and then open the file into ACR either via Bridge or via 'file -> open' in Photoshop.

Hi Andris

Cool, that works.

Can I ask what kinds of adjustments you want to make in ACR that you can't make in Lightroom?  This process seems a little redundant.  Once you open a raw adjusted file in Photoshop and make layered adjustments, you will no longer be able to save the file as a raw file anyway.  Saving the file as a PSD or TIFF out of Lightroom just saves a step for you.

Thanks,

Andris

mmmmmhhhh, that is interesting. I always thought that I could do even more RAW adjustments in CS3 than in LR.

So then the questions would be: Is there anything in LR or in CS3 concerning RAW images what the one can do and the other can not?

Thanks in advance

[andris]

I've always considered Lightroom's develop module and ACR as identical as far as adjustments offered.  Additionally, Lightroom offers several improvements in usability like the ability to make basic tone adjustments by clicking and dragging on the histogram and to adjust the parametric curve by clicking and dragging on light and dark areas in the image itself.

If you use smart objects, one thing you'll find missing is the ability to open a raw file as a smart object directly out of ACR (you can't from Lightroom).  This is relatively minor, however, and easily worked around.

Anyone who knows something I don't...feel free to correct me.

Thanks,

Andris

[peterkrogh]

Pretty close Andris.  The only capability difference is that ACR has a point curve and parametric curve, whereas Lr only has Parametric Curves. (I generally only use these curves when I am working with Negatives).

I generally use Bridge/ACR personally, because I can do many more adjustments faster using RapidFixer.  I find the QuickDevelop in Lightroom to be too limited. (No parametric curves, or Vignette controls, or Blue/Orange HSL controls - adjustments not fine enough.)

Peter

[andris]

You know, I even thought to check whether Lightroom allowed point curves or not.  I saw that you can select presets for the point curve (linear, medium contrast, strong contrast) but completely forgot that you couldn't actually edit the point curve yourself in LR since I rarely/never do that myself in ACR anyway.  I could see how it would be totally necessary for negatives, of course.

I totally hear you on the missing QuickDevelop functionality, I almost always find myself having to go to the develop module.  Regardless, Bridge isn't so much an option for me.  Bridge CS3 has been unusably slow and unstable (on our machines) ever since it came out.  Lightroom, by contrast, has been remarkably stable...even with large numbers of images.

Andris

[Braders]

I never use the quick develop, i just don;t see the point. i go straight to develop module.

Now, if LR had Dual Monitor support that allowed one to have the Library and Develop modules open on separate screens, quick develop becomes redundant.

Brad

[peterkrogh]

Actually, they would need to rework a bunch to get develop to mimic QD.  One thing you can't do in develop is to take a bunch of images with different starting points and add the same amount of exposure.  It can only take them *to* the same place - develop can't make the same amount of relative change to images that start with different values.

Have you looked at the RapidFixer movies?  You will see what QD *could* be. (RapidFixer was originally developed to show Adobe what Bridge/ACR/QD could do).

http://damuseful.com/pages/rapidfixer.html

Peter

[snoopy]

... One thing you can't do in develop is to take a bunch of images with different starting points and add the same amount of exposure.  It can only take them *to* the same place - develop can't make the same amount of relative change to images that start with different values....

This is actually an important point. I read that in the LR book of Martin Evening too. This was the reason why I never used the QD possibilities in LR. They always add the corrections in QD in addition to the ones that already have been made beforehand to the image within the developer module.

Is just bought Rapid fixer yesterday but had no time yet to test it. Is this not the case with Rapid fixer? To compare this with "LR handlings": Is Rapid Fixer making the changes in Bridge as if they would have been made in LR within the developer module (so non-additive)?

[peterkrogh]

Dirk,
RapidFixer makes a relative change to selected images, regardless of starting point, every images would get +1 f/stop of exposure if you pressed that button.

If you want to take images to the same *ending* place with RapidFixer (even though they may have started in different places), you can copy and paste settings from one images to one or more other images (Edit>Develop Settings>Copy Settings - this also shows you the keyboard shotrtcut).

If I'm working on a shoot done in changing light (which is where RapidFixer is most useful) this is an important capability.  I can look at a screenful (lots of images on that 30 inch monitor) and select all images that need to lighten a bit and do it, without regard for the starting point.

Make sense?
Peter

[snoopy]

Yes, makes sense...

Is it possible to make all adjustments with RapidFixer and then import those files as RAW files into LR without loosing the changes made with RapidFixer?

Dirk

[peterkrogh]

Yes.
Peter

[David Burren]

Harking back to the original question:

I believe what you'll need to do to have your lightroom changes reflected when you open the raw files through ACR in Photoshop is to export your Lightroom edits to the original files (Choose 'Save metadata to file' from the metadata menu) and then open the file into ACR either via Bridge or via 'file -> open' in Photoshop.

Actually there's an easier way: drag the (raw) files from the filmstrip or Library's Grid view directly to Photoshop.  That takes away the complication of finding the files scattered across multiple folders and explicitly opening them from within Photoshop.  Obviously you do still have to save the XMP changes first of course.