transfering camera raw adjustments and keywords between computers

[wanderlust]

Dear Dam Forum,
I am using CS3 on laptop and on main computer. When I make camera raw adjustments and add keywords on laptop, this info doesnt transfer when I transfer the images to main computer. I have read pertinent sections in the Dam Book over and over, but I am obviously missing something.
Thank for the help,
Wanderlust

[peterkrogh]

Wanderlust, (Name?)
Are you setting Camera Raw to save the changes in XMP sidecars?
Peter

[wanderlust]

now i am saving the changes in xmp sidecars.  Where do the xmp files reside?  do i have to manually move the xmp files when i transfer NEF files between computers?  Converting the files to dng before transfer seems to solve the problem. Is their any disadvantage in doing this?

[peterkrogh]

Wanderlust (we use at least first names around here - unusual, I know, but I think it helps to encourage civility).

Yes, transfering sidecars is fraught with the possibility of loss.

My personal solution is DNG. You should rad a bit about it before you decide that's the way to go.  The biggest issue may be locking yourself out of Nikon capture NX.
Peter

[wanderlust]

Hi Peter,

Thanks so much for your help.  I don't use Nikon Capture software and we archive everything as dng's.  The problem is i can do lots of work on my laptop with regard to keywords, ratings, and image correction. I would then like to bring the folders to my main computer without having to convert everything to dng on the laptop first.  DNG files are what will ultimately will go into my archive.  We are saving image settings in sidecar xmp files in the camera raw preferences.  But, the keywords ratings and image corrections don't transfer. What am i missing?

Thanks again,

Howie(wanderlust)

[peterkrogh]

Howie,
They should transfer.

Can you post a short step-by-step?

OPen file on computer a
Add Keyword
Open into Camera Raw, adjust exposure
Close Camera Raw

Copy files to computer b
Open into Bridge
Expect to see keyword in the file's File Info

Peter

[wanderlust]

Peter,
Thank you kindly for step by step instructions. Ratings, keywords, and image adjustments still don't show on second computer unless images are dng. Can you think of why it doesn't work when transfering NEF files?
Howie

[BobSmith]

Can you think of why it doesn't work when transfering NEF files

Are you sure you're transferring the sidecar XMP files as well?  Reading through this thread again I'm not sure that it's ever been established with certainty that you are doing that.  Without them you won't see corrections or metadata.

Bob Smith

[peterkrogh]

Howie,
Those were not instructions, they were an example of how *you* need to post what you do.

As Bob points out, it's likely that something is being overlooked, and it's hard to guess what that is until you post *exactly* what you do.
Peter

[wanderlust]

Hi Peter,
I have followed steps you have suggested.
OPen file on computer a
Add Keyword
Open into Camera Raw, adjust exposure
Close Camera Raw
Copy files to computer b
Open into Bridge
I have done all the above but keywords, corrections and ratings still don't appear. I don't know where to find the xmp files or I would manually transfer them. When I show hidden files
I can see bridge cache, bridge cache t, thumbs Db, and bridgesort. I am not sure what the importance of these files are.Would transfer problem be corrected by purging the cache? This sounds so scary to me, it might be the only thing that I haven't tried so far. Thanks again, Howie Wanderlust

[wanderlust]

Hi Peter,
I have followed steps you have suggested.
OPen file on computer a
Add Keyword
Open into Camera Raw, adjust exposure
Close Camera Raw
Copy files to computer b
Open into Bridge
I have done all the above but keywords, corrections and ratings still don't appear. I don't know where to find the xmp files or I would manually transfer them. When I show hidden files
I can see bridge cache, bridge cache t, thumbs Db, and bridgesort. I am not sure what the importance of these files are.Would transfer problem be corrected by purging the cache? This sounds so scary to me, it might be the only thing that I haven't tried so far. Thanks again, Howie Wanderlust

[BobSmith]

the xmp files should be created in the same folder as your image files.  They'll have the same filename but with the .xmp extension instead of .nef.  For each image you've adjusted or added metadata, you'll have two files, filename.nef (or whatever raw format image file you're using) and filename.xmp.  If you're not moving the .xmp file that corresponds to an adjusted image file, you won't see the adjustments on the second computer.

Bob Smith

[peterkrogh]

Howie,
As Bob points out, there should be XMP files in the folder with the images. (Are the images raw?)
Peter