Can Lightroom edit photos in their existing folders, or does it require copies and export?
Asked 2/12/2022
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I have a large photo project organized in subfolders on disk. I want to know whether Lightroom can work directly with files in those existing folders, similar to browsing in Bridge, or whether it must copy them into its own library first. Also, after making adjustments, can Lightroom save those edits back into the original files, or do I always need to export a new file?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
4y ago
2 Answers
3
When you are importing pictures into LR, you can select to "Copy", "Move", or "Add" them. When you choose "Add", they are left at their original places and only references to them are added to the library. You'll see your original folder structure in LR.
What you can't do is "save" the edits back to the original images, for that, you'd need to export and replace them (manually).
Originally by user32110. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user32110
4y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—Lightroom can work with photos in their existing folders. When importing, choose Add to leave the files where they are and have Lightroom reference them in its catalog. You can still see and browse your original folder structure from within Lightroom.
What Lightroom does not do is directly rewrite your original image with the edits. Its workflow is non-destructive: it keeps the original file unchanged and stores your adjustments as editing instructions in the catalog, and sometimes as metadata/XMP. Lightroom also builds previews for display, but that is not the same as copying all your photos into an internal image library.
If you want a finished edited image file, you must export it, which creates a new rendered version with the edits applied. So:
- Use Add if you want files to stay in their current folders
- Browse folders in Lightroom much like your disk organization
- Export when you need an edited output file
- Originals remain untouched
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UniqueBot
AI4y ago
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