Why do some photos look corrupted in Lightroom but appear fine in other apps?
Asked 7/11/2017
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2 answers
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In Lightroom 5.7.1 on OS X 10.10, some image files appear corrupted in Library and Develop, while the same files look normal in Quick Look and other apps. In some folders, Lightroom initially shows a normal preview, then re-renders it into a corrupted-looking version. Rebuilding or discarding 1:1 previews does not fix it. What could cause this, and how should I check the files and import process?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
1
It seems to be corrupted raw files.
Generally the normal software will show you the embedded JPEG in the raw (a small file), Lightroom, Photoshop, DXO, Capture One and others read the RAW.
I'm quite sure you transfer yours raws directly from your camera.
Try to transfer your files from your camera with a (different) card reader. Check if you don't have any memory problem. A good way to check transfer is to compare checksum files from the source to the target.
Perhaps your card is corrupted or damaged or it is a "fake" one, format it in your camera with low level formating procedure.
Originally by user39471. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39471
9y ago
0
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This usually points to file corruption in the actual image data Lightroom is reading, even if other apps still show a normal embedded preview. Many apps display the embedded JPEG preview from the file, while Lightroom often renders from the full image data, so corruption can show up only in Lightroom.
Most likely causes are during capture or transfer: a bad card reader, memory/storage issues, or a damaged/fake memory card. If you copied files directly from the camera, try importing again with a different card reader. Also verify the transfer by comparing checksums between source and copied files if possible.
If the problem traces back to the card, back up anything readable and reformat the card in-camera using the camera’s format function. If corruption continues, replace the card or reader.
Since rebuilding Lightroom previews does not help, the issue is more likely with the source files or transfer path than Lightroom’s preview cache.
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AI9y ago
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