DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> LIghtroom import/export process help needed
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 18 of 18, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 09/23/2008 08:46:40 PM · #1
I have just received my first DQ, after entering only 2 challenges, feeling quite disheartened. I was DQ'd for using a vignette in a basic challenge, which is fair enough, although I thought it was a global lens correction tool so would be ok. I'm happy to take the DQ, thats not the problem. The real problem for me is that the original that I sent apparently has been altered by Lightroom.
Can someone who is using Lightroom please explain their complete import and export process, so I can see if I'm doing the wrong thing for the challenges? I've withdrawn my other entries in case the same thing happens, or in case my method is wrong, at least until I've cleared it up.

At present, I import photos into lightroom using the 'date-filename' choice. I then export at 200 pixels per inch (although I think that may be causing some blurriness) and 600 pixels at the longest edge. Am I corrupting the file by using "date-filename", or what?

Please help, I know you've probably all discussed this before and I attempted to read the 9 page forum thread that the site council sent me but I simply don't have time to wade through it all, and couldn't find the answers to my question as yet.
 09/23/2008 08:47:42 PM · #2
just to clarify that question - I am looking for the import/export process for both challenge entries and originals.
 09/23/2008 08:57:45 PM · #3
Hi Trish,

I don't use Lightroom so I'm no help to you at all. I just wanted to say "bummer!" for you, and encourage you to keep your chin up. Must be so disappointing, but you have so much talent, you'll be a force around here in no time :)
09/23/2008 09:00:43 PM · #4
Thanks Lonni, that is very kind of you....its so easy to become completely disheartened around here, there are so many amazing photographers with great ideas and even greater skills. I'm hoping I get into the swing of it soon - I think my standard has so far gone backwards, not forwards!
Hopefully at least if I do get a good shot I can find out how to process the file to the DPC specifications and not get another DQ.....
 09/23/2008 09:04:55 PM · #5
Since joining the site, I have kept every original in a master folder. I then COPY the shots to a "project" folder. I then import into Lightroom, or previously just edit in Paintshop Pro, or Photoshop. I then export into a completed projects folder. This leaves me with 2 easy folders to backup, the master and completed projects folders to make it easy to keep track of what needs backed up, as well as have the originals to provide should I need to for whatever reason.

Hope this helps you.
 09/23/2008 09:07:47 PM · #6
i am no expert on this so hopefully someone else will jump in. I think if you use lightroom to import the file from your sd memory card it may alter the metadata file that goes with your image. What i do is use windows to copy my files from my cd card to my hard drive then import the photo into lightroom from the file on my hard drive. i havent had to validate yet so i cant guarantee this is ok.

edited to add
dont let this get you down i been here 2 years and still have lots to learn, but i do feel like dpc has been a great learning tool for me. your first two images look great so i dont think you have anything to worry about you will do good and have lots of fun also

Message edited by author 2008-09-23 21:12:58.
 09/23/2008 09:28:40 PM · #7
Thanks David, you're also very kind.

By the way, i'm using Mac, for anyone else who wants to jump in.....please?
 09/23/2008 09:31:27 PM · #8
bump
 09/23/2008 09:33:42 PM · #9
As far as I know... importing files into Lightroom does not touch the source files at all. Are you sure Lightroom has modified your originals? How do you know? (I mean, what evidence do you have)

09/23/2008 09:35:30 PM · #10
When they DQ'd me they said "your JPG was tagged with transfer/editing software". That, I assume, is about the original that I had to submit.
 09/23/2008 09:38:27 PM · #11
Originally posted by dwterry:
As far as I know... importing files into Lightroom does not touch the source files at all. Are you sure Lightroom has modified your originals? How do you know? (I mean, what evidence do you have)


i don't have any evidence i just read somewhere one time that some photo editing tools could make changes to the metadata file if used to copy file from you card so therefore i have just avoided using them for copying from my card.
 09/23/2008 09:46:43 PM · #12
Originally posted by jettyimages:
When they DQ'd me they said "your JPG was tagged with transfer/editing software". That, I assume, is about the original that I had to submit.


Ah... so your source files are jpegs not raw files, is that correct? I have no idea how LR handles jpegs. But I don't believe it tags raw files in any way.

09/23/2008 09:51:18 PM · #13
No, I shoot in RAW. Maybe that was my mistake, I sent them a JPEG as the original.....duh
 09/23/2008 09:54:07 PM · #14
Hi jettyimages,

If you have the original JPG's still on the memory card, you can use those as proof files for your submission. If you have a question about entries for rollover tonight, send them in a ticket and I'll check them for you tonight. I'll be up for about another hour.

09/23/2008 09:59:37 PM · #15
Hi L2
I shoot in RAW, and import into Lightroom. I've now realised that my mistake was to send the 'original' as a JPEG, so thats sorted. Lightroom automatically backs up a file on my hard disc full of every image saved as DNG. Are they ok to send for proof?
Re my challenges, I'd love it if you are able to check them - how do I send them in a 'ticket'? Can you tell me if I have imported into Lightroom as RAW files with 'date-filename' as the naming process, edit them, then export as 200px/inch at 600 pixels longest width, am I doing the right thing?

I'm SO glad my jobs don't encounter any of these problems!
 09/23/2008 10:12:16 PM · #16
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Hi L2
I shoot in RAW, and import into Lightroom. I've now realised that my mistake was to send the 'original' as a JPEG, so thats sorted. Lightroom automatically backs up a file on my hard disc full of every image saved as DNG. Are they ok to send for proof?
Re my challenges, I'd love it if you are able to check them - how do I send them in a 'ticket'? Can you tell me if I have imported into Lightroom as RAW files with 'date-filename' as the naming process, edit them, then export as 200px/inch at 600 pixels longest width, am I doing the right thing?

I'm SO glad my jobs don't encounter any of these problems!


Well there is good news! If you shoot in RAW, the Lightroom tag doesn't matter because RAW files can't be directly modified; don't worry about changing the title either. So put your entries supported by RAW originals back in the challenge and submit those as proof if it winds up being requested.

Here's the "GOTCHA" - DNG files are not valid as originals unless your camera natively shoots it that way.

More info with links in this ONE page thread. :)

09/24/2008 02:29:53 AM · #17
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Lightroom automatically backs up a file on my hard disc full of every image saved as DNG. Are they ok to send for proof?


LR with munge JPGs on import, but strictly raw files are left alone. Conversion to DNG, however, as L2 points out above, however, is NOT acceptable for an "original" file submission.

My recommendation, if you wish to continue to use DNG, is to, at import time, also select the "Backup to:" option in the import dialog, and put an extra copy of your images (the true original raw files) in a separate location. This will create a "date named" directory in the folder you select (perhaps call it "DPChallenge-Originals", for example), and dump all of your imported images there.

If you have a card with lots of other pictures you are importing at the same time, just import your dpchallenge-related images with the "Backup-To" selected; import the others on a separate pass without that option selected.

Using "Backup-To" ONLY copies the original files -- the backup files it copies are NOT brought into the catalog; they are (exactly what you want in this case), a completely separate backup of the original files.

Obviously another way would simply be to copy the raw files from your card to another directory by hand, separate from your LR import. You can accomplish it in LR, however, so I say why make yourself more work...

Renaming the raw files is acceptable; I have specific communication from the SC regarding that fact. Oh, and I see L2 mentioned that, too. Duh. ;) So, yes, rename away.

I got DQed on the vignette adjustment, too, a while back. That was before they explicitly put the verbage about vignettes being a non-global adjustment in the ruleset. I'm glad they finally updated the rules to mention vignettes specifically, but sorry to hear someone still got caught by that one.
09/24/2008 03:21:49 AM · #18
When importing the images - did you apply any of the supplied "Develop Settings" presets at import time? If so one of them may have the vignette effect applied - thus you might not notice it when importing because you think you are seeing the image "straight out of the camera" - thus lulling you into a false sense of security that you havent added anything.. Just to be on the safe side I apply no settings at import time except for "Auto white balance" and applying one of the camera profiles (Landscape/portrait/faithful etc).

Message edited by author 2008-09-24 03:23:34.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/27/2025 06:44:39 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/27/2025 06:44:39 PM EDT.