Lightroom 3 -- auto adjusting? - DPChallenge Forums

01/09/2012 09:30:14 PM · #1

Hi all.

I use a fair number of applications when editing images (topaz, SEP, etc) and I recently updated LR2 to LR3. I exported an image to SEP and wanted to get a nice contrasty image. However, when the image gets re-imported to LR3 it appears to do some automatic fiddling with the image and adjusts it effectively removing the edits that I have done to the image.

Here's what I get when I export the iamge from LR3. I have ensured there are no adjustments on the image (I have hit the reset button) and exported with my default DPC preset (probably over sharpened as it sharpens on export):

For comparison purposes I opened the same image with Photoshop CS4, and saved the image for web. Here's what I got from that export:

Two very different images even from the preview. The image that I saw in SEP looked like the PS image. And yet when it's imported to LR3 (after it had been exported from LR3) it appears to automatically do some adjustments...
This has not only happened with this image but others that I have edited.

Does anyone know what might be causing these unwanted adjustments?

Thanks as always.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/09/2012 09:43:03 PM · #2

Originally posted by NiallOTuama:

Does anyone know what might be causing these unwanted adjustments?

Thanks as always.

I don't know for certain, but I have a guess... Lr normally applies default settings to imported photos. These default settings can be changed by the user, and are stored per camera. So you can have different default settings for different cameras.
If the default settings are not set to "do nothing" then the settings may well be re-applied per the camera information in the EXIF, even on re-import of an image.
One thing you could try is stripping out the EXIF on saving it in the external editor, see if that changes how Lr treats it on import. Alternatively, set all of the tone controls to flat for import for that camera, sharpening to zero, etc.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

01/09/2012 09:52:06 PM · #3

The initial image is the small JPG embedded in the RAW file.... The one after the change is RAW auto settings LR applies.

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED AL AF

01/09/2012 10:05:10 PM · #4

Originally posted by kirbic:

Are these setting the ones you can choose in the import dialog? They I also checked and ensured were 'do nothing,' but I would imagine that the reset would have reset them too.

However, I did try your suggestion. And the image now looks like the initial PS image in browse mode. But when I press 'd' for developing it goes to this:

And the test.tif image in PS exports to the same image as the initial PS export. Seems not to work :-/

I'm pretty darn confused.

robs, I'm not sure... Are you talking about the ones I uploaded here? Here was my workflow to get those two images.
1) import raw image
2) export to SEP
3) in SEP save and it was re-imported to LR3
4) export for web
That got my my first image. To get the second I took the file resulting from step 3, opened it in PS, and saved for web.

They aren't the "auto tone" options in LR, cause if I'm editing and press "auto" it makes further changes.

I might try removing the camera profile... is that dangerous?

alohadave

Pentax K-5

01/09/2012 10:12:59 PM · #5

What is SEP?

01/09/2012 10:14:49 PM · #6

Originally posted by alohadave:

What is SEP?

Silver Efex Pro. Sorry, forgot to define it.
But it doesn't matter what it was. It happens with the Topaz tools too. And probably HDR Efex Pro and Photomatix.

Message edited by author 2012-01-09 22:15:27.

01/09/2012 10:18:04 PM · #7

Try this... in the Develop Module, flatten/zero all adjustments on one of the re-imported photos manually. On the Tone Curve, select "linear" since you don't want to re-apply a tone curve to the image.
Now, from the main menu select Develop > Set Default Settings. The dialog that opens will tell you under what conditions the selected settings will be applied by default. It tells you the changes can't be undone, and this is true, to an extent. You can't just click "undo" but you can change them manually to what they were and re-save the defaults.

01/09/2012 10:21:04 PM · #8

Originally posted by kirbic:

Done that already. And here is where it gets more interesting, I'm afraid.

Here are screenshots in browse and develop modes in LR. Browse mode looks 'right' but develop doesn't!

Browse:

Develop:

All settings are 0'd. Tone curve is linear and flat. It's fully reset. I'm very confused :-/
Edit: I have also let it think for a while in case it wanted to add any adjustments to either images before taking the screenshot. It didn't.
Any other suggestions/ideas?

Message edited by author 2012-01-09 22:23:44.

01/09/2012 10:27:44 PM · #9

Well, you have me scratching my head, LOL. But then again, I never re-import anything that I've exported, so I have no relevant experience.

01/09/2012 10:33:35 PM · #10

Originally posted by kirbic:

Well, you have me scratching my head, LOL. But then again, I never re-import anything that I've exported, so I have no relevant experience.

Well, I appreciate your time anyway!
I'm gonna sleep on this I think. I can't figure it out. Might have to revert to LR2.

Might try contacting LR people about it. That'd make sense.

It wasn't a re-import. I right clicked on the image. Hit edit-in. Then SEP. Then 'edit a copy with LR adjustments'. Then did my SEP edits. Then hit save. LR re-loaded the file. It looked fine for a second or two but it still had the timer thing on the bottom. Then it adjusted itself from the SEP output to the first image I put in this thread.

Message edited by author 2012-01-09 22:35:21.

01/09/2012 10:55:10 PM · #11

Ah, I see now.
When you hit "save" out of SEP and Lr re-loaded the file, the initial preview you see is probably the embedded thumb, which darn well should look identical to the SEP output, assuming that the embedded thumb got re-written on save from SEP.
After Lr re-builds the preview, it changes to the default processing settings that Lr is using. Somewhere in there is the clue that will allow you to correct this behavior.
I think you ought to pop over to the appropriate Adobe forum, and ask the question there.