LR non-destructive editing is destructing my photos

[froyd]

OK, the title is admittedly tongue-in-cheek, but I am genuinely confused.

I'm trying LR5 as a potential alternative to PSE10, or at least as a capable companion for sorting images, printing them, and executing batch edits.

My confusion comes from the way LR handles files. Say I select file 001.jpg to bring into the develop module; I make some tweaks, move back to the library and boom, there's a new image in the catalog (image 1 of 2) which shows all my changes. This image is virtual, from what I understand, i.e. it's only a set of editing instructions, saved in a cab file. Now, I decide I'd like to see what a BW conversion of the edited 001.jpg image would look like, so I click on the thumbnail and move back to the develop module. At this point, all my editing steps are gone from the history, I cannot see any of the editing points from the brush, and what's more, if I conver the image to black and white, my previously edited version of 001.jpg disappears, replaced by a BW copy...but what if I wanted both versions beside the original: a color edit and a BW conversion?

Also, in the Develop module I see a history tracking each edit I make, so say I adjust exposure, then increase contrast, and then edit some dust spots, and I realize that the exposure adjustment might not be as necessary as I initially thought, can I toggle that one specific effect on and off, and completely eliminate it without losing the contrast adjustent and healing work?


Thanks in advance for the pointers!

 

[lynnb]

In answer to the first question:
Photo - Create Virtual Copy

You can have as many different virtual copies, each with its own processing, as you like.

 

[lynnb]

There appears to be an inelegant workaround for your second question. The difficulty is that LR is a linear editing system, hence the workaround.

 

[froyd]

Thanks Lynn! I'm getting tired of watching video tutorials... I don't have the patience to learn new software, but I enjoy printing from LR much more than PSE, so I want to stick with it for the 30-day trial.

 

[lynnb]

I do almost all my processing in LR but usually I print from CS (from LR: Photo - Edit in -> Adobe Photoshop CS). Two reasons: I resize in CS for printing, and I prefer the print dialogs in CS.

 

[Mcary]

I've been using LR since the original beta all the way up to LR 5.2 and have never had what you've described happened(LR automatically creating a Virtual) when working with JPEG or any other type of files happen.
Have you checked the Catalog >Metadata to make sure the box "Included development setting in metadata for JPEGS/TIFF/PSD is checked?
While "Virtual copy" is nice I strongly suggest creating a "Snapshot" of each version of an image that you want saved. Now this is not an either or choice as you can use both together. Also when you switch from one copy be it the original or a virtual copy the snap shot of that copy will be highlighted under the snap shot section in the right panel.
Note rather then using the generic time stamp names such as "12/23/13 11:38:49 AM" I like to use names like B&W 8x10, Color 8x12, B&W high contract 8x12.
Reference your last question you can make changes to any and all settings without effecting the other settings as each slider works separately.
FYI don't worry about saving the "History" as its simple shows in what order changes/adjustment were made nothing more. Personally I usually just clear the history after I'm done editing an image as I can always make any additional adjustment/changes by simply selecting the desired tool(s) and making the desired changes.

 

[willie_901]

As mentioned above, every time you want to maker a major change make a new virtual copy. There is a keyboard short cut for this:

Ctrl + ‘ (apostrophe) Windows

Command + ‘ (apostrophe) OS X

Try thisCreate a new snapshot

Ctrl + N

Command + N

Look at newly imported photos and flag the keepers.

Sort by Flagged; or Filter to show show flagged only.

Select all the flagged/filtered images (Select all photos Ctrl + A or Command + A)

Make virtual copies, Ctrl + ‘ (apostrophe), Command + ‘ (apostrophe) OS X

This takes seconds once you've flagged the keepers. You can repeat the keyboard short cut to make as many copies as you'd like. Virtual copies hardly increase the size of the LR Catalog.

There is another useful tool (again, mention above) for the Development module. You can save numerous Snapshots (Create a new snapshot - Ctrl + N or Command + N). A Snapshot saves all the rendering parameters applied to the image. Snapshots are identified by a time stamp.