Lightroom Virtual Copies and Soft Proofing

[SimonC]

Hi Folks,

I’m hoping someone can help me with a couple of vexing printing workflow problems I have in Lightroom.  My workflow for any image I’m going to work on is to first create a Virtual Copy which I process in the Develop module.  The problems occur when I then create a Collection of these Virtual Copies:

1.   If I try and Soft Proof a Virtual Copy as soon as I start to make any proofing adjustments and select Create Proof Copy using the Before and After view, the Before view reverts to the original Master Copy rather than the processed Virtual Copy and so I’m unable to compare the Soft Proof copy against the processed copy.

2.   The other issue is that generally for a particular paper there are a few standard Soft Proofing adjustments (e.g. small increases to Exposure, Contrast, Clarity and Vibrance) that are at a least a good starting point for final printing adjustments.  I want to be able to create a preset with these standard adjustments and then apply them to multiple Virtual Copies.  If I try this in the Develop Module, I can only do 1 image at a time and any adjustments overwrite the Develop Module settings rather than being made relative to the current Develop Module settings.  I believe it should be possible to apply Relative adjustments on a batch basis using presets in the Quick Develop panel in the Library Module.  However when I’ve tried this it appears that any existing Develop Adjustments are reset and then the preset adjustments are applied to the zeroed settings!

Any help and suggestions would be gratefully accepted.

Simon

[fdisilvestro]

Hi,

1) When you are in soft proof mode, in the bottom part you should see "Before: Master Photo" Just click on "Master Photo" and a contextual menu appears where you can select the desired "Before" version as in the attached file.

2) I don't think that you can do "Relative" edits directly in LR. However, there is a plugin that it is supposed to allow it (I have not tested it):
http://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/lightroomstatistics/relativeadjustments/

[JRSmit]

Hi,

1) When you are in soft proof mode, in the bottom part you should see "Before: Master Photo" Just click on "Master Photo" and a contextual menu appears where you can select the desired "Before" version as in the attached file.

2) I don't think that you can do "Relative" edits directly in LR. However, there is a plugin that it is supposed to allow it (I have not tested it):
http://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/lightroomstatistics/relativeadjustments/

Yes that plugin works.

[Jimbo57]

.....  My workflow for any image I’m going to work on is to first create a Virtual Copy which I process in the Develop module.  ....

I almost want to ask "Why?"  It seems like an unnecessary additional step in your workflow.

Why not just develop the original copy? If, at a later date, to discover that you do need to go back to an original "undeveloped" version, then just make a virtual copy at that stage and hit the "Reset" button. Your previous edits won't be affected but you will have an "unprocessed" version to work from - without the unnecessary virtual copies of those where you don't need them.

[Tony Jay]

I almost want to ask "Why?"  It seems like an unnecessary additional step in your workflow.

Why not just develop the original copy? If, at a later date, to discover that you do need to go back to an original "undeveloped" version, then just make a virtual copy at that stage and hit the "Reset" button. Your previous edits won't be affected but you will have an "unprocessed" version to work from - without the unnecessary virtual copies of those where you don't need them.

Yes, I agree.
The workflow detailed by the OP just seems unnecessarily complicated.

Tony Jay

[digitaldog]

Agree, seems pointless to make a VC, the soft proof which upon editing will make another VC (Proof Copy). Output specific edits belong in a Proof Copy and LR forces this on us for good reason. One master, edited without output specific edits. From there, as many soft proofed, Proof Copies each having their own output specific edit.

[SimonC]

Thanks folks for your advice. 

1. Soft Proofing issue with original VC sorted. 
2. Shame you can't apply relative adjustments in LR, I might give that plugin in try.

Good point about my work flow. I picked this up off a tutorial but on hindsight it does seem an unnecessary step.

Cheers,

Simon