Exporting an image from Lightroom with history attached via "Send This File"

[dgberg]

Can it be done? I exported both an original and DNG to my desktop, reimported them and the history is attached. I sent both of those files through my Send This File uploader and it is gone.
I understand the .xmp thing and thought I could get it to work but no dice.

[john beardsworth]

History steps are not included in the metadata saved to files.

If you want the History steps to be viewed elsewhere, select the files and use File > Export As Catalog, including the negatives.

[fdisilvestro]

As John said, you need to export as catalog, including the negatives. This will create a folder structure with a catalog, the original image(s) and previews, if selected.
You may have to compress the folder tree into a zip file before sending through Send This File

[dgberg]

I have a client that wants to send me just a couple of images with the history attached. He wants me to review his processing before printing and have me make some minor adjustments off of his history.
I am trying it from my end first.
If I go to Export as Catalog it shows an export  of 479 images and I only want to send two.

[fdisilvestro]

You have to select only the photos you want to send. Maybe you have all selected

[fdisilvestro]

Just in case, it does not matter at all in which order you made the adjustments, so the image will be affected only by the current adjustments, regardless of the history

[dgberg]

I only had 1 selected and it showed 479. I just did a test I exported the raw as an original with history to my desktop then reimported it all by itself.
Now when I went into save as catalog it was just the one image. I exported to desktop and it had the image plus the .lrct.
Tried to send that via my uploader but no dice.

[fdisilvestro]

Did you zip the folder?

[dgberg]

Never zipped anything with my Mac.

[Jeremy Roussak]

Never zipped anything with my Mac.

Right-click and select the "compress" option.

Jeremy

[dgberg]

Jeremy,

You can tell I have never done this before. Still cannot get it to work.
I zipped the file and tried uploading them via my uploader. Uploaded the raw and zip file via Send This File.
They both came through but what is the trick to get the raw and xmp into Lightroom showing the history?

[mcbroomf]

Your new catalog is in the zip folder right? 

Uncompress the zip file to get the catalog, then open the catalog directly.  It will open the cat with the single raw file you created. 
It may not know here the raw file is (there will be a ? next to it).  If so right click on it and chose show in finder or similar, then navigate to the place you put the file.
That should deal with it.

[dgberg]

Mike,
The problem is with Send This File, maybe? I am doing nothing with a catalog, just sending one raw.
As a test I export a raw file with history onto my desktop in a folder. I then go to send this file and upload the Raw as one file and then have to upload the xmp as a separate  file.
They both come through Send This File as two separate downloads. Where I am having the problem is getting the two together so that I have a raw file with history attached.
Sorry for being so thick but something I have never done.

[mcbroomf]

Hi Dan,
I believe you have to SEND the catalog (just the one with the single image) together with the raw.  That's it (ie not the separate xmp).

See John's reply above;

"History steps are not included in the metadata saved to files.
If you want the History steps to be viewed elsewhere, select the files and use File > Export As Catalog, including the negatives."

ie i's the catalog that contains the history ..

[Jeremy Roussak]

Dan,

Not thick (necessarily  ). If I understand you correctly, what you need to do is this.

1. In LR, select the photos you want to send
2. Choose File -> Export as Catalog...
3. In the dialog, make sure that "Export selected files only" and "Export negative files" are ticked
4. Name the exported catalog and click "Export catalog"

5. There will now be a folder in the location you specified, which contains an LR catalog and the raws. Zip it (right-click and compress)
6. Send the zipped file. Nothing else should be necessary.

At the other end,

7. Unzip, by double-clicking the zipped file
8. Start LR as usual, with the usual catalog
9. Choose File -> Import from Another Catalog...
10. Select the new catalog and import

You should end up with the raw file and all its edits in the new catalog.

Jeremy

[mcbroomf]

Jeremy explained it better ... 

[dgberg]

Thank you both, will give it a shot.
Boy that is a lot to do for something that should be so automatic and simple.

[fdisilvestro]

Maybe it is because not many people have requested this. History might be useful for the original author or for training purposes. Other than that, the only thing that affect the image is the current value of the sliders / control. It does not matter at all how many steps or in which order they were followed.

[dgberg]

I have a client I print regularly for. The images come to me processed but not always correctly. We discussed sending the images to me so that I can see what he has done to them.
I knew it could be done but thought it would be easier. Not sure he will want to go to all that effort. May just be easier to have him bring his computer over and review in person.

[mcbroomf]

I not sure this is much use if he has a solid LR workflow, but if he were to use PS ACR rather than LR then the raw file or tif with smart object and xmp would do what you want (ie he'd just send the file(s) + the XMP).

I just verified it by processing a raw file stored on my NAS in PS-ACR with my laptop.   I tweaked it then saved the file as a tiff with a smart object with no further processing in PS, ie just the sliders I'd tweaked in ACR. 
I moved to my desktop and then opened the same Raw in ACR and the slider adjustments were correct (the xmp is next to the raw file).
I also opened the tif I'd saved and it was processed and opening the smart object in ACR again showed the same slider settings.