embedded previews

[alex]

Brand new Lightroom user here - can anyone tell me whether Lightroom retains and shows changes in the full-size embedded previews in dng files, as iView used to do?

Thanks,
Alex

[john beardsworth]

Not really, Alex. iView actually used the embedded JPEG preview but LR processes the raw data to display images.

John

[PhotoEcosse]

...think of everything you do to an image in LR being stored simply as a set of instructions which is then applied to the Raw file whenever you want to export or print or whatever. And, of course, you can have many different sets of instructions attached to one Raw file (virtual copies as LR calls them) with hardly any overhead on disc space.

[madmanchan]

To be clear:  If you have a DNG image in Lr, and you have made adjustments in Develop, by default those adjustments will not be reflected in the embedded preview images in the DNG.  On the other hand, if you choose "Metadata -> Update DNG Preview & Metadata" (in Library) then Lr will embed new previews reflecting the adjustments you've made, as well as any metadata updates (e.g, embedding camera profiles, etc.).

[digitaldog]

To be clear:  If you have a DNG image in Lr, and you have made adjustments in Develop, by default those adjustments will not be reflected in the embedded preview images in the DNG.  On the other hand, if you choose "Metadata -> Update DNG Preview & Metadata" (in Library) then Lr will embed new previews reflecting the adjustments you've made, as well as any metadata updates (e.g, embedding camera profiles, etc.).

Good point, necessary to understand. A question: Auto write XMP doesn't provide the same option as Update DNG Preview & Metadata as far as I understand. Any thought to having it do so, or another preference that automatically saves both? I understand the issues of updating DNG's and how that affects a backup. But if the Auto write XMP is on, isn't this the same as Update DNG Meadata without preview? And if I have this set for on, wouldn't it take as long to backup the entire DNG with as without the Preview getting backed up?

[alex]

In other words, there is now little if any immediate benefit in converting to DNG (other than long-term issues involving the continuation of proprietary software, etc). Is that right?

Alex

[john beardsworth]

In other words, there is now little if any immediate benefit in converting to DNG (other than long-term issues involving the continuation of proprietary software, etc). Is that right?

Alex

Well, I would rephrase that - in Lightroom you don't get the same benefit of the DNG's embedded preview that you enjoy when using a third-party asset manager. Another benefit is DNG validation.

John

[PhotoEcosse]

In other words, there is now little if any immediate benefit in converting to DNG (other than long-term issues involving the continuation of proprietary software, etc). Is that right?

Alex

Every now and then in this chatroom you will find (sometimes quite heated) debates about the merits of conveerting to DNG when using Lightroom. Some swear by it; some swear at it.

Personally I steer well clear of DNG. I shoot everything in Raw, store everthing in Raw and only export from LR as Jpeg or Tiff if I need a file to submit for a competition or whatever.

[digitaldog]

In other words, there is now little if any immediate benefit in converting to DNG (other than long-term issues involving the continuation of proprietary software, etc). Is that right?

No. If you want to understand what the DNG format provides, here are some articles you should read:

http://www.ppmag.com/reviews/200709_adobedng.pdf
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57371809-1/adobe-offering-new-reasons-to-get-dng-religion/
http://thedambook.com/dng-verification-in-lightroom-5/