That said: turn off adjustments in Lightroom?

So I am using Lightroom.

 

How do I turn off adjustments?

 

I import pictures. I clock on the m and my carefully adjusted exposure and

colour suddenly change to some automated adjustments. I do not want adjustments

unless I want them.. how do I turn off this auto-exposure stuff?

 

And yes I have googled it and tried a few things before asking... many thanks

for your help here, as always.

I hate to state the obvious but have you tried "Help" or the instruction manual?

In its default mode, Lightroom does not perform any "automatic" adjustments.

 

I suspect that what you may be eluding to is the appearance of the RAW file's JPEG preview that Lightroom displays just after import, until Lightroom generates its own previews. After that first instant, Lightroom displays the contents of a RAW file based on its own "RAW development engine", which is really an expanded version of the engine in Adobe Camera Raw.

 

Another thing to understand is that if you shoot RAW, "picture styles" and what not are ignored by non "manufacturer" RAW file processors. No matter what, when shooting RAW, your end result will always be the product of the adjustments made in its processing software.

 

It is very important to take the time to read the Lightroom online documentation thoroughly. It may also be helpful to read some articles and books on RAW files, and RAW file processing software.

Ace: yes of course I have.

 

Sprite (the day for interesting names): I know RAW very well, having been exclsuiovely a RAW shooter for years now, using DPP, Aperture, the GIMP, PS CS2/3, and so on. But none of these show me a good pictuyre that then turns into a worse picture a second later (that's about how long it takes).

 

So I am eluding to this:

 

- I import on Monday

- On Friday I go to that directory

- I see a thumbnail- late afternoon warm light the way I shot it

- I click on it

- it thus enlarges

- It looks great - just like the small thumbnail - for a second

- then -BANG- it goes to dull colour, apparentyly auto-adjusted

 

I am no doubt overlooking stuff. I have read much of the online stuff - not all since that would take weeks, but the relevant sctions, I think... though perhaps not.

 

Michael

What you are asking is like trying to have a doctor diagnose your illness by telephone. For the same reasons a doctor usually won't, it is difficult for generous people like me determine what is going on without seeing what is happening in person. There are too many possible variables to diagnose what is happening on your computer.

 

I suspect that Lightroom itself is not likely the problem. Based on your descriptions, I have the impression that my first description of what you are seeing is exactly what I described previously. To repeat, on first click of a newly imported file, Lightroom displays the file's internal preview JPEG until it generates its own preview. During that process, Lightroom even displays a visual indicator stating that it is generating its own preview. After that, Lightroom displays the RAW file's actual contents without adjustments.

 

From there it is necessary to enter "Develop" mode, and adjust the photograph to personal taste, which is usually quite subjective and individual. Lightroom provides numerous tools that make it possible to fine tune photographs with precision, and even to save multiple settings "snapshots".

 

For most accurate presentation, I would also suggest a hardware monitor calibration device, such as a Spyder, Huey, and so on. Without clearing up those variables, there isn't any way to determine what is going on for you.

 

Please also remember not to bite hands like mine, which are trying to feed you with helpful suggestions. To use another metaphor, I am just a messenger, so please do not shoot me because of the ostensible problem(s) you have encountered.

 

If you are truly intent about resolving your problem, you might try paying for assistance. You might try paying Adobe a technical support service fee to diagnose your problem. Or you might try having a "Geek Squad" or similar service visit you and your computer to help you.

Yup, I have a huey, and um, I was not aware that I was biting. Pray tell.

 

As for the Geek Squad: they usually don't know a lot. Having been an IT professional for 25 years, I have seen my share of that. Forums like this one in particular are often much more useful - people with a lot of real knowledge.

 

Cheers,

Michael

"In its default mode, Lightroom does not perform any 'automatic' adjustments."

 

This might be true of JPEGs, TIFFs, PSDs, etc., but it can't be true of raw files, which have to be rendered in order to be viewable. (Unless one is looking at the actual Bayer pattern.) The rendering requires that some algorithm be used, and those are "adjustments."

 

In other words, whether built-in, guessed based on the camera, chosen by the photographer, or chosen at random, there are always "adjustments."

 

(I always pipe up with this comment any time I come across a suggestion that that a raw processor can somehow do nothing at all to the pixel values.)

 

Having said that much, I also want to agree with Sprite's explanation of why one image is seen initially followed by a different one.

You might try this as a troubleshooting step. I set up my camera (Leica M8) for b&w jpeg

viewing, and took a shot in raw+jpeg mode. Then checked the box in the Lightroom

import preference panel next to "treat JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos."

When I imported, I originally got two grayscale images. But after some seconds, the raw

file popped up in living color. If your camera has separate settings for the raw white

balance and jpeg viewing, as the M8 does, this could be part of the problem.

In "Develop," in the Develop pulldown, there is a selection for setting defailt develop settings. It gives you the option to"Restore Adobe Default Settings" or to "Update to Current Settings." Has that possibly been changed? (Since it says these are undoable, I haven't messed with it, maybe if you had new settings as your default, it's gone back to the Adobe defaults? Or vice versa and picked up the setings from a image that had had some changes made? Also under Develop, there is a File pull down for Presets that can allow for applying auto tone adjustments.

 

However, I'd also guess is that you are seeing the switch from the JPG previews to a converted RAW image. I've really only worked with RSP besides Lightroom amd a few other limited tries with a couple of other conversion programs and RSP also would show a jpg preview then show the conversion.

>How do I turn off adjustments?

 

Boy, lots of text just to answer a simple question....

 

Each pane of adjustments in Develop has a small up and down vertical square which allows

you to turn on or off those adjustments individually. You can also toggle to the import

settings in History.

 

>So I am eluding to this:

 

- I import on Monday - On Friday I go to that directory - I see a thumbnail- late afternoon

warm light the way I shot it - I click on it - it thus enlarges - It looks great - just like the small

thumbnail - for a second - then -BANG- it goes to dull colour, apparentyly auto-adjusted I am

no doubt overlooking stuff.

 

The Bang is the default rendering that updates the embedded JPEG in the Raw (from the

camera). Now you have to adjust to taste (or build a import preset to do this). You must be

having LR import without building high quality thumbs, that's why you see the "before and

after". The before isn't anything you can use (again, its just the Raws embedded JPEG from

the camera).

When importing images through the Import Photos dialog, make sure that you have

set Develop Settings to "None." <P>

 

Otherwise, you will be applying some develop preset that was selected from the

previous import - it's sticky... <P>

 

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<img src= "http://www.citysnaps.net/screenshot.jpg">

</center>

"Each pane of adjustments in Develop has a small up and down vertical square which

allows you to turn on or off those adjustments individually."

 

The basic pane on my copy of Lightroom 1.4 (Mac) does not have the on/off switch.

Do other versions have it?

 

'When importing images through the Import Photos dialog, make sure that you have

set Develop Settings to "None."'

 

Always do this, but still get the same results.

 

"You must be having LR import without building high quality thumbs..."

 

The choices are 1:1, Standard, and Minimal. No difference in the imported thumbs,

although the 1:1 indicates more time needed for rendering according to the progress

bars. The rendering time for multiple images probably has something to do with the

original problem. After import, it makes sense to let the progress bars run to

completion before doing anything in develop.

>>> The basic pane on my copy of Lightroom 1.4 (Mac) does not have the on/off switch. Do other versions

have it?

 

No.

 

>>> Always do this, but still get the same results.

 

Not sure what you mean. Selecting "None" means no develop presets are applied. Selecting anything else

means a preset will be applied.

>>>Not sure what you mean. Selecting "None" means no develop presets are applied.

Selecting anything else means a preset will be applied.

 

I was referring to the situation described on my 1:55 am posting above.

Lightroom simply isn't a very good raw converter. I use it to manage JPGs (converted from RAWs using other software) so that I can quickly print stuff with a variety of minor adjustments and to search stuff based on metadata, make slide shows etc. If you want the in-camera picture quality controls to be valid you need to use software which supports them. Lightroom doesn't.

Nonetheless: as always I appreciate the excellent feedback and help here. Thanks!

I do love Canon DPP for how it sticks to my in-camera controls. If I could have ITS raw converter with Lightroom's stability and Aperture's interface, I would be sooo happy.

 

(And then I would wake up from that dream!)

JA ja, I would love that too. No solution to your problem.It Is a typical described issue.

OK, so. Aperture freezes during imports (don't start me: ages on the phone with Apple 2nd line support) and Lightroom does no honor my in-camera settings. I was hoping something on the Mac would be a good workflow tool (that honours my camera settings of course).

 

Oh well, things will no doubt improve soon.

Yes I'm also having this same problem with lightroom. Worst thing about it is that everyone says "It's because of RAW", well that makes sense except I'M SHOOTING JPGS!

So my conclusion is Lightroom thinks people want there photos changed to neutral Color Saturation Levels. I sure don't. I set my Nikon D50 to it's most saturated settings for a reason! The way I've found to fix this is after all my colorful saturated jpgs are imported, I re-saturate one and sync the others.

-Peter

If you're importing Jpegs, just set develop settings to "none" and they will not be changed at all. I agree, having it do autolevels on a jpeg is very annoying.

As Brad said previously in this same thread, "turn off the develop settings". He even posted some fine illustrative photos for us. I have tried this, rechecked and then triple checked, and unfortunately this is a problem that persists past the develop settings being turned off in the import dialog.

Try applying the develop setting "zereod".

 

This is what I do and it does work- I shoot RAW + jpeg on a 20D and have used Lightroom since it's been commercially available. I apply this to all images entering Lightroom.

Still having the problem. I don't understand how to zero develop settings. Can you give me some more details? I just want my jpgs to look the same in Lightroom as they do in every other program. Here are some visuals to help illustrate the problem.<div></div>

I don't have Lightroom on my work computer.

 

If you go through the develop settings (click on develop, not library), you can scroll through the presets on the left hand-side. Lightroom comes with standard presets including General-Zeroed or something like that. Select all your jpegs, do this to one of them and then hit sync to apply this setting to all. Voila- your jpeg looks the same (more or less) as in windows picture viewer. You can also have this be the default setting upon import.

 

If this is difficult to follow I'd suggest searching for some of the free lightroom videos and tutorials on the web. Once you get the basics down I think you'll enjoy using it.

 

If this doesn't work- two other thoughts. One- is your monitor hardware calibrated? Lightroom will use your monitor profile, Vista photo gallery probably does not. If you don't have a calibration device run out and buy one (Eye One Display, etc)- it will save you hours of headaches.

 

The other thought is to see if the Nikon camera isn't properly embedding a color space. Can you open the files in Photoshop, and hit convert to profile to see what it's currently tagged as? If it's assigned incorrectly Lightroom could be making improper assumptions about what the color numbers mean. If that's the case, figure out what the files are actually (sRGB, or Adobe1998 or something else) and have Photoshop batch assign the proper profile before importing them into Lightroom.