Lightroom Classic CC Metadata Import Deletes Editing

Report · Sep 26, 2018

Hello everybody,

I tried Lightroom Classic CC again after years and have a small problem.
To the background, I use IMatch as DAM for tagging and managing my pictures, this writes XMP SideCar files with the keywords.

<x:xmpmeta xmlns:x='adobe:ns:meta/' x:xmptk='Image::ExifTool 11.06'>
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf='http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#'>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:dc='http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/'>
<dc:creator>
   <rdf:Seq>
    <rdf:li>Stoffel_Hessen</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Seq>
</dc:creator>
<dc:rights>
   <rdf:Alt>
    <rdf:li xml:lang='x-default'>Stoffel_Hessen Musterstrasse 12 12345Musterstadt</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Alt>
</dc:rights>
<dc:subject>
   <rdf:Bag>
    <rdf:li>Tiere-Pflanzen|Blumen und Blueten|Sonnenblume</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Bag>
</dc:subject>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:exif='http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/'>
<exif:Contrast>0</exif:Contrast>
<exif:CustomRendered>0</exif:CustomRendered>
<exif:DateTimeOriginal>2018-09-05T19:30:04</exif:DateTimeOriginal>
<exif:DigitalZoomRatio>1/1</exif:DigitalZoomRatio>
<exif:ExposureBiasValue>0/1</exif:ExposureBiasValue>
<exif:ExposureMode>0</exif:ExposureMode>
<exif:ExposureProgram>3</exif:ExposureProgram>
<exif:ExposureTime>1/60</exif:ExposureTime>
<exif:FNumber>28/5</exif:FNumber>
<exif:FileSource>3</exif:FileSource>
<exif:Flash rdf:parseType='Resource'>
   <exif:Fired>False</exif:Fired>
   <exif:Function>False</exif:Function>
   <exif:Mode>0</exif:Mode>
   <exif:RedEyeMode>False</exif:RedEyeMode>
   <exif:Return>0</exif:Return>
</exif:Flash>
<exif:FocalLength>32/1</exif:FocalLength>
<exif:FocalLengthIn35mmFilm>32</exif:FocalLengthIn35mmFilm>
<exif:GPSVersionID>2.3.0.0</exif:GPSVersionID>
<exif:GainControl>0</exif:GainControl>
<exif:ISOSpeedRatings>
   <rdf:Seq>
    <rdf:li>110</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Seq>
</exif:ISOSpeedRatings>
<exif:LightSource>0</exif:LightSource>
<exif:MaxApertureValue>24361/8200</exif:MaxApertureValue>
<exif:MeteringMode>5</exif:MeteringMode>
<exif:Saturation>0</exif:Saturation>
<exif:SceneCaptureType>2</exif:SceneCaptureType>
<exif:SceneType>1</exif:SceneType>
<exif:SensingMethod>2</exif:SensingMethod>
<exif:Sharpness>0</exif:Sharpness>
<exif:SubjectDistanceRange>0</exif:SubjectDistanceRange>
<exif:UserComment>
   <rdf:Alt>
    <rdf:li xml:lang='x-default'/>
   </rdf:Alt>
</exif:UserComment>
<exif:WhiteBalance>0</exif:WhiteBalance>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:exifEX='http://cipa.jp/exif/1.0/'>
<exifEX:SensitivityType>2</exifEX:SensitivityType>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:lr='http://ns.adobe.com/lightroom/1.0/'>
<lr:hierarchicalSubject>
   <rdf:Bag>
    <rdf:li>Tiere-Pflanzen|Blumen und Blueten|Sonnenblume</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Bag>
</lr:hierarchicalSubject>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:photoshop='http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/'>
<photoshop:DateCreated>2018-09-05T19:30:04.63</photoshop:DateCreated>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:tiff='http://ns.adobe.com/tiff/1.0/'>
<tiff:Artist>Stoffel_Hessen</tiff:Artist>
<tiff:BitsPerSample>
   <rdf:Seq>
    <rdf:li>14</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Seq>
</tiff:BitsPerSample>
<tiff:Compression>34713</tiff:Compression>
<tiff:Copyright>
   <rdf:Alt>
    <rdf:li xml:lang='x-default'>Stoffel_Hessen Musterstrasse 12 12345Musterstadt</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Alt>
</tiff:Copyright>
<tiff:ImageLength>3288</tiff:ImageLength>
<tiff:ImageWidth>4936</tiff:ImageWidth>
<tiff:Make>NIKON CORPORATION</tiff:Make>
<tiff:Model>NIKON D4S</tiff:Model>
<tiff:Orientation>1</tiff:Orientation>
<tiff:PhotometricInterpretation>32803</tiff:PhotometricInterpretation>
<tiff:PlanarConfiguration>1</tiff:PlanarConfiguration>
<tiff:ReferenceBlackWhite>
   <rdf:Seq>
    <rdf:li>0/1</rdf:li>
    <rdf:li>255/1</rdf:li>
    <rdf:li>0/1</rdf:li>
    <rdf:li>255/1</rdf:li>
    <rdf:li>0/1</rdf:li>
    <rdf:li>255/1</rdf:li>
   </rdf:Seq>
</tiff:ReferenceBlackWhite>
<tiff:ResolutionUnit>2</tiff:ResolutionUnit>
<tiff:SamplesPerPixel>1</tiff:SamplesPerPixel>
<tiff:Software>Ver.1.33</tiff:Software>
<tiff:XResolution>300/1</tiff:XResolution>
<tiff:YCbCrPositioning>2</tiff:YCbCrPositioning>
<tiff:YResolution>300/1</tiff:YResolution>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:xmp='http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/'>
<xmp:CreateDate>2018-09-05T19:30:04.63</xmp:CreateDate>
<xmp:CreatorTool>photools.com IMatch 18.8.0.8 (Windows)</xmp:CreatorTool>
<xmp:MetadataDate>2018-09-05T19:59:48+02:00</xmp:MetadataDate>
<xmp:ModifyDate>2018-09-05T19:59:48+02:00</xmp:ModifyDate>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description rdf:about=''
xmlns:xmpMM='http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/'>
<xmpMM:DocumentID>xmp.did:086ca78e-241c-46b0-9d22-1c618d647ead</xmpMM:DocumentID>
<xmpMM:InstanceID>xmp.iid:8bd4bf8e-0af2-4d36-9436-daacb1789932</xmpMM:InstanceID>
<xmpMM:OriginalDocumentID>xmp.did:086ca78e-241c-46b0-9d22-1c618d647ead</xmpMM:OriginalDocumentID>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
</x:xmpmeta>
<?xpacket end='w'?>

If I have now edited an image in Lightroom and then re-importing the metadata, my edits are gone and the image is displayed again unprocessed (exposure, cropping, etc.).

I'm not writing any metadata back to RAW files from Lightroom, this is done exclusively with IMatch.

I think I can remember that this was different in Lightroom 5.
Unfortunately I can not use Lightroom.

Windows 10 (1803) with all the patches.

Can someone understand?

Thank you

Greetings Christopher

Report · Sep 26, 2018

As far as I know, you have to write the edits to the .xmp file first, and then the command "Read Metada from Files" ought to read all of the data from iMatch plus your edits. This assumes that the format of the .xmp file from iMatch is compatible with Lightroom.

Report · Sep 26, 2018

This is but nonsense what makes Lightroom here.
The development settings are in the Lightroom database, why are they deleted when I import the metadata WITHOUT editing steps.

I have just tried something. Importing the metadata from an image that does not have an XMP sidecar file also deletes editing and, logically, keywords as well

Report · Sep 26, 2018

stoffel_hessen wrote
This is but nonsense what makes Lightroom here.
The development settings are in the Lightroom database, why are they deleted when I import the metadata WITHOUT editing steps.

Why? I don't know, I did not create Lightroom or program it. But that's the way it works. I'm afraid you'll have to accept it and live with it.

Report · Sep 26, 2018

dj_paige schrieb
I'm afraid you'll have to accept it and live with it.

I do not think so, because I have not yet purchased the software subscription and will not do it under these conditions, as it is not usable for me.

Report · Sep 26, 2018

Stoffel_Hessen wrote
dj_paige schrieb
I'm afraid you'll have to accept it and live with it.

I do not think so, because I have not yet purchased the software subscription and will not do it under these conditions, as it is not usable for me.

Perfectly reasonable, Lightroom does not meet your needs.

Report · Sep 26, 2018

I think I can remember that this was different in Lightroom 5.

No, LR has always operated this way. It stores all metadata in the .xmp sidecar, including develop settings. Consider this sequence of events:

1. Import into LR a raw with its Imatch .xmp containing keywords.

2. Make edits in LR.

3. Make changes to the keywords in IMatch and write them to the .xmp.

4. In LR, do Metadata > Read Metadata From File.

Step 4 will read in the new keywords from the .xmp in step 3, but since the develop settings from step 2 aren't in the .xmp, step 3 reads in empty settings, overwriting the changes you made in step 2.

If you inserted this step after making the edits in step 2:

2a. Do Metadata > Save Metadata To File

then the .xmp sidecar contains the develop settings before you edit the keywords using Imatch in step 3, and step 45 will reread the new keywords and the new develop settings.

Perhaps in LR 5 you had the set the option Catalog Settings > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP. This causes changes to metadata (including develop settings) to be written back to the .xmp sidecars very soon after the changes are made, obviating the need in most cases to manually save it with step 2a.

But if you choose to use that option and continue with your Imatch workflow, be aware that, while the changes are nearly almost always written back within a second or two, in rare cases it takes longer, especially if you've made changes to a large batch of photos. Before going back to make changes in Imatch, use a Library Filter bar preset or a smart collection to verify that all photos have Metadata Status = Up To Date.

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Lightroom Classic CC Metadata Import Deletes Editing