7 Replies Latest reply: May 7, 2011 8:00 AM by carson.jones RSS

    Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?

    carson.jones Community Member

      We're testing the watched folder setup for LR3 and it seems to work fairly well.  One very big snag we've come across though is with using auto apply adjustments and the apparent lack of a 'use previous image settings' option.

       

      We're using DSLR Remote Capture for the live preview functionality using a 7D and have LR set up to watch the Lightroom folder setup by DSLR Remote Catpure.  It would be fantastic if LR would automatically apply the last settings used to the new image file that pops up in the watched folder.  The flow and flexibility this would allow for would be ideal.

       

      Did I miss this setting somewhere or does anyone know of an easy workaround?  I'd really prefer not to have to save custom presets everytime which is the only workaround I've put into practice so far.  It's a clunky way of doing things and really racks up a whole bunch of presets that are only really relevant to a single shoot.

        • 1. Re: Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?
          carson.jones Community Member

          It would also be great if LR3 would 'leave' the images in their original location instead of moving them.  That way we wouldn't have to have multiple copies of the images spread across several folders on our laptop.  Just a thought.  If anyone knows a workaround for this as well I'm all ears.  Thanks!

          • 3. Re: Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?
            b_gossweiler Community Member

            carson.jones wrote:

             

            It would also be great if LR3 would 'leave' the images in their original location instead of moving them.  That way we wouldn't have to have multiple copies of the images spread across several folders on our laptop.  Just a thought.  If anyone knows a workaround for this as well I'm all ears.  Thanks!

            Maybe this should be a separate thread, as this has nothing to do with what the subject of this thread says.

             

            Anyway, why would you have multiple copies by just moving from the AutoImport folder?

             

            Beat

            • 4. Re: Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?
              b_gossweiler Community Member

              What exactly do you refer to as "Last image settings"? The last image that was selected, worked on in Develop, worked on in Library, last imported?

               

              Beat

              • 5. Re: Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?
                carson.jones Community Member

                Lightroom doesn't support Liveview on the Canon's (7D in this case) and many studios and photographers need to use Liveview while working.  This means that tethering directly in to Lightroom is a no-go since Liveview isn't an option.

                 

                The solution to date is to shoot using the Canon software or OnOne's Remote Capture to a target folder on the computer.  Lightroom can be told to watch the folder and import the files as they become available, however LR moves the files and the capture apps are no longer able to see them.  OnOne's solution was to include a setting that duplicates the incoming capture files to a 'Lightroom' folder and these files are then moved by Lightroom.  Let me just say that the bugs have not been worked out by any of the softare developers.  I'd say we're still another year away from a solid workflow regardless of the camera and software used.

                 

                Re. the 'last settings used'...

                 

                Let's say you're tethered to an app that is not LR for capture purposes and you're having LR automatically import the captures.  The ideal workflow would be to have LR leave the files in their original location as it can do when not using the watched folder.  When the photographer is on set and captures are coming into LR, they typically will tweek things like colour temp, levels, curves, vignette, etc. in LR.  Each time the photographer takes a new capture, they're forced to copy paste the settings used for the previous capture.  This is extremely annoying and cumbersome.  While lightroom can apply presets to incoming images, it has not allowed for the option to use the last settings from the last imported capture.  Currently we either have to copy/paste settings or save the current settings as a preset and have them applied as new captures come into LR.  Given that we're often tweeking the lighting, focus, etc. each shot, or short series of shots, is often different and applying the custom preset still requires further tweeking in LR.  If everything is aok (lighting, focus, composition, etc.) and we're simply capturing for variations of the subject or talent, it would be incredibly fantastic if LR would simply apply the settings used from the last capture.  I should note that no other raw software out there right now can do this either (C1 Pro for example).

                 

                Hope that's more clear now!! ; D

                • 6. Re: Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?
                  b_gossweiler Community Member

                  carson.jones wrote:

                   

                  Lightroom doesn't support Liveview on the Canon's (7D in this case) and many studios and photographers need to use Liveview while working.  This means that tethering directly in to Lightroom is a no-go since Liveview isn't an option.

                   

                  The solution to date is to shoot using the Canon software or OnOne's Remote Capture to a target folder on the computer.

                  understood.

                   

                  Lightroom can be told to watch the folder and import the files as they become available, however LR moves the files and the capture apps are no longer able to see them. 

                  Why does the capture app (i.e. EOS Utility) still need to be seeing them?

                   


                  Re. the 'last settings used'...

                   

                  Let's say you're tethered to an app that is not LR for capture purposes and you're having LR automatically import the captures.  The ideal workflow would be to have LR leave the files in their original location as it can do when not using the watched folder.  When the photographer is on set and captures are coming into LR, they typically will tweek things like colour temp, levels, curves, vignette, etc. in LR.  Each time the photographer takes a new capture, they're forced to copy paste the settings used for the previous capture.  This is extremely annoying and cumbersome.  While lightroom can apply presets to incoming images, it has not allowed for the option to use the last settings from the last imported capture.  Currently we either have to copy/paste settings or save the current settings as a preset and have them applied as new captures come into LR.  Given that we're often tweeking the lighting, focus, etc. each shot, or short series of shots, is often different and applying the custom preset still requires further tweeking in LR.  If everything is aok (lighting, focus, composition, etc.) and we're simply capturing for variations of the subject or talent, it would be incredibly fantastic if LR would simply apply the settings used from the last capture.  I should note that no other raw software out there right now can do this either (C1 Pro for example).

                  OK, I can see what you mean now. So more specifically, the setting you'd like to see copied to a new capture is the one from the last imported photo.

                   

                  An easy workaround I can suggest is to

                  • have a named preset called "Last Image"
                  • always have this preset applied during import
                  • update the preset values of "Last Image" every time you adjust something on an image

                  By doing so, you don't have to manage preset names for different purposes, "Last Image" just contains all the settings from whenever you last chose to update it.

                   

                  Beat

                  • 7. Re: Last image settings for auto apply adjustments?
                    carson.jones Community Member

                    It's important for the other apps to 'see' the captures for a few reasons.  Errors can occur when the image suddenly dissappears because LR has moved them.  Decision making often occurs in the capture software and not in LR so it benefits the shooter if they're still in the capture app.  In my case I'm using Remote Capture software on the iPad to walk around set.  Currently in order for both to the capture software and LR to work, two copies of the incoming capture have to be created and for the time-being Remote Capture has created a workaround by making a copy available in a Lightroom folder.  Not ideal since this is using up twice the storage it really needs to.  Capture One Pro simply references what it's told to reference and doesn't move or copy files.  That said, it's not able to apply the last settings used from the previous capture to the new incoming capture.

                     

                    Creating a preset is more cumbersome than simply copy/pasting the settings.  Again, it's an extra step that is tedious and it would seem relatively straight forward to have the apps simply apply the settings used from the previous capture.  That would be great.  What would be ideal is to have Liveview fully supported from within Lightroom including the ability to adjust all camera settings.  iPad compatibility wouldn't hurt either.  My two cents.  One of the raw app manufacturers will sort this out soon I'm sure.