Beginner LR creating a duplicate picture whilst editing

jpgreenwood · 14 May 2018

When I go to develop a photo in LR for processing, it creates a duplicate photo (RGB) and a pop up box appears asking if I want to keep the original. Sorry,, I'm at work so not got my home laptop with me so cant explain it clearly. Does anyone know what this is and why it is suddenly doing it?

EightBitTony · 14 May 2018

Have you got proofing turned on? When you make changes to an image with proofing on, it'll offer to make a virtual copy.

ecoleman · 14 May 2018

EightBitTony said:
Have you got proofing turned on? When you make changes to an image with proofing on, it'll offer to make a virtual copy.

Have a look below the image you should find a checkbox for soft proofing. Uncheck it.

jpgreenwood · 14 May 2018

Ive just checked and it is unticked. Maybe I ticked it by mistake on a previous visit. It has created an ADOBE RBG Perceptual image next to the original.

EightBitTony · 14 May 2018

jpgreenwood said:
Ive just checked and it is unticked. Maybe I ticked it by mistake on a previous visit. It has created an ADOBE RBG Perceptual image next to the original.

Yep, that's a soft proof.

jpgreenwood · 14 May 2018

what is its purpose?

EightBitTony · 14 May 2018

jpgreenwood said:
what is its purpose?

Soft proofing allows you to view an image with with different colour spaces, and make changes so that you feel the image will print properly. Since you're making changes that in theory, make it look potentially worse in sRGB (the normal colour profile for screens), Lightroom offers to make a specific virtual copy for you, so you don't end up wondering why your regular copy looks rubbish when exported for viewing on the screen (my understanding).

Craig_85 · 15 May 2018

Tapping the 's' key in the develop module will enable it. In the settings I set LR up so that I have a grey background normally but a white one when soft proof is enabled. That and the histogram changing are handy reminders what node you are in.