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Save metadata to external sidecar files

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Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic

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  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic Release Notes
    3. Lightroom Classic technical requirements
    4. Keyboard shortcuts
    5. Lightroom Classic FAQ 
    6. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    7. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    8. Set Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    9. Reset Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
  3. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Display the Library on a second monitor
    3. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    4. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    5. Color management
  4. Import photos
    1. Specify import options
    2. Set import preferences
    3. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    4. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    5. Import photos automatically
    6. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    7. Import photos from a tethered camera
    8. Select best photos while importing with Assisted Culling
    9. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
    10. Set up tethered camera support for Fujifilm cameras
  5. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Save metadata to external sidecar files
    8. Find photos in the catalog
    9. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    10. Advanced metadata actions
    11. Use the Quick Develop panel
    12. Select best photos with Assisted Culling
    13. Group your photos into a stack
  6. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Apply Presets
    3. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    4. Flat-Field Correction
    5. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    6. Improve image quality using Enhance
    7. Work with image tone and color
    8. Edit your images with Color Mixer tool
    9. Masking
    10. Apply local adjustments
    11. HDR photo merge
    12. Develop module options
    13. Retouch photos
    14. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    15. Use the Radial Filter tool
    16. Adjustments with Lens Blur
    17. Edit and Export in HDR
    18. Remove Tool
    19. Remove distracting people
    20. Remove reflections
    21. Remove sensor dust in a photo
  7. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  8. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  9. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop
  10. Manage catalogs and files
    1. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    2. Create and manage catalogs
    3. Back up a catalog
    4. Locate missing photos
    5. Create and manage folders
    6. Manage photos within folders
  11. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  12. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  13. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  14. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  15. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  16. Content Authenticity 
    1. Content Authenticity in Lightroom Classic
  17. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  18. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed Issues
    2. Known Issues
  19. Technical Support
    1. Performance Guidelines
      1. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix issues in Lightroom Classic
      2. Optimize performance
      3. Keep Lightroom up to date
      4. Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic
      5. Allow Permissions to Lightroom Classic on macOS
    2.  Technical issues
      1. GPU Issues
        1. Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues | Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom Classic GPU FAQ
      2. Startup Issues
        1. Windows | Lightroom doesn't start
        2. Error: Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        3. Error: 'Unexpected error opening catalog' occurs in Lightroom after Windows 10 upgrade
        4. "Assertion failed" update error | Windows
        5. Error MSVCR110.dll opening apps in Windows 10
      3. Rendering Issues
        1. Troubleshoot issues with Develop module
      4. Stability Issues
        1. Troubleshoot crash or freeze in Lightroom Classic
      5. Miscellaneous Issues
        1. FAQ | Color in Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom desktop and mobile apps unavailable to Education memberships | Kivuto
    3. Workflow Issues
      1. Catalog Issues
        1. Error : Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        2. Troubleshoot corrupt catalog
        3. Locate missing photos
        4. Recover catalog and images after resetting preferences
        5. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
      2. Sync Issues
        1. Lightroom Classic sync FAQ

Learn how to create sidecar files like XMP and ACR to save metadata.

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Automatically save metadata

  1. Select Edit > Catalog Settings (on Windows) or Lightroom Classic > Catalog Settings (on macOS).

  2. Select Metadata and select Automatically write changes into XMP to save metadata automatically. When you select Automatically write changes into XMP, Lightroom continuously saves your edits as you work on your images. 

Manually save metadata

  1. Select a photo in the Library or Develop module.

  2. Select Photo > Save Metadata to File.

  3. In the Save metadata to file dialog box, select Continue.

    save metadata dialog box in Lightroom Classic
    Save metadata to file dialog box in Lightroom Classic

Verify sidecar files

  1. Once you have saved the metadata automatically or manually, Lightroom will create a sidecar file to store it. If heavy edits are applied to an image, Lightroom will create an XMP and an ACR file to store the metadata. 

  2. In the Library module, select the photo for which you want to verify the sidecar files, then select Metadata.

  3. Verify the created sidecar files in the Sidecar Files field.

    Metadata field in Lightroom Classic with details and file information.
    Lightroom Classic shows two sidecar files - XMP and ACR

Frequently asked questions abour XMP and ACR sidecar files

  • What is an ACR sidecar?

    Lightroom supports storing metadata in external sidecars for Raw images and a few non-raw image formats. This is usually in the form of an XMP sidecar file (Extensible Metadata Platform ) that is created and saved along with the native image. An ACR sidecar (Adobe Camera Raw sidecar) is also an external sidecar file with an .ACR file-type extension. It resides next to the original asset and can hold metadata changes related to the image.

  • What changes are introduced with Lightroom Classic (version 15.0)?

    Starting with Lightroom Classic (v 15.0), Lightroom creates and maintains an additional ACR sidecar when storing metadata in sidecars. This capability intends to reduce the size of the XMP sidecar and minimize catalog bloating, significantly reducing the catalog size (.lrcat) for Lightroom customers.

  • When is an ACR sidecar created?

    Starting with the Lightroom Classic (v 15.0) release, Lightroom identifies if there are any heavy edits, masks, or AI settings like Super Resolution, Distraction Removal, and Denoise. It writes the heavy edits to the ACR sidecar while keeping the XMP sidecar lightweight. If there aren't any heavy edits, Lightroom will continue writing metadata changes to the XMP sidecar. The writes to sidecars continue to happen whenever the metadata is saved (via Metadata preference). Lightroom also maintains the lifecycle of all sidecars when it's used to move/rename/delete the image.

  • How does this change impact Lightroom users?

    With the introduction of ACR sidecars, the traditional XMP sidecar benefits from size reduction. This also reduces the catalog size, especially for images with heavy edits, as the catalog (.lrcat) correlates heavily with the contents of the XMP sidecar.

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