XMP Files??

Does anybody have knowledge about XMP files? When I've worked on some images in RAW, I find these XMP files show up in the folder. How important are they? Is it ok to trash them?

I imagine they contain information about the changes that have been made to RAW files, but I don't know what they do and why are they cluttering up the folder.

XMP=Extensible Metadata Platform.

Thanks, Tim Stenning

Tim, the XMP file stores the values that Camera Raw stores and uses above and beyond what is recorded in the CR2 raw file. So for example if you change the white balance, exposure, contrast, etc...in camera raw, these values are stored in the xmp file so next time the file is opened the values default to the previous values stored in the xmp value. Trashing them won't really effect much unless you want to save the changes made in camera raw.

Thanks, Greg. I'd wondered about that myself. That's a useful feature.

Greg, Thanks. Gottcha. probably good to keep the XMP files if one has done some significant work and wants to retain a memory of the work.

If you don't want the clutter of XMP files (also called sidecars), convert to DNG. Adobe software stores camera raw/Lightroom develop settings directly in DNGs, whereas for native raw formats (e.g., NEF, CR2) it writes to sidecars instead of directly into the file.

--Marc
basepath.com

Marc, thanks for the DNG tip. I've been meaning to get to that phase of my maturation. (I miss my shoe boxes. in other words, storage of all the various twists and turns and out-modings with digital is worrisome. but here to stay.)

Tim--

You might want to try my free ImageIngester (link below). Among other things, when you ingest it applies bulk metadata and then automatically invokes Adobe DNG Converter to convert to DNG.

Marc, I'll be studying your site. Tim