turn off XMP files

Apparently CS4 creates little XMP files every time I open a RAW file. Maybe it's Adobe Camera Raw that is doing it. In any case, I want to turn it off, but I can't find it in the maze of Adobe menus. I even tried the on-line help - still not obvious to this dinosaur blinking in the brilliant digital age and waving around his useless little forelegs.

Pete D.ino

I don't think you can turn it off. That file is Photoshop's way to display a RAW processed image when you open the CR2 file (or other RAW format) in Photoshop, Bridge and probably Lightroom as well.

Deleting that file, as far as I know, has no dire consequences. The primary effect is that anytime Adobe products try to display the RAW file, what you will see is something that came from the camera rather than after your RAW conversion.

That's exactly why I want to turn it off, I want the RAW file to open as the RAW file, not as my prior, perhaps misguided conversion.

Look in your Camera Raw preferences (open an image in camera raw to access the preferences). I'm not sure you can turn the save settings feature off entirely. CS4 may be a bit different than CS3, but for CS3 you can turn "Save Image Settings" to the Camera Raw Database rather than the .xmp sidecar. But, I don't think this is what you want. To revert back to opening the image with default settings, you can try to set the pref 'ignore .xmp file' or just delete the .xmp file.

If you are concerned with only a single file, you just have to delete your xmp file and ACR will automatically revert to the original settings.

When you open the RAW image in ACR, simply click on the small Basic tab just above the editing adjustment sliders and move the check mark from 'Image Settings' (which reads the XMP file and adjusts accordingly) to 'Camera Raw Defaults'.

That's it!

Colorado,

I want to keep the file from being written to begin with, not simply avoid reading it.

Pete D.

call Ohio Valley

Oh.
Well, then in PS go to Edit->Preferences->Camera Raw.
In the top dropdown box labelled 'Save Image Settings In:', choose 'Camera Raw Database' instead of 'Sidecar ".xmp" Files'.
No more XMP files to deal with from then on.

Choosing "Camera Raw Database" has the effect of storing the RAW conversion information in a database instead of an .xmp file. When the file is reopened, the conversion information stored in the database is retrieved and applied.

Saving to the database avoids the creation of the .xmp file but the conversion is still applied. You could, at this point, then select the "as shot" option and then the default option below that to get back to the original file.

Since I am not real sure what happens with the database other than this, I'd stick with the xmp files and delete those.

I guess I am not sure why you don't want XMP files? They store your processing info, which has been pointed out you can ignore, and also your other metadata. The other stuff is your copyright info and key wording. These are important things to have attached to your images as they protect you and make it easier for you to find an image months and years later.

As Ed points out the XMP file stores data that identifies the image (beyond the file name) and you as the creator in addition to the conversion adjustments you made. It also stores the keywords, etc. that you use to help locate the image later. The reason for this is that the camera manufacturer's RAW formats do not provide a means of adding that data directly to the RAW file. That is one reason Adobe created the DNG format which incorporates the data into the file itself.

I'm puzzled why you would not want to keep that data. If you did not keep the XMP files and retained its native format (not converted to DNG), then every time you open the file you would have to readjust it for conversion. You would not be able to locate your files via keywords, ratings, etc. If you are simply unhappy with an individual conversion it is simple enough (an Dan noted) to revert to "As Shot" which is actually a default conversion. If you revert via "As Shot" and readjust to new settings those will automatically overwrite the previous XMP settings. An exception to this would be Lightroom's "Snapshot" or "Virtual Copy" options which create alternate settings but also retain the original settings. The XMP files take up an insignificant amount of space but provide invaluable functions that are not available directly in the RAW file.

It seems to me, XMP files are just clutter. My raw files are supposed to be raw files. When I save a converted file, I save it as a Photoshop file that I resize and sharpen for the output of my choice. I suppose I'm just being stubborn.

Pete D.

Pete, your RAW files will always be RAW files Any conversion with Light Room or ACR does not do anything to the original files. the conversion info is stored in the XMP file side car and applied when you open the RAW. As mentioned by several above, you can always revert to the original conversion by pushing a button.

BTW, whenever you open a RAW file the RAW converter applies its standard conversion settings for your camera. The EXIF info from the RAW is read by the RAW converter and the "conversion" is carried out by applying the proscribed settings. If you were to truly look at the RAW data it would be a series of ones and zeros.

We all save files that we completely process (usually in TIFF format) for resizing sharpening and printing. Once saved we hardly ever open the original RAW again. It and its side car XMP remain as the original "negative" for future use.

As a mater of fact, I have from time to time gone back to reprocess an original RAW using new skills learned and newer software since the original processing.

While you are not hurting anything eliminating the XMP files, you are also throwing away important information that will save time and add a lot of convenience later on.

It is, however, ultimately your call.

Pete: Some years back, I became a "convert" to the Adobe DNG format. I wasn't clear about whether you save your RAW files after you convert to TIFF. I always do--I look at them as my "negatives" or original slides. I now convert all my NEF files to DNG (I use the embed the original NEF file option, in case we learn something down the road that might make me wish I had saved the NEF's). My point is this. If you convert to DNG at the beginning of the workflow, you will no longer have to deal with the xmp files. They are, IMO, a pain. You have to make sure they move with the original NEF files. If you elect the other option (saving them in the database) if you move them in the future somewhere not related to the database, it causes other problems. The DNG files store all the information in one file.

Andy,

Thanks. Your approach makes much more sense to me. I would want to save the original NEF, but I see the advantage of converting to DNG. I'll have to look for that imbed NEF option, but in any case I will have the NEFs burned on a DVD.

Pete D.

Ok - I embedded the NEF, but it's not obvious how I can open that as opposed to the DNG. Adobe Help is as abstruse as usual.

Pete D.