xmp file ???

[Froggy]

Let me Begin this thread by telling you that I sshoot in RAW so this I'm sure may only apply to RAW downloads.

When I switched to E5 after dowloading files to a folder I get two files one is thE raw file and the other say XMP, My question is what is this XMP file, I did not see this in version 4, or does it have something to do with my new Canon 1DMK3


Steve

[deedeeO]

Man, nice camera, btw. I've been wondering the same thing? What is this file, the .xmp file? I shoot in high quality and RAW, because I'm lazy and will only resort to the RAW if there are problems seen with the jpeg. Any hoo, here is a link that explains this "sidecar" file: http://avondale.typepad.com/rawformat/2005/02/adobe_camera_ra.html

And here is something strange as well, when I downloaded my images from the camera, I'm getting my jpeg, the xmp, and a Paint Shop Pro 9 Image....However, my organizer is showing .CS2 and jpegs. What? Where are my .cs2 files? I'm royally confused!!

PS. I just started playing with RAW a few weeks ago. They scare me:eek:, but I have to start using them:D

[deedeeO]

Here is another link from Adobe....http://www.adobe.com/products/xmp/

I'm still confused...

Essentially it is just a file that contains the complete metadata of your image.

[Codebreaker]

RAW files as far as Photoshop goes are not editable. That is you can process them but the actual processing changes are not written back to the original image file. This means that the processing changes have to be stored elsewhere.

You have two options for where you store the processing steps:- either keep them in a database known only to Photoshop, or you can write the information in an XMP file - also known as a sidecar file. If you do the later you must always keep the two files - Raw and XMP - together.

Using XMP files is useful if you are likely to want other programs to use the RAW files along with the processing changes you've made.

If you find your way to the Preferences in the ACR ( Ctrl +K) under the general heading you'll see a drop down option box that allows you to choose where the processing changes are stored.

What ever backup strategy you use you should ensure that either the XMP files or the Photoshop database are included.

Colin