What kind of file is this?

[sanjuaner]

Hi, I am editing raw files with emements 5 and when I'm done with all the editing in the editor I am saving the file as a jpeg file into a folder in "my Pictures". When I go back into "my pictures to see the saved file there has been another file saved along with it that has an extension of .xmp Not sure what this is and my computer cannot associate it with anything that I have tried. Can someone tell me why this file is riding along with the jpeg file when I save it and what it is? Thanks, Sanjuaner

[Chuck S.]

Sanjuaner, that's the auxiliary file ('sidecar') used by the program to store the changes you made when editing the RAW file. I guess it's done that way because the edited RAW file can't be re-saved as RAW. Instead, whenever you re-open the RAW file, the sidecar is activated to re-apply the changes you made in ACR.

At least that's my simplistic understanding of the process....:o

[chas3stix]

I just did a Google search for .xmp file....extensible metadata file....what a mouthful! It allows you to edit your photo info into the metadata. Chuck's explanation is easier to understand.
Chas

[sanjuaner]

Thanks guys, Makes sense to me. That is why when I open up a raw file that I worked on previously, it opens up with the corrections I made to it in the past. Changes were saved in the "side car"as Chuck described. Thanks again, Sanjuaner