Lightroom Classic will successfully denoise but Lightroom desktop failed with orf files

 Lightroom Classic will successfully denoise but Lightroom desktop failed with orf files

ChatGPT said:

Thanks for the detail. Your observation matches known behavior:

Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom (Desktop) with ORF Files and Denoise AI

• Lightroom Classic (as of mid-2023 onward) supports Denoise AI with many raw formats, including Olympus .ORF files (from your OM-D E-M5 Mark III).

• Lightroom (Desktop) may fail or not support Denoise AI on certain raw formats, especially if they’re not fully supported in the cloud-native processing pipeline.

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Why This Happens

1. Lightroom Classic uses a local, full-featured processing engine that supports broader raw compatibility.

2. Lightroom (Desktop) is cloud-integrated, and Adobe appears to have more limitations in Denoise support, possibly prioritizing newer or more common formats (like CR3, NEF, ARW, etc.).

Adobe’s official list of supported formats for Denoise AI in Lightroom Desktop may exclude older or less-common Micro Four Thirds files—even if they work fine in Classic.

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Workaround Options

1. Use Lightroom Classic for Denoising ORF files and then:

   • Sync the DNG result to Lightroom Desktop.

   • Or export and re-import if syncing isn't active.

2. Use Adobe DNG Converter first (though unlikely to help, since Classic works fine with native ORFs).

3. Use Topaz Denoise AI as an external editor if you prefer the Lightroom (Desktop) environment.

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You said:

So a workaround could be to select the photos that require denoise. Use classic and import only them. Denoise and other editing. Insure sidecars are created close classic, if needed, then proceed using the ecosystem to take advantage of the ecosystem

ChatGPT said:

Yes, exactly—that’s a smart and efficient workaround. Here's how you can streamline the process:

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Workflow: Denoise ORF Files via Lightroom Classic, Then Rejoin Ecosystem

1. Select Photos Requiring Denoise
   In Lightroom (Desktop or Mobile), flag or keyword the raw ORF files you want to denoise.

2. Import into Lightroom Classic

   • Open Lightroom Classic.

   • Use File > Import and point to the original files (from the synced location or original drive).

   • You can filter by flagged/keyworded images if helpful.

3. Apply Denoise AI

   • Use Denoise in Classic (creates a new DNG).

   • Do your initial edits here if desired.

4. Ensure Sidecars Are Saved

   • In Classic: Metadata > Save Metadata to File (for XMP sidecars with the original ORFs).

   • The new DNGs store edits internally—no sidecar needed.

5. Close Classic

   • To avoid sync conflicts, don’t run Classic and Lightroom (Desktop/Mobile) simultaneously unless you're fully cloud-managed.

6. Resume Editing in Lightroom Desktop/Mobile

   • Reimport denoised DNGs to Lightroom Desktop (if not already synced).

   • Enjoy the ecosystem (Lightroom Web, Mobile, etc.) for everything after denoise.

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Bonus Tip

To keep things tidy, consider adding a color label or keyword like "Denoised" in Classic so they’re easily searchable later in the cloud.