How to Make Adobe Photoshop Ignore xmp File Data.
The .xmp file format files are commonly associated with raw image files in photography and are created whenever you open a raw file using Adobe Camera Raw in Photoshop. These files play a crucial role in non-destructive photo editing workflows allowing you to revert back to the original file if you make a mistake. But you might be having some issues trying to get Photoshop or even Lightroom to ignore them so that you can open the original image file and that's what we'll be showing you how to do in this guide.
How to Make Adobe Photoshop Ignore xmp File Data.
.xmp files are "sidecar" files that store metadata related to raw image files (e.g., .CR2, .NEF, .ARW). They include camera settings, edits, keywords, and ratings while keeping the original raw file unchanged. These files support non-destructive editing, meaning that adjustments like exposure or cropping are stored separately in the .xmp file, allowing you to experiment without permanently altering the original image. .xmp files follow the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) standard, ensuring compatibility across various software applications.
Each .xmp file is named to match its corresponding raw image file, and both must be kept together to preserve metadata and edits. While .xmp files are lightweight and efficient, losing them means losing the associated edits and metadata. Some workflows prefer embedding metadata directly into files like DNG to avoid managing multiple files but .xmp files are generally safer though it can be annoying to have 2 of every file in a folder.
So how do you make Photoshop and Lightroom ignore .xmp file data when opening a raw file? Well, there are a couple of different methods, depending on what you're planning to do.
Move the xmp file to a different location.
This is generally the best option and simply requires you to move the xmp file to a different location. Once you have done this you can open your original camera raw file with its original default settings. Just remember that this will create a new XMP file in the location of the old one. So if you ever want to go back to the old edit you'll need to swap the files out. Just be careful that you don't accidentally overwrite the one you want to keep.
Delete the xmp File From the Folder.
Alternatively, if you have no interest in keeping the current xmp editing data you can just delete the file from the folder and then open the image with its default straight out of the camera settings.
What if neither of these options works?
If neither of these two options works, you'll need to clear the Photoshop or Lightroom cache. This will purge any leftover data that might be causing the old image metadata from the xmp file to remain. You can clear the cache by doing the following.
- Launch Photoshop.
- Click on the Edit menu in the top menu bar.
- Select Purge. Similar to the Mac version, you might need to find it within a submenu.
- The purge window will display options for Clipboard, Histories, and Video Cache. Choose “All” to clear the entire cache, or select specific options as needed.