How to Duplicate Images in Lightroom

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Do you want to create a duplicate photo in Adobe Lightroom? Virtual copies allow you to clone and edit images in Lightroom without creating separate files that take up space on your computer. If you're using the mobile app or really need a duplicates of the same photo, you can export a copy from Lightroom and then import the copy back into the app. This wikiHow article will teach you three easy ways to add duplicate images in the Lightroom using the mobile app and on your PC or Mac.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Duplicating Photos in the Mobile App

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  1. Lightroom has a blue icon that says "Lr" in the middle. Tap the Lightroom icon on your Home screen or Apps menu to open Lightroom.
  2. Lightroom for mobile devices does not allow you to import photos that are already in your library, but you can import a photo and save a copy of it. Use the following steps to import a photo into Lightroom:
    • Tap the icon that resembles a photograph with a plus sign (+) in the lower-right corner.
    • Select the location of your photo.
    • Tap the photo you want to duplicate.
    • Tap Add in the lower-right corner.
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  3. Use the following steps select an imported photo in Lightroom:
    • Tap the icon that resembles three books side-by-side in the lower-left or upper-left corner to open your library.
    • Select an album or tap All Photos .
    • Tap a photo you want to duplicate.
  4. If you want to make any edits to the photo before exporting a duplicate, use the options at the bottom of the screen.
  5. Use the following steps to export a copy or duplicate of the photo:
    • Tap the Share icon in the upper-right corner. On Android it resembles three connected dots. On iPhone, it resembles a box with an arrow pointing up.
    • Tap Save to Device (on Android) or Export to Files (on iPhone and iPad).
    • Select a folder to save the image to (iPhone and iPad only. On Android, photos are automatically saved to the Lightroom album in your Gallery).
    • Tap Save in the upper-right corner (iPhone and iPad only).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Creating Virtual Copies on PC or Mac

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  1. Lightroom has a blue icon that says "Lr" in the middle. Click the Lightroom to open Lightroom.
  2. It should be in the filmstrip panel at the bottom of the screen. Right-click the image you want to duplicate to display a pop-up menu.
    • If you don't see the filmstrip panel at the bottom of the screen, click Window in the menu bar at the top. Then click Panel followed by Filmstrip .
  3. This creates a new virtual copy of the image. Virtual copies have an icon that resembles a turning page icon in the lower-left corner of the thumbnail image. You can make independent edits to a virtual copy as if it was an actual copy of the image.
    • Virtual copies only exist inside Lightroom. They do not create a separate image file outside of Lightroom.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Duplicating Photos on Windows and macOS

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  1. Lightroom has a blue icon that says "Lr" in the middle. Click the Lightroom to open Lightroom.
  2. Click the photo to select it. You can select a photo in the grid or filmstrip panel.
  3. Use the following steps to open the Export menu :
    • Click File in the menu bar at the top.
    • Click Export .
  4. To do so, click the arrow icon (⏵) next to "File Settings" in the Export menu.
  5. It's under "Image Format" below "File Settings."
  6. It's in the lower-right corner of the Export menu. This exports a duplicate of the image. [1]
    • Alternatively, you can duplicate an image outside of Lightroom. To do so, right-click the image and click Copy (or Duplicate on Mac). Then right-click a blank area inside the same folder and click Paste .
  7. Use the following steps to open the Import menu in Lightroom:
    • Click File in the menu bar at the top.
    • Click Import Photos and Videos .
  8. By default, when you import images into Lightroom, it automatically tries to detect duplicates and not import them. You need to turn off this feature. To do so, click the checkbox next to "Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates" in the panel on the right.
  9. Use the menu panel on the left to navigate the different folders on your PC. Then click the folder your image duplicate is located in. Click the checkbox in the upper-right corner of the thumbnail image of your image duplicate.
  10. This imports your image duplicate into Lightroom. You can make edits to either image. [2]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What are your favorite settings in Lightroom that you tweak first when editing photos?
    Victoria Sprung
    Professional Photographer
    Victoria Sprung is a Professional Photographer and the Founder of Sprung Photo, a wedding photography studio based in Chicago, Illinois. She has over 13 years of professional photography experience and has photographed over 550 weddings. She has been chosen for Wedding Wire's "Couple’s Choice" Award eight years in a row and The Knot's "Best of Weddings" award five years in a row. Her work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine, the Chicago Reader, Rangefinder, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Pop Sugar.
    Victoria Sprung
    Professional Photographer
    Expert Answer
    I always increase the blacks. I like a lot of contrast in my photos, so that's one of the first sliders I use in Lightroom. I also increase the contrast a little and a little bit of the vibrance. You almost always are going to need a little bit of noise reduction as well. I start with those.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.colesclassroom.com/how-to-easily-duplicate-a-photo-in-lightroom/
      2. ↑ https://peterbredahldam.com/process/duplicate-photo-lightroom

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