For many photographers, Lightroom Classic is the go-to software for color grading and image management. Evoto supports both individual images and .lrcat files (Lightroom Classic catalogs), so you can use both programs together and combine Lightroom’s organizational workflow with Evoto’s advanced AI retouching tools. This integration helps you improve your work without sacrificing convenience.
The Two Workflow Options
1. Individual Image Integration (Quick Round-Trip)
This workflow is ideal for quickly sending a single image from Lightroom to Evoto for a one-time edit, such as portrait retouching, and then sending it back to Lightroom.
2. Full Catalog Integration (Batch Processing)
This workflow is best for photographers who want to use Evoto’s AI tools for batch processing or maintain their project structure while moving between platforms. It is better suited to a full project or a larger set of images.
Workflow 1: Individual Image Integration
This is the faster method for making AI edits to a single image.
- Start in Lightroom Classic: Begin by culling, organizing, or making initial adjustments in Lightroom.
- Send to Evoto: Select the image you want to edit, then right-click and choose Edit in > Edit in Evoto.
- Edit in Evoto: The image will open in Evoto, where you can make advanced adjustments such as skin, eyes, and hair retouching.
- Return to Lightroom: When you are ready, click Export in Evoto, then click Return to LR to send the edited image back to Lightroom directly.
- How the Returned File Works: The image is returned to the original folder location with all Evoto edits applied, replacing the copy file that was created when the image was sent out from Lightroom.
- Use Custom Export if Needed: If you want to confirm the export settings manually, you can use Custom Export and apply the following settings:
- Export To: Select the photo’s original folder location.
- Existing Files: Choose Replace and make sure Replace original file(s) is checked.
Workflow 2: Full Catalog Integration
This workflow is designed for photographers who want to keep their project structure intact while moving between platforms.
Step 1: Prepare Your Catalog in Lightroom
Create or open your existing .lrcat file in Lightroom Classic. This catalog will serve as the foundation for importing into Evoto.
Step 2: Import the Catalog into Evoto
Evoto makes it easy to bring an entire Lightroom catalog into your workspace. You can import a .lrcat catalog directly through Import Lightroom Classic Catalog from the import menu or from the new project home screen.
- Import Lightroom Classic Catalog: Use Import Lightroom Classic Catalog from the top bar or menu to select your .lrcat file directly.
- Empty Project Entry: If you start in an empty project, the same import entry remains available so you can bring the catalog into Evoto right away.
- Drag and Drop: You can also drag and drop the .lrcat file into Evoto.
After the catalog is imported, you can choose specific collections or filtered image sets from the catalog to bring into Evoto.
Import Options
- Import Settings from .lrcat: Enable this option if you want Lightroom’s basic color adjustment sliders, such as Exposure, Temperature, and Tint, to carry over into Evoto.
- Filters: You can filter the images you import by format, editing status, rating, color, and more.
- What Does Not Transfer: Some Lightroom adjustments do not transfer to Evoto because they depend on different rendering engines. These include Transform, Lens Correction, Lens Blur, Post-Crop Vignetting, etc.
Step 3: Edit Your Images in Evoto
Edit your imported images using Evoto’s full set of tools. You can apply presets, sync adjustments across batches, and use all available AI features.
Step 4: Export the Catalog from Evoto
When you finish editing, you can export the images and metadata as a Lightroom-compatible catalog.
How to Export
Select all images you want to export, then go to Export > Export as catalog (.lrcat).
Catalog Export Options
- Merge into Original Catalog: You can export the edits back into the original catalog. You can also enable Include Color Adjustment parameters and Replace Non-RAW Images.
- Export as New Catalog: You can also create a new catalog and optionally enable Include Color Adjustment parameters, Include Original Image Files in New Catalog, and Prepare for catalog Merge.
Note: Non-RAW Replacement: If you enable Replace Non-RAW Images, Evoto replaces the original non-RAW files, such as JPG or TIFF, with the Evoto-edited versions. A backup of the original images is created so they can be re-edited later if needed.
Image Export Options
- Original .lrcat Folder: Exports to the folder that contains the original .lrcat file and adds a stack in Lightroom. You need to enable Overwrite original.
- Specific Folder: Creates a new .lrcat file in a specified location with the edited images and metadata.
- Desktop: Works the same way as Specific Folder, but saves the new .lrcat file directly to the desktop.
Can’t See Evoto Edits in Lightroom Classic?
If Evoto edits do not appear in Lightroom Classic right away, Lightroom may still be showing older previews or metadata. This can happen after using Back to LR or after exporting an updated .lrcat file from Evoto.
Update in Lightroom
After returning to Lightroom, select the images that need to be updated, right-click, choose Metadata, and then select Read Metadata from File to refresh the image and display the changes made in Evoto.
Key Considerations
- RAW File Support: Evoto supports importing RAW files through .lrcat catalogs. However, RAW files cannot be exported. Other file formats can be exported normally.
- Non-RAW Replacement: This option replaces the original non-RAW images in Lightroom, such as JPG, TIFF, and PNG, with the Evoto-edited versions. Evoto automatically creates backups of the original files so they can be re-edited later without consuming additional credits.
- Re-editing: To re-edit an existing image, open it again in Evoto and export it again. For new images added to the original .lrcat catalog, you can right-click to open them in Evoto, edit them, and export them back to Lightroom.
