This guide covers manual importing and exporting of images in Evoto. If you are looking for information on automated workflows using hot folders, please refer to our Auto Import & Export guide.

Importing

Evoto Supported File Types

Evoto supports JPEGs, TIFFs, and PNGs. It also supports processing most camera RAW file types. Evoto RAW processing is based on our own powerful RAW engine. We regularly update our library and make improvements to provide perfect support for new cameras. Note that Evoto currently does not support image file that is bigger than 1 GB and whose pixels are bigger than 12000*12000.

Number of Files Supported for Import

Evoto doesn’t limit the number of photos to be imported into each project, but it limits the number of photos you can import at a time.

You can import up to 15,000 photos each time.

Importing Lightroom Catalogs (.lrcat)

Evoto supports importing Lightroom Catalog (.lrcat) files, allowing seamless synchronization between Evoto and Lightroom for faster editing and rendering.

How to Import a .lrcat File

• Drag and drop the .lrcat file into Evoto.
  
• Alternatively, create a new project and select the .lrcat file.
  
• Once imported, you can choose which collections or filtered sets within the catalog to import into Evoto.

Project Identification:

• Projects based on .lrcat files are visibly marked within the project list

Import Options:

• Import Original Image: Enable this only if the original images referenced in the .lrcat file are stored on an external drive.

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Supported Import Methods

• Right-Click in File Manager: Quickly import supported image formats.
  
• Drag and Drop: Drag images onto the Evoto app icon (Windows taskbar drag-and-drop not supported).
• Right-Click from Other Software: Send images directly to Evoto from Lightroom or other editors.

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Exporting

Exporting Lightroom Catalogs

From your .lrcat project, click the Export button dropdown, and select “Export as lrcat file”. Be sure all necessary images are selected prior to using this option.

Export To: 

• Original .lrcat Folder
  
  • Exports to the folder containing the original .lrcat file and adds a stack in Lightroom.
    
• Specific Folder
  
  • Creates a new .lrcat file with edited images and metadata. Lightroom will treat the edited image as a new file and apply Evoto’s adjustments.
    
• Desktop
  • Same behavior as above, but saves the new .lrcat file to the desktop.

Once selected, you’ll see two additional options listed under the Export to location setting:

• Replace original file(s): Overwrites original non-RAW (JPG, TIFF, PNG) images in Lightroom with the Evoto-edited versions. A backup of the originals is automatically created.
• Export Color Settings to .lrcat: If you don’t enable replacement, only the color changes and metadata are passed back to Lightroom.

Choose Export Location:

You can save the updated .lrcat:

• To your original Lightroom catalog, overwriting it
• As a new .lrcat in a custom location
  • This makes it easy to merge with your original catalog later.

Note: Exporting as a .lrcat file is only available as an option if the original project was imported as a .lrcat

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Custom Export Settings

Export Number

This indicates the total number of images to be exported (first number) multiplied by the number of times they will be exported (second number) based on the amount of export presets chosen. If none are chosen, the number of times exported will default to one. Unedited refers to how many images in the export queue do not have edits applied.

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Export Preset

Here you can save and manage export configurations for various resolutions. Save your favorites for quick access. Multiple presets can be selected and applied simultaneously, and Evoto will export separate versions for each.

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Effect Preset

If you haven’t already edited an image, an effect preset can be applied to exported images. This is ideal for auto import & export workflows with very controlled image settings. If images are already edited, the system will default to “Current Effect” in this section. 

Note: Even if you have applied edits, an additional preset can be applied and Evoto will generate separate versions for each selected style

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Export Settings

Choose where to save the exported images:

• Export To: Set your export file location
• Existing Files: Choose how to handle exporting existing files. Options include “Add Suffix” to add a number to create a unique file name, “Skip”, or “Replace”
• Path: Shows the file path of your exported images.

Auto-Create Subfolder: Automatically creates a named folder for the exported files.

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File Naming Methods

Evoto provides several file naming methods:

1. Original Filename: Keeps the original name.
   
2. Custom Filename (# of #): Adds a custom name and numbered sequence.
   
3. Capture Date – Original Filename: Prepends the capture date to the filename.
   
4. Custom Filename – Sequence: Adds a numbered suffix to a custom filename.
   
5. Original Filename – Custom Text: Adds custom text to the end of the original filename.
   
6. Original Filename – Preset Name: Adds the name of the Effect Preset (applied during editing) at the end of the original filename
   
7. Original Filename – Export Preset: Adds the name of the Export Preset (resolution preset applied in the export window) at the end of the original filename
   
8. Original Filename – Preset Name – Export Preset: Adds the name of the Effect Preset (applied during editing) and the name of the Export Preset (resolution preset applied in the export window) at the end of the original filename
   
9. Original Filename – Preset Name – Custom Text:Adds the name of the Effect Preset (applied during editing) and custom text at the end of the original filename

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Image Size

Scale Type

Scale your image exports by:

• Percentage
• Width & Height
• Dimensions
• Long Edge and Short Edge

You can also set the image resolution by:

• Pixels/Inch
• Pixels/Centimeter 

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File Settings

Image Format:

• Original Format
  
  • Note: RAW images will be exported as jpeg. If the image contains an alpha channel, it will be exported as a png.
• JPG: (8-bit)
• TIFF: (8-bit or 16-bit)

Quality:

• Only available for JPG exports.
• Limit File Size: 
  • Input a target size and Evoto will compress the image as closely as possible to that value.
• Percentage:
• • • Choose from: Low, Medium, High, or Best or use slider to adjust
      

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Export Adjustments

Evoto includes tailored Output Sharpening Settings for both screen and print

• Options:
  
  • For Screen:
    • Low / Standard / High
  • For Print:
    • Low / Standard / High
  • No Sharpening (default)
    
    

    Setting	Result
    For Screen – Low	Soft, natural results with good detail protection
    For Screen – Standard	Clear edges, well-controlled artifacts
    For Screen – High	Intense but clean sharpness, minimal oversharpening
    For Print – Low	Suitable for A4-sized output
    For Print – Standard	Rich detail for A3 prints
    For Print – High	Ideal for large-format or exhibition-quality output

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Watermark

Evoto offers the option to upload a custom watermark and adjust its:

• Rotation
• Size
• Opacity
• Position on the image

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Import & Export Troubleshooting

Blurry Image Preview After Import

If your images appear blurry after being imported into Evoto, this is likely due to preview settings and not a reflection of the image’s actual resolution.

• Evoto supports all RAW file types and does not reduce the resolution of your original images.
  
• The preview quality is automatically adjusted based on your computer’s specifications, which may result in a lower display resolution for performance reasons.
  
  

To improve preview clarity:

1. Go to Settings → Preview → Preview Size.
   
2. Increase the preview size as needed—Evoto supports up to 4000 px, the maximum preview resolution currently available.
   

Note: The preview size setting affects only how the image is displayed within Evoto. It has no impact on the quality or resolution of exported images.

File Size Changes After Export

You may notice a difference in file size after exporting an image from Evoto. This is expected behavior and is typically due to the following:

• Evoto uses optimized image processing algorithms that can alter the internal pixel structure during editing.
  
• These changes may result in smaller or larger file sizes depending on the content, export format, and settings used.
  

Despite file size variations, the exported image will maintain the quality specified by your export configuration.

Exported Image Not Found in Destination Folder

If an exported image does not appear in the selected folder, the issue is likely related to file permissions.

Please check the following:

• Confirm that the destination folder or drive allows Evoto to write files.
  
• Some external drives or system-managed folders may restrict write access, allowing only read access by default.
  
• Ensure that Evoto has the necessary write permissions for the selected export location.
  

Note: Granting full write access to the target folder or choosing a different export destination typically resolves this issue.

 

Some Notes about Quality in Export Settings

When you export images as JPG or as Default., you can choose the quality in two ways:

• Limit File Size:

You can set a specific file size for the exported images. But note that if the file does not meet the limit, it will be as close to that value as possible.

• Percentage:

You can enter a specific number between 1 to 100 to set the Quality Percentage. But note that if you enter a minuscule value, such as 1%, the images will still be exported at a secure percentage to ensure the quality of exported images.

Keep the Images’ Original Caption/Description

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Export Error Codes

For more information about error messages during the export process please see our list of Export Error Codes