Today’s Question: Is it possible to move only the original or virtual copy of an image to a different folder [in Lightroom Classic]? When I tried to move either to a different folder both copies moved. I eventually exported the virtual copy to desktop as a JPEG, then reimported to the folder of choice. Any easier way?
Tim’s Quick Answer: No, you can’t move an original image and its virtual copy in Lightroom Classic independently. The easiest way to be able to move one without the other would be to generate a derivative image based on the virtual copy, such as by using the Export feature in conjunction with the “Add to This Catalog” option.
More Detail: Virtual copies in Lightroom Classic can be tremendously helpful for a variety of purposes in your workflow, such as to have more than one interpretation of an image. However, a virtual copy is simply an extra set of metadata for the original image, and therefore the two are connected and can’t be moved independent of one another.
If you want to move a virtual copy to a different folder than the original image it relates to, you’ll need to create a new derivative image. You can do so by selecting the virtual copy and then clicking the Export button at the bottom of the left panel in the Library module. In the Export dialog you can configure all the options based on your preferences, including exporting in the same file format as the original (including for raw captures), and choose a location where you want to save that derivative copy.
In the Export Location section at the top of the Export dialog you can turn on the “Add to This Catalog” checkbox, so the new derivative image will be added to the current catalog. You can then click the Export button, and the new image will be created in the applicable location with the settings you used, and it will reflect all the metadata and Develop adjustments that had been applied to the virtual copy. At that point you could remove the virtual copy to avoid confusion, since you have a new file based on the settings for that virtual copy.
