Use this guide if you uploaded photos from a folder (not a Lightroom catalog) and are reviewing edits in Lightroom, Bridge, or Photoshop (Adobe Camera Raw).
How Imagen delivers your edits
When you upload a project from a folder, Imagen doesn't modify your original photos. Your edits are delivered as XMP metadata, a standard Adobe format that stores editing instructions without touching the source files.
How that XMP is stored depends on your file type:
- RAW photos: Imagen creates a separate sidecar file with the same name as your photo and an .xmp extension, placed in the same folder as the original.
- JPEG and DNG photos: The XMP metadata is embedded directly inside the image file. No separate .xmp file is created.
You need to open your photos in a compatible Adobe app to see the edits. Your default system image viewer will always show the photos as unedited.
Before you start: re-download your edits
If your edits aren't appearing, the most reliable first step is to re-download them and confirm the path points to the exact folder where your original photos are stored.
- Open Imagen and go to the Projects page.
- In the row of the project you want to review, click the three dots and select Download edits.
In the Download window, verify the path matches the folder containing your original photos. If you've moved your photos since uploading, click Browse to update the location.
- Click Download edits, then click Next and choose your editing app.
Lightroom
Edits are under Local, not Cloud
Imagen writes XMP sidecar files to the local folder on your computer or external drive. It doesn't sync to the cloud. If you're looking in the Cloud section of Lightroom, you won't see your edits.
In Lightroom, navigate to Local in the left panel and find the folder containing your original photos.
Edits still not visible? Refresh the folder.
After downloading, right-click the folder in Lightroom and select Refresh folder to prompt Lightroom to re-read the files.
Your photos can't be stored in the cloud
Imagen requires your photos to be saved locally, on your computer or on an external hard drive connected to your computer. Photos stored only in the cloud (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) can't be processed or read by Imagen.
JPEG files
JPEG edits are embedded inside the image file itself. There's no separate .xmp sidecar. If you're looking for a separate XMP file alongside your JPEGs, you won't find one. This is expected. Open the JPEG in Lightroom and the edits will be visible directly.
Bridge and Photoshop (Adobe Camera Raw)
The XMP sidecar must be in the same folder as the RAW file
For RAW photos, your .xmp sidecar file must be in the same folder as the corresponding RAW file, and must have exactly the same filename (only the extension differs). If you moved your photos after downloading, or if the download path was incorrect, the XMP file may be in a different location than your photos.
Check that your folder contains both the original RAW files and the matching .xmp sidecar files side by side.
DNG and JPEG files: no sidecar file is expected
For DNG and JPEG photos, the XMP metadata is embedded inside the image itself. Open these files in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), which is Bridge's default viewer.
If ACR isn't reading your edits, check your ACR preferences:
- In ACR, go to Preferences > File Handling.
- Confirm that File Format Handling is set to:
- Embed XMP in DNG
- Automatically open JPEG with ACR
- Automatically open TIFF with ACR
Common causes at a glance
| Symptom | Most likely cause | What to check |
| Photos look completely unedited | Opened in system viewer, not an Adobe app | Always open photos in Bridge, ACR, or Lightroom |
| No edits visible in Lightroom | Looking in Cloud section | Switch to Local in the left panel |
| XMP file exists but edits don't appear | Download path was wrong | Re-download with the correct folder path |
| No .xmp file visible (RAW project) | Photos were moved after download | Make sure XMP is in the same folder as your RAW files |
| No .xmp file visible (JPEG or DNG) | XMP is embedded, no sidecar file is created | Open in ACR. No separate file is expected. |
| Photos stored on a cloud drive | Imagen can't access cloud-only storage | Move photos to a local or external drive |
| Edits don't show in Bridge even with XMP present | ACR preferences misconfigured | Check ACR File Handling settings |
Still not seeing your edits?
The fastest fix is to re-upload your photos to a new project in Imagen. We'll credit your account for the duplicate project. Just let us know once you've re-uploaded.
If you've worked through all these steps and your edits still aren't appearing, ask our team.