Photo Verification in Adobe Lightroom

Photo contests ask for proof that submissions are genuine photographs. Stock agencies want confirmation that images aren't AI-generated. Editorial clients need documentation showing photos haven't been manipulated. The Lumethic Lightroom plugin generates verification reports that compare your edited JPEG against the original RAW file, making the differences visible so anyone can see exactly what changed.

The Verification Report

When you verify a photo, Lumethic runs forensic analysis comparing your edited JPEG to the original camera RAW file. The system checks whether the JPEG legitimately derives from that RAW rather than being synthesized or heavily altered. The verification report shows this analysis visually.

The report displays both your edited JPEG and the processed RAW side by side. Visual comparison tools highlight where the images differ, showing exactly what edits you applied. This transparency proves the connection between your RAW file and final image. Someone viewing the report can see that your JPEG came from a real camera file, not from AI generation or heavy manipulation.

Each verification gets a unique URL pointing to this report. You can share this link with clients, stock agencies, contest organizers, or anyone who needs to verify your work. The report remains accessible online, providing permanent documentation of authenticity.

The forensic check runs multiple analysis techniques examining image structure, sensor noise patterns, color data, and other characteristics that reveal whether a JPEG matches its claimed RAW source. The report displays results from these checks, giving technical detail about what was verified.

Beyond the Lumethic report, the system also embeds a C2PA manifest directly into your JPEG file. This manifest contains cryptographic signatures and provenance data that travels with the image. The C2PA standard provides interoperability with other verification tools and platforms.

Using the Plugin

The Lumethic Lightroom plugin integrates into Lightroom's export process. After editing your photos, select the images you want to verify and export them. The export dialog shows verification options. Enable verification and the plugin uploads both your JPEG and the corresponding RAW file from your Lightroom catalog.

The verification service processes both files, runs the forensic analysis, and generates the report. Once complete, you get back your JPEG with an embedded C2PA manifest plus a verification report URL. The JPEG gets saved to your export location. The report URL appears in your Lumethic account where you can access it, share it, or download additional documentation.

For batch processing, select multiple images and export with verification enabled. The plugin handles them concurrently so you don't wait for each image to finish before the next starts. You can continue working in Lightroom while verification runs in the background.

Export presets make verification part of your routine workflow. Create a preset called "Stock Submission" with verification enabled and your export settings configured. When submitting work to stock agencies, select that preset and export. Create another preset for social media without verification if you don't need it for casual sharing.

The plugin needs access to your RAW files through Lightroom's catalog. Lightroom tracks where RAW files live, even on external drives or network storage. If you've moved RAW files outside Lightroom's management, relink them in your catalog before verifying.

The verification report URL becomes documentation you can share. When submitting to stock agencies, include the verification link with your upload. Stock editors can click through to see the forensic analysis and visual RAW-to-JPEG comparison, confirming your image is an authentic photograph.

Editorial clients appreciate the transparency. Send the verification link along with delivered images. The client sees exactly what was verified, how your JPEG compares to the RAW, and gets confidence that they're publishing genuine photographic content.

For photo contests requiring authenticity proof, the verification report provides more than just a RAW file. Contest organizers see the forensic analysis results and visual comparison showing your submission legitimately derives from camera capture.

When licensing work for commercial use, verification reports document authenticity for the client's records. If questions arise later about whether an image was manipulated or AI-generated, the verification report provides timestamped proof of what was checked and when.

The visual comparison in the report helps explain your editing process. Clients can see that you adjusted exposure, applied color grading, or retouched elements, but the underlying image structure matches the RAW file. This transparency builds trust while showing your professional editing work.

C2PA Manifest Embedding

Beyond the Lumethic verification report, the system embeds a C2PA manifest into your JPEG file. This manifest contains cryptographically signed provenance data that stays with the image file. The C2PA standard is supported by Adobe, Microsoft, Sony, Canon, Nikon, and other major technology and camera companies.

The embedded manifest includes verification assertions showing the image was checked against a RAW file, cryptographic signatures preventing tampering, and creator attribution. Anyone with C2PA-compatible tools can read this manifest to verify the image without needing the separate Lumethic report URL.

This dual approach provides flexibility. The Lumethic report gives detailed forensic analysis with visual comparison. The C2PA manifest provides standardized verification data that works with other tools and platforms. Both serve different purposes in proving authenticity.

Verification as Professional Practice

Verification becomes more valuable as questions about image authenticity become routine. The forensic report with visual RAW-to-JPEG comparison provides transparent proof that your work is genuine photography. Sharing verification reports with clients, agencies, and contests demonstrates professionalism and builds trust in your work.

The Lightroom plugin makes verification part of your normal workflow. Edit as usual, export with verification enabled for professional work, and you have both the images and documentation ready to share or sell.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does the verification report show? The report displays your edited JPEG alongside the processed RAW file with visual comparison tools highlighting differences. It includes results from forensic analysis checks and technical details about what was verified. Each report has a unique URL you can share.

Can clients see my RAW files? The report shows a processed version of your RAW for comparison purposes, but not the original RAW file itself. Your actual RAW files remain private and aren't shared or accessible through the verification system.

How long do verification reports stay accessible? Verification reports remain accessible through their URLs. This provides permanent documentation you can reference months or years later if needed.

Do I need to verify every photo? No. Verification makes sense for work you're selling, submitting professionally, or delivering to clients who need authenticity documentation. Personal photos or casual social media posts don't require it.

Can I verify photos I edited a long time ago? Yes. Verification compares your current exported JPEG against the original RAW file regardless of when you captured or edited it. As long as the RAW exists in your Lightroom catalog, you can verify the work.

What if I edit heavily? Verification accommodates normal photographic editing including exposure adjustment, color grading, cropping, and retouching. The analysis checks that your JPEG legitimately derives from the RAW, not that it's unedited. The visual comparison shows what changed. Extensive compositing that fundamentally alters image content might fail verification.

Does verification work with virtual copies in Lightroom? Yes. Each virtual copy represents different editing applied to the same RAW. You can verify each virtual copy independently, and each gets its own verification report showing its specific edits compared to the RAW.

What happens if someone modifies my verified image? The C2PA manifest embedded in the file will show it's been altered after verification. The verification report URL remains valid showing the original verified version. If you need a modified version verified, export and verify the new version.

How do clients check the C2PA manifest? Many image viewing applications and browsers now display C2PA badges for verified images. Professional clients can use verification tools that read the embedded manifest. The C2PA website lists compatible tools.