January 24, 2009
RAW WorkflowJeremey Barrett @jeremey [email protected]
What is Workflow?
✤ The WHOLE process✤ Import✤ Metadata✤ Backup✤ Edit✤ Develop✤ Finish✤ Share
Why RAW?
✤ Massive increase in pixel data✤ 8 bits (JPEG) - 256 values✤ 12 bits (RAW) - 4,096 values✤ 14 bits (RAW) - 16,384 values✤ Finer gradation of tone✤ More accurate color
✤ Much more latitude in exposure and room for “error”
✤ Workflow tools exist
Why RAW Now?
✤ Workflow, workflow, workflow✤ RAW is now easier overall than
JPEG, with the right tools✤ Confluence of technologies:
✤ Software tools✤ Camera speed✤ Memory capacity✤ Cheap drives
The Old
✤ Copy files off card✤ View/edit in... ? Photoshop?✤ Open in Photoshop✤ Process, save PSD file✤ Save a JPEG copy... where?✤ Save a small copy... where?✤ Black and white version? Copy✤ Crop? Copy✤ And so on
The New
✤ Import and apply metadata✤ Integrated backup✤ Mark (star) good images✤ Develop marked images✤ Make any number of variations
(crops, BW, etc.)✤ Maybe finish some in PS✤ Export what is needed directly✤ Discard exports, no copies
SOLD?
Software
✤ Aperture (Apple)✤ Lightroom (Adobe)✤ Capture One PRO (Phase One)✤ iView MediaPro (now
Microsoft something)✤ PhotoMechanic✤ Bridge (Adobe)✤ iPhoto✤ Picasa
Software
✤ The new tools? Aperture and Lightroom
✤ Complete workflows✤ Non-destructive adjustments✤ “Virtual” copies (versions)✤ Developing tools✤ Integrated backup✤ Managed PS integration✤ Export integration (web, etc.)
WHICH TOOL??
THE ONE THAT WORKS!!
BUT...
Which Tool?
✤ Bridge is pretty clunky, and doesn’t do anything simply
✤ C1PRO is maybe the best RAW converter in terms of image quality, but batch workflow is clunky and everything else is missing
✤ PhotoMechanic is great at import and metadata, only
✤ iView MediaPro actually doesn’t do much of anything really well
✤ iPhoto is OK but limited and still makes lots of copies
✤ Picasa is pretty limited✤ Aperture and Lightroom are the
only complete tools
Aperture
✤ Excellent metadata✤ Non-linear (HUD) workflow✤ Deep, thoughtful feature set✤ Project-based✤ Very strong organization tools✤ Good developing tools✤ Primary-only mode✤ Performance✤ Plugin architecture
Things Apple Forgot✤ No curves?!✤ Granular lift-and-stamp✤ Lift-and-stamp actions instead
of settings✤ Midtone contrast!!✤ Color-based grayscale (instead
of RGB channel-based)✤ Saving a set of adjustments✤ Non-destructive selective
adjustments
Lightroom
✤ Fantastic develop controls✤ Great “out of the box” look✤ Convenient metadata✤ Cross-platform✤ Easy access to files✤ Excellent sharpening✤ Fantastic develop controls!✤ Great PS integration
Things Adobe Forgot
✤ Non-linear workflow✤ Saving web albums?
Slideshows? Hello? McFly??✤ Automatic collection from
import✤ Organizational tools✤ Export / plugin architecture✤ Performance!!✤ Price?
And The Best Tool Is...
✤ The one that comes out after Apple buys Adobe, Aperture gets Lightroom’s develop module, and both of them give up and license the Capture One RAW engine!
✤ Sigh.✤ TRY THEM OUT! 30 day trials
FTW!✤ On Windows? Just get
Lightroom
Why Does It Matter?
✤ Get back to shooting✤ Get back to your life✤ Get great results✤ Get creative✤ Find your images✤ Save your images
Key Practices: Metadata and Backup✤ Keyword like crazy✤ Keyword AT IMPORT!✤ Assign copyright at import✤ Aperture and Lightroom both
make this painless (pretty much)
✤ Your images have value beyond their immediate use: make sure you can find them
✤ BACK UP!✤ Back up locally (Time Machine,
etc.)✤ Back up remotely (Photoshelter,
Backblaze, ...)✤ Ship a backup drive to your
mom✤ Every hard drive will fail, most
without any warning✤ Don’t lose your images
Thanks!
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