You always shoot in RAW? - Workflow Tips please?

coldyn8w

coldyn8w

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hey guys,

If you go out and shoot 200+ Shots in RAW (not on assignment, just out shooting casually) what do you do afterwards?

You take the time to process all of them? Adjust each one individually or cut the crap ones first? Then save them in a lossless format? Does this take a lot of time for you?

Ive been so lazy lately ive just been shooting constantly in JPG due the post-shooting pains of going through RAW and processing them. Does anyone have any workflow tips? I need to move back to RAW out of good habit.....

Do you bulk process based on the lighting conditions?

thanks in advance,
coldy
 
All in Lightroom
Import - convert to DNG and import (applies metadata inc location, copyright)
tweak each photo - Exposure, crop, contrast, WB, dust removal, sometimes copy and past a load of settings accross various photos.
Keyword and rank all photos
Create website in LR and export (if I want them on the web)
Export JPEGs if needed for printing (then delete them)

It really is a very good piece of software
 
Hi,

I took over 600 shots at a music festival in august, and by the time i got to my best shots, i only had about 150 shots left & deleted the rest.

I think it is better to shoot in RAW, as there may be a perfectly good shot there (i.e composition, mood, expression) and there is too much light or too little.

I found a few of my shot's didnt look anything special, but after a little tweak of exposure etc, became quite a good photo.

I use Adobe lightroom 2 quite good (I've not a clue with photoshop) i find it quick & easy to use, adn have had some good results.
 
Thanks SWP
How does Aperture compare to Lightroom for this? Is one quicker?
 
I have just started to use lightroom after not getting on so well with PSP X2. I didn't realise you could create a website in LR.

Do people shoot RAW + or just RAW? I have no real need for shooting and getting a small JPEG as well, simple because where my camera is, so is my laptop.

I just wondered whats viewed best practice as far as workflow etc.

OP: hope this doesn't seem like a thread hijack, its not meant to be. Its all workflow themed.
 
thanks scott,

I guess RAW would be particularly helpful dealing with bright sun and harsh shadows?
Ive been finding everything I shoot in bright daylight is just rubbish lately...
 
- Shoot in RAW
- Import all the shots into Lightroom
- Perm delete anything I'm not happy with
- Tweak basics in LR (Exp, contrast, sat, crop, basic spot removal if appl)
- Anything I want to work on in Photoshop gets exported to CS3 and I then work on it there, add border and sig, save for web as high quality jpeg.
- The rest in LR I export to folder as high level jpeg
 
coldyn8w said:
thanks scott,

I guess RAW would be particularly helpful dealing with bright sun and harsh shadows?
Ive been finding everything I shoot in bright daylight is just rubbish lately...
Click to expand...

Yup, me too, took some sunrise shots the other week, sky was nice, but the land too dark, couldnt even recover it in lightroom.

Im looking into ND filters, as they should help get better lighting.
 
I often shoot around 500 pics in RAW at a Polo tournament. Workflow as follows:

  • Import Raw files to hard drive via card reader
  • View images in Picture Motion Browser (Sony) or whatever your camera uses
  • Drag images I want to edit into Photoshop Elements
  • Make necessary tweaks in Adobe Camera Raw
  • Perform further tweaks in PSE Editor if necessary
  • Use Process Multiple Files to save images as JPEGS
  • Delete rejected RAW files
  • Save edited RAW files to DVD
  • Back up jpegs to 2 external hard drives
  • Return memory card(s) to camera and format.

Takes approximately 2 hours and usually end up editing 150-200 images.
 
wow robsohn, I just read that fashion shoot workflow. Thats some serious detail!!

Definitely helpful nonetheless:)
 
The RAW files on my Nikon D40x are about 8Mb and the JPEG files are about 3.5Mb (for 3872x2592 size). So using RAW gives you fewer images on a card, but I use RAW almost exclusively.

The particular RAW format for Nikon is 'NEF', and Nikon include a NEF file viewer with the camera CD software. This also allows some controls and effects over the image. The NEF files can be saved as compressed JPEG's or as uncompressed TIFF files. The Nikon viewer conveniently keeps the files in a Project format, and can create uploadable Web slide viewers.

Comparing JPEG and RAW, there is an advantage in using RAW for post-processing on high contrast or high detail images. JPEG compression will make adjustments to reduce file size, but which loses some colour contrast edge distinction and details. This may be significant if the image has a number of processing steps or saves/reloads applied.

I always use the Nikon NEF software screening, before using the files with Photoshop or GIMP.

So the process would be
- pre-screen in Nikon NEF viewer
- save the files that are good in TIFF
- use these files with Photoshop or GIMP
- delete unwanted stuff

I am currently looking at a freeware RAW viewer/processor, 'UFRAW'.

Edward
 
I shoot raw+small jpeg. go through the jpegs and delete the crap then process the raws.


coldyn8w said:
hey guys,

If you go out and shoot 200+ Shots in RAW (not on assignment, just out shooting casually) what do you do afterwards?

You take the time to process all of them? Adjust each one individually or cut the crap ones first? Then save them in a lossless format? Does this take a lot of time for you?

Ive been so lazy lately ive just been shooting constantly in JPG due the post-shooting pains of going through RAW and processing them. Does anyone have any workflow tips? I need to move back to RAW out of good habit.....

Do you bulk process based on the lighting conditions?

thanks in advance,
coldy
Click to expand...
 
I shoot raw and then the following:

- Import all images into Aperture2
- View all shots and edit the ones I am pleased with and leave the ones I am not fussed about
- Export with borderfx in jpeg then re-import into the finalized picture folder in Aperture2
- Back up the SD card unedited raw files on external hard drive
 
The way I work with RAW is to shoot just RAW.Then import into Lightroom. Edit (dump the crap) and then work on those images left.

I don't bother exporting the final result until they are needed. I also try to add keywords so that I can find them again. I also convert to DNG as this save a lot of space. Archive off a copy of the final images and also burn a CD/DVD. Just in case
 
I shoot RAW 100%, on import to Lightroom I apply the auto settings as well as WB correction and IPTC data. I'd rather look through images that have been auto processed that simply the RAW file for making my picks/rejects. The picks then get further processing as needed.
 
I shoot in Raw only, copy to hard disk with Canon EOS utility (very fast).
Import into LightRoom (v2), leaving images in place but applying default metadata template.
Identify and delete naff images.
Identify and temporarily colour code images according to intended use.
Rank them between 1 & 3, only 3's make it through to post editing.
Post edit as required, usually in LightRoom but sometimes in CS3.
Apply Keywords and other unique IPTC data, such as Geotags.
Export accordingly, either using my own web template or print etc.
Remove temp colour codings but leave ratings as assigned.
Move images to external hard disk.

All of the above, except where mentioned, is done in Lightroom. I never work with jpg's anymore as LR makes it a doddle to create jpgs as needed, such as for emailing or websites. I did look into using DNG format but decided against it for a number of reasons. After the initial workflow I tend to revisit my catalogues some time later and see which of the 1 & 2 rated images should be deleted or uprated to a 3 and worked on. Helps fill in slack and rainy days...
 
I'm going to play Devil's advocate; I only shoot RAW if I can see then and there that it's going to be a great shot, or if the light conditions are plainly difficult. To that end, I've shot RAW less than a handful of times this year.

I actually prefer shooting JPEG for many reasons. Firstly, the increased number of images I can take on every card; secondly, the ease of workflow required to process them all [I shot over 1000 images at Revival last weekend, and to batch process them would have taken an age..]. Plus, I own CaptureNX, which whilst powerful is a slow as hell, and so takes the fun out of my photos. That's what it's all about to me, the fun of it all. If I didn't enjoy the journey, I don't much enjoy the destination.

But, to 'Rockwell' for a minute, I have to say that by making myself shoot JPEG, I have to get it right out of the camera... and so I have to concentrate harder; the D80 makes changing ISO, WB, under/overexposure and metering/AF easy [no submenu's, all on-camera controls] - there's no excuse for a bad shot save my poor eyes, poor framing and lazy approach.

Still, that wasn't your question per se; I use ViewNX to look through all my RAW photos, having used Nikon Transfer to import them all, and maybe backup to DVD. I only convert the images I see potential with, or that have massive contrast range and need a little tweaking. I don't bother trying to 'save shots'. In my opinion, a ruined shot happened when I pushed the shutter release; I can't heal it post-capture.
 
I import into lightroom, reject all crap photos and delete permanently. Then I will go through the rest and grade from 3 to 5 stars. I will then take the 5 stars and put them in a quick colllection for editing. I edit each in turn until i'm happy, then I will export them as high quality jpegs, with high sharpening to a sub folder and upload them to either my webspace or flickr. Lightroom is fantastic to quickly sift through and find the best photos.
 
Another lightroom fan here - I use 1-5 to star-rate them, then just delete all the ones, and go through again, starting with the twos.

I must add though, that I have only given a photo a 5 rating once or twice!

LR makes it dead quick I find.

p.s. Yes, I shoot in just RAW - LR is quick enough to make that viable, and I have a large hard-drive!
 
Shoot RAW + Basic JPEG. Jpeg's are there to make selection easier as they're smaller file sizes and sometimes I'm on a computer that doesn't want to cooperate with RAW.

Delete everything that's just not good.
Pick out the excellent pictures that can look even better with PP.
Pick out the ones that could be excellent pictures but lack just a little bit of PP.
The rest is cropped or rotated appropriately.
Export to a separate folder in high quality jpeg with medium sharpening for screen.

Done in LightRoom 2.
Extensive Photoshopping in CS2

For simple family pictures and outings I'll shoot high quality jpeg just to make it easier. Everything else is done in RAW.
 
I have a similar workflow to neo2810. Although I rarely have 200+ images to process at one time. I always shoot RAW these days and use LR2 to process them

As Neo2810 with some changes
- Shoot in RAW
- Import all the shots into Lightroom
- Categorise by location, name, activity, event etc ....
- Flag keepers and flag for bin
- Tweak basics in LR (Exp, contrast, sat, crop, basic spot removal if appl)
- Anything I want to work on in Photoshop gets exported to CS3 and I then work on it there, add border and sig, save for web as high quality jpeg.
- Perm delete anything flagged for bin
- reformat cards
 
shoot in raw <<< always :naughty:<<< manual:razz:

download card reader to PS7 very fast
get rid of crap >>>> go out shoot some more photos :lol:>>>get rid of crap:lol:go out!!!!!:lol:

get rid of rubbish edit in raw then save to tiff edit in PS7 the final change to JPeg Highest setting

any i am not finished editing with i save to desktop.:clap::wave:

Regards mark.
 
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