Workflow Question

[jordankreationz]

I know everyone out there has their own special workflow setup that they like to use. Right now I don't have one or much of a great idea how to make one and thus am stuck in a repetitious groove resizing and stamping pictures after I'm done with them.
So I'm asking the experts...tell me about your workflow. I use Photoshop 7 mostly with an occasional foray into Photoshop Elements 2 and Paint Shop Pro 8.


Thanks
DJ

[jheiliger]

Are you shooting RAW or JPG?? That makes a huge difference...

I shoot RAW. Here is my workflow...

I use Capture One, and it is awesome!

Proofing -

1) After downloading from cards, open folder in Capture One.

2) RAW adjustments... Exposure; Contrast; Focus; etc... Enough to make a decent proof.

3) There is a function in C1 called "Quickproof" that creates small jpg images at 72dpi. It can run 100 images in less than 5mins. I "Quickproof" the images left in the folder.

4) Customer comes in for proofiing session. They view proofs and place an order.

5) In C1, I now convert the chosen RAW files to JPG or TIFF (depending...) and pull into PSCS for any changes I want to make (B&W Conversions; Cloning; etc...).

6) Burn to disk/upload for printing.


Hope that helps,

Joe

[rhrocker]

Many thanks for that, it sure helped me! I wish Capture 1 recognized the Sony DSC f828 dang it! I'm using PS, although it's pretty good. That's a good workflow you have there Joe. I have a special file that I'm collecting and saving workflows.

[ndsimm]

If you are thinking about PSCS....
http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdf...o_workflow.pdf

[srwatters]

Excellent link! Downloaded and saved. Those Dr. Brown java script plugins look awesome. Can't wait to get home and try some!

[rhrocker]

Ditto what Scott said!! It's a great link! I didn't know info like this existed.

[brad]

For RAW shooters (I'm shooting with a Canon 10D), Paint Shop Pro 9 supports most of the major RAW formats now... so that's improved my workflow a great deal. I was using the Canon software to do the conversion and PSP 7 to do post-processing.

(I sometimes think I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't like Capture One.)

[swanny338]

I use photomechanic to look thru photos and delete bad ones... if they are RAW, i either go into Capture One or breezebrowser... I mostly use C1. Depending on what the photos are of I then convert them to 16 bit tiffs or jpegs. Then take them into Photoshop CS for anything extra they might need...

if there is a lot of noise... i use neatimage to remove it

[bbailey]

1. View RAW files using Canon's DPP utility (I'm not much for the PS Raw software). Adjust Exposer/White Balance, and basic contrast, saturation if needed. Export as 16-bit tiff.

2. Open tiff in Photoshop CS. Make any non size or sharpening related adjustments in different layers and save a full size version in PSD format.

3. Resize for either print or web. I will sometimes do a light pre-resize sharpen depending on the image and the output.

4. Convert to Lab mode and sharpen (Lightness channel).

5. Back to RGB Mode. Also go to 8-bit mode if outputting for web.

When I've finished a big set of images, I will copy everything origital RAWs and all to my external hard drive for backup.

That's mine. I've got actions for 3-5 depending on the image.

[jheiliger]

The power of the "quickproof" in CI is that you don't have to wait while 150 images are converted to full size TIFF OR JPG. That can take hours depending on the number of images. If you quick proof them, then show them to the client, you only fully "develop"/convert the ones that you are going to print.

For me, it saves a ton of time, and hard drive space.

Joe