RAW>LR>PS... or RAW>PS?

[ChristopherCoy]

When using actions... of any brand name... is it better to just apply that action to a RAW, or TIF made from a RAW?

I usually import my RAW photos into LR, make my sat/cont/clar/vib adjustments, and then if I feel the desire I'll 'edit in CS4' - and apply an action or a preset if I have one that I think will look good.

Is this kinda 'double doing' it and messing up the 'look' of the action? In other w

Are you getting my drift?

I think its time for an experiment.

[The Philos]

I tried LR, but didn't like it (I don't think this gets at your question though). I try to get the best image from the RAW file with ACR into photoshop. I don't use too many actions, but I think getting the best image you can to start with is the best option there is.

[DoublyDan]

Chris, I work from RAW>LR>Photoshop and use a lot of plugins and some actions. When I open a Photoshop file from Lightroom I make sure that I save the PSD file is saved in the same location as my original RAW file. This way I can easily find the file for import. After import I can see both files side-by-side in the Filmstrip at the bottom.

Now to your question. I don't think that this is double doing it at all. If you find that this is the way your workflow is producing images that is what is pleasing to your eye, then go for it. Seeing how your business is starting to take off I would venture to say that it is also pleasing to your clients. You are merely adding the effects of your actions to your workflow.

Actions and Plugins are just a way to make our post processing more efficient. Sure they can add style but if that's the look you were going for then this action just helped you get there quicker...without the action, you would have gotten there eventually (idealistically)

That's just my take.

[billbunton]

You've got to convert it from raw before PS can do anything with it. So skipping the LR step just means that ACR is going to convert it instead of LR. Doesn't mean much since they're the same engine, so I guess you just need to decide which is easier for you to use.

Since you're using CS4 that means you're on ACR 5.7; if you've upgraded to LR3 then it's actually got the newer raw conversion engine, and will produce results.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Chris,

You really have no choice because Photoshop doesn't understand RAW files. That's why you need Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) to convert the file first.

Personally, I use Lightroom because, well, it works for me. If I didn't have to deal with clients and thousands of images my opinion may change but I doubt it.

The real reason I like to bring all of my images into LR first is so that I can apply a custom color profile to those images before converting them to any other format. Since I used the X-Rite Color Checker Passport which creates custom color profiles for each of my camera bodies, it is a necessity that I do so first. After that... nothing else matters as I have perfect/true color.

- Wil

[Dobick]

Chris,
If you open in LR make changes to the raw, then "Edit in photoshop" and make changes, if you close the file after you make changes it should prompt you to save the original file. If you do that, it should automatically show up in LR as a "2 of 2" copy of the original file, leaving the original in the shape it was before you made the PS edits.

That is the way it works for me in LR2

[iCe]

I use Bridge>ACR>CS5 (was 4). I save as TIF in ACR and process the TIF in CS5.

I have LR 2.0 but don't use it for anything but downloading from the card. I like the way it creates folders. I've seen some really cool features used with LR but I just haven't had the need or taken the time to get used to LR.