Workflow - Raw Shooter is gone :-(

[dschae1]

Last time I shot Raw images, I had an XT and got very good at making Raw Shooter my main workflow tool. Now that I have an XTi, I just tried Raw again and it doesn't recognize the new format. I have googled for ways to get it to work, but alas, it is not going to happen. RIP Rawshooter.

So, I'm pretty bummed.

I don't like the Adobe products as they seem to slow down my workflow and are memory hogs. I have used Bridge to Camera Raw (& Photoshop) and recently I tried Lightroom, but I am simply not pleased and am looking for another solution.

I use Acdsee 9 for my .jpg workflow and like it. I am inclined to get the new pro version ($129) as it handles Raw files.

The main things I need do during my workflow is
1) quickly mark for keep/delete based on quality of the shot (2-3 passes)
2) white balance adjustment across a set of similar lighted images
3) level, darken or lighten the exposure result
4) crop or straighten
5) sharpen
6) Saturate or add Vibrance slightly as needed
7) output the finished set to .jpg specifying quality and resizing for web publishing


What do you all use to process 250+ images from a shoot as quickly as possible?

Thanks in advance.

[dschae1]

I forgot to mention in case it matters. I have a Windows PC running XP with a Pentium 4, 3.2ghz and 1.5GB of ram and SATA hard drives with lots of freespace and a Radeon All-in Wonder video card capable of 1080p resolution.

[iCe]

I batch process up to 400 RAW images at a time with DPP.

[dschae1]

Thanks ICe, You know, I never loaded the software from the CD. I'll install it take a good look at the DPP program.

[iCe]

It kicks buttocks I use it first on the images that I really care about. Then pull them into ACR for tweaks (usually unnecessary)

[dschae1]

ACR = Adobe Camera Raw?

[iCe]

Yes... Sometimes I just process the RAW file, then save a copy of the RAW file... then open in ACR (old habits die hard). Then I save as a TIF. Obviously if I'm batching a lot of images they go straight from DPP to JPG... DPP is a very good tool.

[Redmouse]

Canon DPP is often overlooked. Before Lightroom and CS3, it was one a major part of my workflow. The best part is that it's included with the camera purchase. I've used ACDsee before. Aside from Capture One, I think it's one of the slowest programs out there. But for $129, you need to invest that in Bibble Pro. It's fast, produces great images, and Austin, TX based. It's also the first program that I've seen that has the Vibrant tool that CS3 and Lightroom now employs. Aside from that, its also the only program that I'm aware of that you could use Noise Ninja directly on a RAW file.

[iCe]

side from that, its also the only program that I'm aware of that you could use Noise Ninja directly on a RAW file.

Might be semantics but if I do file--> open and select a raw image in CS3 it opens the raw file in ACR. If I then click on Open Image in ACR it opens the RAW file in CS3 and I can apply whatever process I want to the RAW file... including NN

[Graydon]

I just started playing around with ACDSee Pro 2 (30 day free trial) and it looks to have some much improved RAW editing functions.

From what I can tell, it'll do everything you listed.

[dschae1]

I'm still looking for someone who loved Raw Shooter and has switched to something new. Anyone?

To all the folks who have commented, I'm going to play with the trial versions of Bibble and Acdsee Pro tomorrow...and DPP too.

[JohnT]

Adobe bought RawShooter. RS Premium users got a free copy of Lightroom when it came out.

[dschae1]

Thanks John, I knew that, but I am not all that impressed with Lightroom. Maybe Lightroom 2.0 will work more like Raw Shooter did...one can only hope!

I finally got to use your old 24-105 under the stadium lights! I am very happy with the results so far.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by dschae1

Thanks John, I knew that, but I am not all that impressed with Lightroom. Maybe Lightroom 2.0 will work more like Raw Shooter did...one can only hope!

I finally got to use your old 24-105 under the stadium lights! I am very happy with the results so far.

At first I wasn't impressed with it either, but it's had two updates (now 1.2), making it a pretty powerful application. NAPP releases a LR publication with their Photoshop User magazine, and there are numerous tips and tutorials on using LR. I always find myself thinking, Wow! I didn't know it did that. Cool! LOL

I'm glad you like the lens and that it's working out for you. It's a great lens for general purpose shooting, too, which was my main use for it. I might get another at some point in the future.

[dschae1]

An annoying thing happened to me when cropping in Lightroom ver 1.2. I dragged the rectangle across the image to set the cropped area and when I let go of the mouse button, the image jumped top/right and nearly disappeared off the screen. Just plain goofy if you ask me. It did it on multiple images.

Also, Does anyone know if Lightroom keeps a second copy of your images elsewhere on your hard drive?