Help with workflow

[DangerouslyMoody]

So I decided to give RAW a try but it seems like it is taking me 10 steps to do anything...what am I doing wrong or how can I make this easier??

I shoot NIKON

Here is my process ( i think off the top of my head)

My pictures get uploaded automatically to Windows Gallery
I burn a CD of images for back up
Then I have to convert in a seperate program from NEF to DNG so I can edit them'
Then I open up PSE 5 and upload the pics one at a time to edit them and then save to JPEG

This takes a lot of time and a lot of space in my computer...help me please

[kenw]

find a program that allows you to work within the NEF file. My PaintShop Pro works with Canon RAW files, for an example.

I use Picasa (it also reads Canon RAW) to sort keepers from tossers. It's quick and allows a filmstrip type side-by-side A:B evaluation. I often do this from the card directly, no sense in transferring shots that will be deleted.

Once finished, I move all the kept files to the hard drive, then open PSP and edit them one by one, in the RAW, then save as PSP which preserves the layers and is uncompressed. It also means the RAW file is left alone and unchanged. I don't convert to JPG unless I'm sending them out, posting or printing. There will be time to convert them later IF i ever need to. If not, why bother to do it now?

[pepper52]

Have you tried Nikon View? It is free and may do most of the things thay you need to start your post processing. I have Nikon View and Capture NX and find that I rarely use CS3 for post processing.

[gaea106]

Dumb question, whats PSE 5?

I use Photoshop to open my raw NEF files and lightroom converts them to dng files. Once you convert to dng there is no reason to keep NEF unless its for cd backup but I back up after I convert to dng. My teacher told me that adobe makes a free program to convert to DNG they are trying to make it the raw standard file format and guarentee that DNG will always be supported.

[DangerouslyMoody]

Is Nikon View what comes with the camera?? I didn't upload the cd...oops :)

PSE 5....photoshop elements 5...i have the program that converts...just seems like I am jumping thru 10 hoops LOL

[pepper52]

I'm sure that it came with the camera but you can download it from Nikon http://www.nikonusa.com/Homepage.page
Go to the service and support tab and you will find the download center. This will be the latest version of Nikon View. You may want to download a trial version of Capture NX and see how it runs on your computer.

[rwwright]

consider lightroom and get scott kelby's lightroom 2 book.
you didnt mention budget but i find lightroom the best product I have used. (if i need serious editing i go to cs3/4 from lightroom, but most of my edits can be done in lightroom2)

[epoh]

Lightroom or Photoshop + Bridge are crazy helpful.

I dump all my raw files into a folder then open that folder in bridge. I do a quick filmstrip scan and put a couple of stars on every picture that is at least a keeper. Then I can make some basic raw adjustments and apply them to several pictures at once. Then I start to go through and do more editing.

[srwatters]

Time to upgrade to full Photoshop. RAW workflow isn't supported well in PSE.

[Peacock]

If you are using PSE5 then you should insert you card reader in your computer, then the Adobe Import Tool should open, this will allow you to copy / move files from cards to computer location and also insert them into PSE5 Catalog, where you can tag you files with information that will make it easier to find in the future. From there you can view your files and scrub them (delete the bad ones), once you have gotten rid of all the bad ones, then you can open them in Adobe Raw right from within PSE 5 edit your raw files to adjust W/B, exposure and the such on done in there and your are done it will throw you into into PSE editor where you can tweek some more, levels, colors, fix using layers, crop and sharpen then save to a JPG. Your are done...I know it sounds like a lot but all from with Adobe Photoshop Elements. And does not really take that long once you get into your work flow, then you can backup your file from within catalog to disc or other device and you can still see thumbnails in catalog and pull up images.