Originally posted by Urs Am looking around for new ideas and software to eas or streamline the digital processing workflow, as i feel that atm i use a not so optimal setup. I do shoot a mix of raw and jpeg, but feel I should do more raw. At the moment I have a K5 but think I will buy a K1 later this year.
My workflow is as follows:
1. Downloading images per shooting session to a folder ordered by date plus session name.
2. Browsing images and deleting the ones I dont want. Using either faststone image viewer, windows photo viewer or now experimenting with Adobe Bridge.
Here I need to probably assign keywords with rating to later find images easier. I have images since my old K100 from 2006 that I need to better organize, but whats the easiest way to go?
3. I edit the images then in Lightroom (I use an old version 2.2) or photoshop elements 11. I know all old stuff thats in part why I ask what best to use these days. Also dont want to get hooked on Adobe CC if not necessary.
Any tips on your workflow & software used is welcomed. Thx in advance!
G'Day,
I have chosen to avoid the CC path too, and I assume that at some point in the future the support to LR6 and Photoshop CS6 will cease.
A number of years ago I came across the onOne Photo suite and have retained the use of that system as it improved. I originally was after Genuine Fractals for enlarging of images and next thing I'm buying something that's a lot more than a photo enlarger. I don't use it for everything, though the program is able to be used as a standalone or as a plug-in to Lightroom and Photoshop.
So, as I already had Lightroom and Photoshop I still use these but have chosen to add onOne Photo 10 into my workflow as it is quick and flexible providing very good tone and colour controls with very handy masking tools. Later this year onOne will have their own Raw program too, so it will be interesting to see how this will go next to Lightroom. And ironically they have a special deal for both programs that expires soon, the details are here:
https://www.on1.com/landing/announcing-photo10-5-raw/?
Image capture:
K-1, DNG RAW and Adobe RGB
My Workflow:
I could import using Photo 10 as it's browse app is able to filter images using keywords star ratings etc
but I still use the LR6 import dialogue as I started this workflow back when I bought LR2. I use it to select the file location, sub folder naming and file naming as well as keywording. I browse the images in the LR6 library and select the images to be processed from there. Any deleting of images is done in LR6 so the Lightroom catalogues are correct. This also applies if I want to relocate images around hard drives, it is all done in LR6 to maintain catalogue integrity.
The initial processing in LR6 is to ensure the horizon is straight, any dust spots are removed and the white and black points are set to maximise the use of the cameras dynamic range. I might use the colour channels to adjust the image if needed. The workflow from here will depend upon any lens issues or noise. If there is any CA or purple fringing I will use LR6 to resolve it. If there is a lens profile installed I will use this. If there is noise I will apply noise reduction.
Processing:
I continue the edit in Photo 10 and may use the enhance tool or just use Effects. There is a layer tool as well however as you can swap between these it doesn't matter which one I start with. The process here is tones, colour, sharpening and maybe a vignette. I may play with some of the other filters if the image seems to work with it that could include B&W, cross processing, split tones, textures or a combination of these. There's a lot to choose from, all can be adjusted to my tastes and masked out if I want. For certain workflows in Photo 10 I will save it as a preset for future use. Once I'm done here I save and return to LR6.
Fine details and export:
Typically from here I will go to Photoshop as I prefer to export from Photoshop. This tool is still the best and most refined in its application. The content aware tool is handy and the control over sharpening might be required here as well. I 'save a's to retain the large file, and make a copy for resizing and saving as SRGB for posting to the interwebs.
If an image needs little more than some sharpening and exporting I might do it all in LR6 or Photo 10. Currently my workflow is evolving as I have added to the workflow but not necessarily subtracted therefore I would like to streamline it more hence my focus on the Photo 10 suite as it seems to be saving me lots of time and is constantly improving. I also stopped learning about Photoshop though it's such a great tool I'd not give up on it completely.
Hope this is what you were seeking.
Tas
Last edited by Tas; 06-07-2016 at 04:50 PM.