New DRebel Owner -- Workflow Suggestions?

[ScottJE22]

Greetings --

I wasn't sure whether to post here or in the "EOS" forum, but this seemed like the more appropriate place...

Background
I have experience with a film SLR (EOS A2) and a digital P&S (PowerShot G1). I use a 15" PowerBook G4 / 1.25 GHz / 512 MB RAM. I am a teacher so I have access to Photoshop CS and Elements through my school.

My G1 "workflow" since I switched to an Apple has basically been to plug in the G1, import the photos into iPhoto, play a slideshow to delete the duds, and organize the rest into folders or albums. Post-processing consists of using the red-eye remover (if needed) and maybe cropping to 2x3 ratio if I'm ordering 4x6 prints...

If I want to post to the web, I just select the images I want and do an "Export" of JPEGS for whatever size I need. If I want prints, I've had great luck with CVS Pharmacy (if I need them right away) and the iPhoto Kodak store (if I can wait). Not too much post-processing at all - if I needed to do something in particular, I'd usually load an image in Photoshop, search the web for a tutorial on what I was trying to do, and do it with varying degrees of success. I did a search on "workflow" here and on the web and really found way too much information -- it was almost overwhelming...

Goal
To really take advantage of the 300D, I figured I need to learn how to process RAW images.

(1) Do I need to get over using iPhoto or is there a place for it in a more sophisticated workflow?

(2) Anyone with a similar setup want to share their workflow?

(3) Here's what I've come up with in theory (haven't actually shot any RAW yet...) Using CF card reader, move RAW files to a folder on the desktop. Somehow (Canon software?), extract the embedded JPEGs from the RAW images and import them into iPhoto to make it easy to sort through the pics I want to keep. Somehow convert the RAWs that I want to keep into TIFFs (or JPEGs??) and do whatever needs to be done in PS.


I'm also a PS newbie (so much to learn...). Is it better to start with Elements to learn the basics, or jump right into CS? I have access to both so $$ isn't an issue.

Thanks in advance!!

-- Scott

[ohenry]

Since you have Photoshop CS, your "somehow's" become very obvious. Take the photo using RAW, transfer the photos from the CF card to your harddrive, open that directory in PSCS. You will be able to view the RAW images directly in the file manager. When you open one, you will be taken to the RAW conversion area of PS where you can make any adjustments then save the file as either TIFF, JPG, or PSD. I suggest saving it as TIFF. Only reason to convert to JPG is when you want to send prints via email (to save space) or to post them on web pages (again to save space). I save all my images as TIFF. When I want to save an image for web pages, I resize and convert the TIFF file.

[ScottJE22]

Since you have Photoshop CS, your "somehow's" become very obvious...

Thanks for the tips -- sometimes it just helps to bounce your ideas off those who have been there before...

So your suggestion would be to go directly to CS and not to bother with Elements at all... I think I'll try some test shots this week and see how it works out.

Now let's say you don't feel like working on the images right away -- do you just file them on your HD by day/date and continue to do so until you're ready to do some "processing"?

[ohenry]

If you're going to shoot RAW, Elements will not convert the images. You would need another program to convert RAW to TIFF or JPG. I know Canon comes with one, but it is not really a very good program. I use Capture One because I had that before CS. BreezeBrowser is another good program from what I hear.

I save all of my RAW files sorted by date. I keep all of my converted files in another folder that I call "Developed". These are under various folders such as "people" "landscape", etc. These files are in TIFF format. I have another folder where I place my Masters. These are TIFF files that have been manipulated to my tastes in Photoshop and saved with all of the levels and at full size. From the master files, I will resize, convert to jpg for web or flatten levels for printing, and sharpen depending on output desired. I have a lot of harddrive space available so space isn't a consideration for me.

[ScottJE22]

I'm definitely familiar with the Breezesys utilities -- I used them extensively on my XP machine... but I'm an Apple convert now so it looks like PS CS is the best choice for me...

I don't want to beat this to death, but let me make sure I follow you -- I think I understand what you're saying...

(1) RAW images to a folder (or folders) sorted by date
(2) You "develop" all RAW images to TIFFs and sort them by "category."
(3) You edit the individual photos and save the finished product to a folder called "Masters."

So in the end you wind up with the image stored three times -- once as a "RAW," one time as an unretouched TIFF in its respective category folder, and one time when it's finished in the "Master" folder.

Can I also assume that not every image in your "RAW" folder makes it to the "Category" folders? I would further guess that not every image in a "Category" gets to become a "Master." I'm imagining that each subsequent step narrows the selection of images from the previous step...


If you're going to a Web gallery or to order prints, you can then access your Master folder and churn out some JPEGs.

Do I have the right idea? I think I could do this.

I appreciate your time in this -- I could see the big picture but I was having trouble seeing the individual steps in the process...

Thanks for your help!!

-- S

[ScottJE22]

Double post. Oops.

[ohenry]

Yes, you have the basics of my workflow down. You're correct in that I save them 3 times. The RAW files eventually are moved off the harddisk to an external storage device. I'm currently using CD's for this purpose. Not every RAW file gets converted to TIFF and not every developed TIFF becomes a Master copy. The Master copies are completed works with the exception of sizing and sharpening. I don't sharpen until after I have resized them for print or web and once those are resized, I either discard them (prints) or put them in a web photo directory. Eventually, as space becomes an issue, TIFF files will be backed up to CD (or whatever means I'm using then) or, in the case of those files that don't meet my sense of good photography get discarded. BTW, I back up ALL of my master images ... just in case :)

There are many, many, many ways to set up a workflow that suits your needs. This works for me at the time being (but I am not a professional that takes hundreds of pictures either). I'm sure that you'll experiment with various workflows until you find one that fits your style.

Best of luck with it ...now go out and click that shutter! :)

[cpc1225]

I know Canon comes with one, but it is not really a very good program.

This comment sounds familiar.
No offence to those who believe this,
is there any relevant evidence?
would be glad if some one could elaborate more on this.

[ohenry]

I know Canon comes with one, but it is not really a very good program.

This comment sounds familiar.
No offence to those who believe this,
is there any relevant evidence?
would be glad if some one could elaborate more on this.

Test it out for yourself. Download trial copies of various RAW converters and compare them. You'll find that the Canon one lacks many features and is much slower than the 3rd party programs. It does the job, but just not as efficiently as others that I've tried. I've heard good things about the new software for the Mark II, but it isn't available to the 10D or 300D users yet.

[cpc1225]

I only use it for RAW conversion, other processing is done in other software.
May be that is the reason I don't feel the needs for third party RAW conversion software yet.

[Bruce Hamilton]

I'm also a PS newbie (so much to learn...)...

Just so you know, it's considered bad form to steal someone else's avatar. :roll:

[ScottJE22]

I'm also a PS newbie (so much to learn...)...

Just so you know, it's considered bad form to steal someone else's avatar. :roll:

I had no idea -- and I'm a "forum" addict. I figured it was a pretty generic one that I could use until I got a "cool" one (it's just a pic of a 300D that I figured someone grabbed from a Canon site somewhere) -- but it's been removed with my humblest apologies to the original user. :oops: