DPP question, please help.

This may be a dumb question but...

What do you guys use to store your RAW files? I use DPP to convert RAW to jpeg and I have just left them in DPP up until now (about a years worth). Recently I have had to delete some folders of pictures to upload and convert new ones. Im assuming I just ran out of space? Again, forgive me if this is totally newb-ish (?) but I need help...

Should I buy a external HD and store all the RAW files there? Im pretty lost on this, thanks for any help.

I store all photos - RAW and Jpegs - on a Drobo with 2 tB of memory. I have the jpegs in subfolders of the RAW files. Works good.

I download to my hard drive, back up on my external drive, process and keep those in a separate folder, burn the whole set to DVD.

I agree with the above -- an external drive is the method of choice.

In addition, I'd suggest that if you have either a standing computer or a decent-size laptop, you should get a second "data" internal drive to store your immediate downloads (as well as your catalog folders). This way you can work on your current shoots on a fast internal system and then, once you have converted jpegs for whatever use you can move the folders to the external drive.

One other note -- you say you convert to jpegs, which is good for when you need a jpeg for a specific purpose, but a question is are you doing this to all your files, just to have a jpeg copy of everything? That to me is a waste of space/resources, because you don't really need a jpeg unless, well, you need one of a shot for something specifically, such as to upload to the Web or email to a friend, in which case a very small/compressed file is sufficient, or you need a large/high quality jpeg for printing externally (DPP can handle home printing). So, take a long-term look at what you are doing (your workflow) and figure out how to do your work efficiently. And, yeah, you have to spend your bucks to keep up with technology. But, if you choose wisely now you can set yourself up to be good for some time.

Thanks for the replies!

Tony, I usually only convert RAW files to jpeg if I want to put them on my Smugmug, Flickr or the occassional Facebook. I only do this with some of the pics.

This is my process, keep in mind that I have only been into photography for a year:

-I shoot in RAW
-I plug the camera into the computer and download all RAW files to DPP
-Then after I pick the good/usable shots, I adjust WB, use the sliders for contrast, sharpening and saturation
-Then once I get the RAW file to where I like it, I "convert and save" to Jpeg that are in a file on my desktop so I can post them online or get prints from walgreens...

Thats the extent of my PP. I have GIMP but I dont know how to use it. I have a HP PC. Most of my pictures are posted online except for the occassional 4x6 for family members or a photo album.

Sounds good. I'd add just one thing. After you have used the jpg for whatever you can delete it. As long as you have saved your editing in DPP - clicked OK when the program asks if you want to save - you can always go back and make another jpg in seconds if you ever need one again.

tzalman wrote in post #12093012
Sounds good. I'd add just one thing. After you have used the jpg for whatever you can delete it. As long as you have saved your editing in DPP - clicked OK when the program asks if you want to save - you can always go back and make another jpg in seconds if you ever need one again.

Thanks! This will help me until I can get an Ext HD!

As an added step to your workflow, Don't forget to back up all your raw files and any important jpeg's

PeyDay17 wrote in post #12091945
I use DPP to convert RAW to jpeg and I have just left them in DPP up until now (about a years worth). .

DPP doesn't actually store files. You're pictures are stored in a folder on you're computers hard drive and you can access them directly through you're computer system, or through DPP, or photoshop or lightroom, ext........

And definitely get an external HD to back up to