How often do you use Auto settings for RAW files in Photoshop?

I'm attempting to get to the point where I don't have to use Auto anymore when processing my RAW files. However, whenever I try doing my own settings and then try Auto, Auto usually looks just a little better.

How often do you use Auto? Is it good for some types of shots but not others? Are there any settings that it tends to overdue?

Thanks!

I always use Auto Tone and always change it. My defaults are zero everything (Basic) so I can see what I'm starting with and AT is a fast shortcut to the general area of the final image.

I'll often try Auto Tone and normally follow it with CTRL-Z.

Auto White Balance, Auto Tone or both?

I generally don't use Auto White Balance but I almost always use Auto Tone. If you do a rough crop to eliminate non-essential elements of your photo before using the Auto tools they will give predictable and accurate results. One big advantage of using Auto Tone is that is will always set the White and Black points of your image accurately; but then you'll have to manually adjust the Contrast, Brightness, Fill and Recovery sliders to get the exact look you want.

ACR/Lightroom guru Jack Davis has books and DVD tutorials where he teaches a technique he calls the Four Step Tango; the first step is using Auto Tone. If you've taken care to nail exposure, Auto Tone is incredibly useful. Perhaps the only exceptions are instances where you shoot sunrise or sunset scenes and want to preserve those tones.

NoahKrueger wrote in post #13327067
I'm attempting to get to the point where I don't have to use Auto anymore when processing my RAW files. However, whenever I try doing my own settings and then try Auto, Auto usually looks just a little better.

How often do you use Auto? Is it good for some types of shots but not others? Are there any settings that it tends to overdue?

Thanks!

I should be been more specific in my description above. I am referring to the Auto link in the below screenshot:

I first set things up with manual control manipulation, then I try Auto Tone and use Ctrl-Z whenever Auto does not improve upon what I initially did. It seems that Auto often helps, but just as often it detracts from the quality of what I did!

If you were to read pages 59-60 of the official Adobe documentation for Adobe Camera Raw available here: http://help.adobe.com …reativesuite_cs​5_help.pdf you would see that the function is called Auto Tone because that's what it does; it adjusts the tonality of the Raw file. This same functionality can be invoked by pressing CTRL + U (the Auto Tone command) in either ACR or Lightroom.

NoahKrueger wrote in post #13328479
I should be been more specific in my description above. I am referring to the Auto link in the below screenshot:

I always adjust the WB manually.

I've never heard the setting referred to as "Auto Tone". Is that something I am missing somewhere?

PixelMagic wrote in post #13328909
If you were to read pages 59-60 of the official Adobe documentation for Adobe Camera Raw available here: http://help.adobe.com …reativesuite_cs​5_help.pdf you would see that the function is called Auto Tone because that's what it does; it adjusts the tonality of the Raw file. This same functionality can be invoked by pressing CTRL + U (the Auto Tone command) in either ACR or Lightroom.

Thanks for the head's up. I'll be sure to refer to it as Auto Tone from now on. I'll admit that I haven't had time to read through the manual.

PixelMagic wrote in post #13328909
If you were to read pages 59-60 of the official Adobe documentation for Adobe Camera Raw available here: http://help.adobe.com …reativesuite_cs​5_help.pdf you would see that the function is called Auto Tone because that's what it does; it adjusts the tonality of the Raw file. This same functionality can be invoked by pressing CTRL + U (the Auto Tone command) in either ACR or Lightroom.

NoahKrueger wrote in post #13329508
Thanks for the head's up. I'll be sure to refer to it as Auto Tone from now on. I'll admit that I haven't had time to read through the manual.

You know, that pdf link actually contains a great "introduction" to what the Raw file is about, the very beginning of the Camera Raw chapter (chapter 4). It would be a usefule thing to point people to when they are new to the Raw format/processing! Check it out, Page 48!

I often hit Auto, and almost just as often hit default immediately after. Takes 2 seconds. Why not ?

Never. I understand what the controls do, and how they affect my image, and I know how I want the image to look, so I do it myself.

tim wrote in post #13330538
Never. I understand what the controls do, and how they affect my image, and I know how I want the image to look, so I do it myself.

Do you start at the top of the controls and go straight down, doing your own tweaks or do you bounce? I started doing my own adjustments and went straight down the list. For some reason I'm concerned my photos might look better with Auto Tone set. I've been using Auto Tone for 5 years, so maybe I'm just afraid of switching

NoahKrueger wrote in post #13330912
Do you start at the top of the controls and go straight down, doing your own tweaks or do you bounce? I started doing my own adjustments and went straight down the list. For some reason I'm concerned my photos might look better with Auto Tone set. I've been using Auto Tone for 5 years, so maybe I'm just afraid of switching

Step 8/9 in my workflow

tim wrote in post #13330950
Step 8/9 in my workflow

Wow, I've been looking for more explanations into what each slider does and you have in words I can understand. Big thanks

My ultimate goal is to completely get away from Auto Tone.

I use C1Pro for my RAW editor and will quite often use their auto button on images before I start to do anything on my own. It cna do a very good job on some images. There seems to be an aversion to anything "auto" in today's photo community. "Oh, I only shoot manual, that's the way real photographers do it". It is simply another tool that is available to you. I costs you a total of 2 key strokes. One to invoke the auto and if you don't like it the CTRL-Z to undo it. I say use whatever tool you have available to you that will save time. The auto in C1 doesn't necessarily get it to the point where I am now ready to export but in most cases it does alot of the no-brainer grunt work and now you can carry on with the rest of the work. I say use it when it makes sense and you will learn when that is after a period of time gaining experience.