Mac and RAW archiving photos

Hi guys,

just in a bit of a bind. I have been used to organizing my photos using iphoto when i was still using a p&S camera.

here is what I am currently doing.

1. open RAW images using DPP and do minor adjustments in DPP. like WB, contrast etc.
2. batch process the files to high quality jpeg
3. If i need further "creative editing" I do it in PS, save as HQ jpegs
4. import the jpegs into iphoto.

why i keep using iphoto because there are plugins like for uploading photos in Facebook, sync with ipod etc.

if there was a way to organize these RAW files like in iphoto (even without the plug ins), where i can see all my RAW files in the program and organize these RAW photos in the program, not as folders in the HD. I like the idea of iphoto arranging them as rolls and albums and at the same time doing the editing I do in DPP.

i have tried lightroom, but its still confusing.

thanks

Tried Aperture?

You can do everything in Aperture including batching and send the odd pic directly to PS and when your done you save it and it imports the saved file directly back into Aperture as a version of the original.

Here are the free tutorials of what Aperture can do: http://www.apple.com/a​perture/tutorials/

thanks for the link.

does it retain the original RAW file even tho i edit the photo? Just like in iphoto, i can revert back to original?

It retains the original RAW file. Actually when you adjust it, it only creates a small file (version) that keeps track of the changes - this file is 20 kb.

When you export, you can export the original RAW or a version in jpeg, tiff or png file type.

You should be saving any extensive edits as layered psd or tiff files.

sf1 wrote in post #8281090
It retains the original RAW file. Actually when you adjust it, it only creates a small file (version) that keeps track of the changes - this file is 20 kb.

When you export, you can export the original RAW or a version in jpeg, tiff or png file type.

thanks for this. If i understood the link you provided, the organization of photos in aperture is also based on the folders where the pictures are. correct? Can i also organize them into albums? you know like in iphoto? the rolls serve as your folders but at the same time you can organize them into albums, lets say you have pictures in rolls 1 and 2 that you want in album 1. do i make sense? sorry

tim wrote in post #8281190
You should be saving any extensive edits as layered psd or tiff files.

extensive edits as in edits in photoshop? sorry may i ask why?


thanks guys! keep them coming.

johnj2803 wrote in post #8283748
Can i also organize them into albums? you know like in iphoto?

Aperture and Lightroom are basically the same in terms of operation.

I have both Aperture and Lightroom. I started out with Aperture and, although it took me a few attempts, I finally decided to stick to Lightroom, the principal reason for which was that I could organise my photos on my Hard Drive as I wished.

Now for editing. Once I have downloaded my images onto HD as cr2 files I then import them into Lightroom by


Importing

• Identify images I wish to import
  
• Apply Keywording
  
• Convert to DNG
  
• File images according to my preset naming convention. YYYY>MM>dd>filename_sequence.dng

• Output sharpened
  
• Resized
  
• Have borders added
  
• Have copyright info added
  
• Have it uploaded to Flickr into an album of my choice etc.

i just checked aperture 2 system requirements and sadly i did not make it!

i have a 12" powerbook G4 1.5ghz with 1.25 RAM with tiger 10.4.11! And to think it has been running flawlessly given its age!

I tried lightroom and it was not as straightforward as it seems to me. I better give it another try. So you can organize photos by albums too in lightroom?

one more question. I have the old photoshop CS, do i need to upgrade to the new one? (if it does support my system) will the new lightroom run with my current PS?

bummer! i never thought that my machine would feel old. I thought that my machine was doing a good job already!

johnj2803 wrote in post #8284130
So you can organize photos by albums too in lightroom?

Watch THIS

johnj2803 wrote in post #8284130
one more question. I have the old photoshop CS, do i need to upgrade to the new one? (if it does support my system) will the new lightroom run with my current PS

Don't quote me but... I believe it will.

hey thanks dunnowhen!

i am currently fiddling with LR and just imported some of my RAW files.

i know this is a long shot but, i have edited quite a bit using DPP and i was wondering if these will show up in LR? does it mean i have to redo the editing in LR?

i import images using a card reader, is there a way to launch LR when i plug in my card reader? like in iphoto? or is it better that i use the eos utility in uploading images to my computer then import them into LR after?

lastly is there a way to have the LR library in an external HD? like i have with iphoto?

I know the reference to iphoto must be killing you! its just that i have just gotten used to it.

sorry, its really confusing

thanks a bunch

johnj2803 wrote in post #8284841
i am currently fiddling with LR and just imported some of my RAW files.

i know this is a long shot but, i have edited quite a bit using DPP and i was wondering if these will show up in LR? does it mean i have to redo the editing in LR?

Sorry, can't answer this directly as I've never used DPP. However, yesterday I wanted to check something out with Aperture. I created a new library and imported all my Dngs again. This same import did bring in the .psd files as well but it didn't automatically link the original Dng with its psd file. I doubt I'll be able to make the link manually either, in a master/edit relationship.

johnj2803 wrote in post #8284841
i import images using a card reader, is there a way to launch LR when i plug in my card reader? like in iphoto?

You know you are going to use Lightroom so just open it first. When you plug in the card reader Lightroom will automatically open the import window.

johnj2803 wrote in post #8284841
is there a way to have the LR library in an external HD? like i have with iphoto?

So long as it's not a networked drive then, yes.

johnj2803 wrote in post #8284130
i just checked aperture 2 system requirements and sadly i did not make it!

i have a 12" powerbook G4 1.5ghz with 1.25 RAM with tiger 10.4.11! And to think it has been running flawlessly given its age!

There is a workaround, but I doubt you'd be happy with the performance.
I have the 1.33GHz G4 PB, and find even LR to be just about unusably slow on it. Even on my 2x2GHz G5 it isn't as fluent as I'd like... Aperture was even slower then LR on that G5.

PSCS4 runs well on the PB. As does DPP. Slow, but workable.
If you want to upgrade PSCS, do it before CS5 comes out. You will not be able to upgrade from CS to CS5.

This might be a nice time to start thinking about upgrading to a 13" MBP.

René Damkot wrote in post #8285228
This might be a nice time to start thinking about upgrading to a 13" MBP.

i know! but i really like the footprint of my 12" PB the 13" macbooks/macbook pros are just a bit bulky for me. well, its just a reason

the workaround is not an option because it will definitely be a lot slower with what i am doing now.

LR seems to be doing ok i guess. the watermark option is a good add on!