January 24, 2009

RAW WorkflowJeremey Barrett @jeremey jeremeybarrett@mac.com

What is Workflow?

✤ The WHOLE process✤ Import✤ Metadata✤ Backup✤ Edit✤ Develop✤ Finish✤ Share

Why RAW?

✤ Massive increase in pixel data✤ 8 bits (JPEG) - 256 values✤ 12 bits (RAW) - 4,096 values✤ 14 bits (RAW) - 16,384 values✤ Finer gradation of tone✤ More accurate color

✤ Much more latitude in exposure and room for “error”

✤ Workflow tools exist

Why RAW Now?

✤ Workflow, workflow, workflow✤ RAW is now easier overall than

JPEG, with the right tools✤ Confluence of technologies:

✤ Software tools✤ Camera speed✤ Memory capacity✤ Cheap drives

The Old

✤ Copy files off card✤ View/edit in... ? Photoshop?✤ Open in Photoshop✤ Process, save PSD file✤ Save a JPEG copy... where?✤ Save a small copy... where?✤ Black and white version? Copy✤ Crop? Copy✤ And so on

The New

✤ Import and apply metadata✤ Integrated backup✤ Mark (star) good images✤ Develop marked images✤ Make any number of variations

(crops, BW, etc.)✤ Maybe finish some in PS✤ Export what is needed directly✤ Discard exports, no copies

SOLD?

Software

✤ Aperture (Apple)✤ Lightroom (Adobe)✤ Capture One PRO (Phase One)✤ iView MediaPro (now

Microsoft something)✤ PhotoMechanic✤ Bridge (Adobe)✤ iPhoto✤ Picasa

Software

✤ The new tools? Aperture and Lightroom

✤ Complete workflows✤ Non-destructive adjustments✤ “Virtual” copies (versions)✤ Developing tools✤ Integrated backup✤ Managed PS integration✤ Export integration (web, etc.)

WHICH TOOL??

THE ONE THAT WORKS!!

BUT...

Which Tool?

✤ Bridge is pretty clunky, and doesn’t do anything simply

✤ C1PRO is maybe the best RAW converter in terms of image quality, but batch workflow is clunky and everything else is missing

✤ PhotoMechanic is great at import and metadata, only

✤ iView MediaPro actually doesn’t do much of anything really well

✤ iPhoto is OK but limited and still makes lots of copies

✤ Picasa is pretty limited✤ Aperture and Lightroom are the

only complete tools

Aperture

✤ Excellent metadata✤ Non-linear (HUD) workflow✤ Deep, thoughtful feature set✤ Project-based✤ Very strong organization tools✤ Good developing tools✤ Primary-only mode✤ Performance✤ Plugin architecture

Things Apple Forgot✤ No curves?!✤ Granular lift-and-stamp✤ Lift-and-stamp actions instead

of settings✤ Midtone contrast!!✤ Color-based grayscale (instead

of RGB channel-based)✤ Saving a set of adjustments✤ Non-destructive selective

adjustments

Lightroom

✤ Fantastic develop controls✤ Great “out of the box” look✤ Convenient metadata✤ Cross-platform✤ Easy access to files✤ Excellent sharpening✤ Fantastic develop controls!✤ Great PS integration

Things Adobe Forgot

✤ Non-linear workflow✤ Saving web albums?

Slideshows? Hello? McFly??✤ Automatic collection from

import✤ Organizational tools✤ Export / plugin architecture✤ Performance!!✤ Price?

And The Best Tool Is...

✤ The one that comes out after Apple buys Adobe, Aperture gets Lightroom’s develop module, and both of them give up and license the Capture One RAW engine!

✤ Sigh.✤ TRY THEM OUT! 30 day trials

FTW!✤ On Windows? Just get

Lightroom

Why Does It Matter?

✤ Get back to shooting✤ Get back to your life✤ Get great results✤ Get creative✤ Find your images✤ Save your images

Key Practices: Metadata and Backup✤ Keyword like crazy✤ Keyword AT IMPORT!✤ Assign copyright at import✤ Aperture and Lightroom both

make this painless (pretty much)

✤ Your images have value beyond their immediate use: make sure you can find them

✤ BACK UP!✤ Back up locally (Time Machine,

etc.)✤ Back up remotely (Photoshelter,

Backblaze, ...)✤ Ship a backup drive to your

mom✤ Every hard drive will fail, most

without any warning✤ Don’t lose your images

Thanks!