The New Digital Image Workflow

Bob DiNatale’s Studio Forum

The New Adobe Digital Image Workflow

“From Ingesting to Output”

Adobe’s 4 new Software exploding into our digital world

CS3 Photoshop CS3 Bridge Adobe Camera Raw 4.0 Lightroom,

With the release of these new Adobe Software…

We will have to rethink, or at least revisit, our Digital Image Workflow.

I have written a 3 section document addressing the Digital Image Workflow. The 1^st section is a generic overview while the 2^nd and 3^rd sections focus on Adobe’s 4 new Digital Imaging software and their impact on the workflow. Studio forum members can download the MS Word document and adjust the workflow to meet your needs. (Click Here) (1)
These 3 sections are:

1. an Overview of the Digital Image Workflow* (Click Here)

2. a detailed version of my New Adobe Digital Image Workflow (Click Here)

3. Pros and Cons of these 4 Adobe Software and how is supports each step of the
New Adobe Digital Image Workflow (Click Here). I hope this will continue to grow as we get input from Studio Forum members. You should constantly check back at the “Pros And Cons” it has

* Note:

Everybody has their own personal software and techniques for processing the digital image. However, after much discussion and processing, I am more convinced than ever that there is an order to the steps of any good Digital Image Workflow.

^⁽¹⁾Studio Forum Members, I have also:

· noted features of these Adobe software that influenced the Digital Image Workflow not stated or obvious in the literature.

· included a blank “Pros” and “Cons” sheet for you to note your observation which we can discuss at our next Studio Forum meeting.

Bob DiNatale’s

The Digital Image Workflow

“From Ingesting to Output”

An Overview

Although we may all have our own personal workflow and favorite software, I am more convinced than ever that there is an order to the steps of any good Digital Image Workflow. What follows is an order of necessary step from transferring our digital photograph from the camera to their final output to print, web or video... “From Ingesting to Output”.

Capture:

The scope of this discussion will be the Digital Image Workflow - after you’ve taken your digital photographs. Although photography will not be discussed, the importance of a good quality exposure for its affect on quality output cannot be stressed enough. Suffice to say that you want to make a good exposure. We’ve all heard about “exposing to the right” and, if you’re old enough to remember film, there was a similar adage, “get it on the film” - both ensured there would be enough captured information to be processed. With that said, let’s follow our digital photograph throughout the Digital Image Workflow… “From Ingesting to Output”.

I. Ingesting:

Import: Transferring (convert) your files from your camera/camera card to your computer
Rename, Copyright, add Metadata:
Organize/Review: Select (Edit, Delete), Label & Rate:

1^st Review - Select (Edit, Delete) Photographed Images
2^nd Review - Label “Selected” Images
3^rd Review – Rate “Labeled” Images

Initial Back-up

II. Processing:

· “Global” Adjustments: - “digitally developed” images for Global Tonal Shaping.

· “Selective” Image Enhancements: apply non-destructive image editing to selected areas.

III. Outputting:

Output selected “processed” files for high quality prints, the web, and video/slideshows.

Bob DiNatale

The New Adobe Digital Image Workflow

“From Ingesting to Output”

Detailed Workflow
Considerations for

CS3 Photoshop CS3 Bridge Adobe Camera Raw 4.0 Lightroom,

I. Ingesting: {Adobe LightRoom / Bridge 3 / Adobe DNG Converter}

Here is where you transfer/import your images from you digital camera/camera flash cards to your computer. During transfer you will convert, rename, and add information, backup and then organize/review your files for Process and Output.

1. Transfer (& Convert):

a. Copy your files from your camera/camera card to your computer. If desired, you can also copy the original files to another location simultaneously.

b. If importing Camera Raw files, you can convert to DNG format while transferring.

Tips:

i. Importing from your camera card or field storage device is preferable then ingesting directly from the camera.

ii. Copying your digital images to the same location on your hard drive each time you transfer can be helpful and simplify the transfer process. You can then distribute your transferred files throughout your organization structure. (An obvious advantage to me has been the initial back-up of transferred files.)

iii. There are many advantages for converting your proprietary camera raw files to Adobe's open DNG file format: one is the compressed file size with no data loss and another is its ability to store a great amount of metadata information without the need of an additional sidecar information file.

2. Renaming the Camera File:

The intent here is to change the strange camera file name into something meaningful that can be used as an aid for storage and retrieval. Naming a file “Girl with bright eyes under blue sky” is pretty descriptive, quite memorable but not really helpful when trying to retrieve it two years after it was taken. (BTW, these seem more like keywords to me.) However, we will always remember that the “Girl with the bright eyes” was on that “West 75 Tucson trip”! That information, along with thumbnails and good keywording, is enough to home in on a folder or hard drive where that file resides. That is why I think the date the photo was taken is a wonderful aid for storing and retrieving your images.

a. The renaming convention I use is based on a 6 number date (the photo was taken) with a 4 digit number added to it. It looks something like this… [YYMMDD_####.ext] or [051225_0001.dng] or photos from Christmas of ‘05.

Tips:

· Unless you plan to be around in the year 2100, you can use the 2-digit year [YY]. For those of us having digital images from the last millennium (or planning to be here for the next one) you can use a 4-digit [YYYY] year to make sorting all your files easier.

· As for a serialized number convention, you can use continuous numbering or start a new series each time you import. Because every day has a unique date, the filename number will be unique – unless you shoot more than 10,000 per day. The numbering may vary depending on the type of shooting… if it is a client shoot, you might start the serial number at 0001 to keep track of the number of images taken for the job.

· If you’re so inclined, you can always “preserve the original camera file name” in your DNG file when importing for later renaming.

2. Add Your Copyright and Other Metadata:

a. Adding your copyright information before backing up your files insures that it will be on all your images. You can reference a file with your copyright information to make this task very easy.

b. Add any generic keywords that are pertinent to the files being transferred: “Royal House, Medford, Massachusetts, USA, North America”. More “image specific keywording” can be added later.

c. During transfer, you can fine tune the color fidelity of your images by adding a camera calibration setting for the camera used to photograph the images..

3. Organize Your Files:

Here is where you will Review (Label, Select, Rate) and Delete your images. Be aggressive with deleting. When I first started storing my files I kept everything. After nearly 10 years of imaging, I am getting more aggressive with my “deletes”… especially using 8, 10, and 12 megapixel cameras. The storage and backup of non-usable images can get overwhelming, be a waste of time and will have you avoid backing up your files!

1^st Review - Label. First, I do a quick view of my images and label them:

- RED (files to delete) and YELLOW (images for a 2^nd review). ride 6 & 7 keys

If the software supports “stacking”, I will use it as an aid for deleting unwanted bracketed series.

2^nd Review – “Selects” Here I display just my “Yellow” images then promote the better ones with a GREEN label - indicating “SELECTS”.

I can’t help but notice how the Red/Yellow/Green of the first two review steps is similar to a traffic light… RED = warning to Delete; YELLOW = Caution to Review; GREEN = Go to Continue.

3^rd Review - Rate I then review my GREEN “Selects” and rate them with stars from 1 to 5. I then look at my “Stared Selects” and add more stars –and finally, if warranted, promote them to Cyan indicating “APPROVED” images for a job. I reserved for Purple label for my “PORTFOLIO” images.

Needless to say there is no one convention. Define a convention that is logical to you and be consistent. Any good labeling system should easily be modified as long as a convention is followed.

4. Backup Transferred Files.

a. Back-up the newly transferred images to your existing archived digital image photo database.

Tip:

· This will be the first of many times you will back up your images. It is important that
you find a convenient, easy to execute backup routine so you will find yourself using it!

II. Processing: {Adobe LightRoom / Camera Raw 4.0 and Photoshop}

I approach processing digital images in two stages: “Global” and “Selective” adjustments second for image enhancements.

“Global” Adjustments: LightRoom/ Camera Raw 4.0

This is where I “digitally developed” selected camera raw images for Global Tonal Shaping. Adjustments are made for Exposure, White Balance, shadow and highlight, overall color cast, noise reduction, lens correction, etc. The adjustments done here, using Adobe’s Lightroom; Bridge & Camera Raw, will be output to proof prints for approval and posted on my website for client review.

“Selective” Image Enhancements: {Adobe Photoshop}

If “Selective” image enhancement is necessary, I will open my globally adjusted camera raw image in Photoshop as a “smart object”. I then apply any pixel replacement and non-destructive image editing to selected areas for the creative expression. [See TheSmartSystem]

(Currently there is no acceptable way to open a Camera Raw file in Lightroom.)

(You may have to re-import any newly created files into Lightroom)

III. Outputting: {Adobe LightRoom and Photoshop}

In this step of the digital imaging workflow, I will resize or resample my “Processed Images” for final quality output considerations… to print, the web and video.

a. Here is where Lightroom excels. You can output selected files for customized slideshow, consistently high quality prints and sophisticated web pages in HTML or Flash with a click of a button.

b. TheSmartSystem. Prepare TheSmartFile for the desired image size and resolution of the intended output with no loss in image quality. Scale the Z temp file to print a prime… Delete or save the Z-temp file?

And Lastly:

Did you notice I said nothing about the RED - “Delete” images? Your call here, I eventually throw these away prior to my next backup or… when I feel really comfortable… or maybe not at all! As I said, I am getting more aggressive with my “Deletes”… it just is taking a little time.

Bob DiNatale

The New Adobe Digital Image Workflow

Pros & Cons
“Ingesting - Processing - Outputting”

Ingesting: {Adobe LightRoom / Bridge 3 / Adobe DNG Converter}

Importing. Import your files from your camera/camera card to your computer
Rename, Copyright and Metadata:
Organize/Review: Select (Edit, Delete), Label & Rate:

1st Review - Select (Edit, Delete) Photographed Images (LR “pick”flag?/Bridge “Rejects”)
2^nd Review - Label “Selected” Images
3^rd Review – Rate “Labeled” Images

Anything that can be done by both software will not be noted. Only the uniqueness of each software pros/cons will be noted.

Once entered, rate all points on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important

Lightroom

Bridge

Pros:

Import:

· Ability to save custom file naming convention (5)

· Select folders from card and put into 2007 folder (3)

· “P” = “picks” non-toggle (“X” =Rejects” similar to Bridges “Delete”)

Review #1:

· solo Mode (2)

· Ability to auto-Stack based on time very helpful here

· “Library” quick develop

Review #2&3:

· Survey view them to Develop to check histogram

· Access to all the CR controls plus more – without opening ACR! (5)

· use the “Compare” and “Loupe” in “Library” module

· Holding down mouse key zooms into entire photograph

Pros:

· Save original camera file name in XMP (1)

· Easier to Ed copyright info if no template

· Retaining serial counter

· Saving workspaces

· Hiding “Rejects” prior to deleteing

Cons;

· Cannot set original camera file name in XMP (1) Ability to save custom file naming convention

Select folders from card and put into 2007 folder

Cons:

· Can only imbed one "camera calibrates" setting… Must be the default - cannot put in multiple camera calibration settings

· Cannot save naming convention

· Labels are inconsistent with LR AND CS1&2!

· No slider on fun mails when importing Holding down the mouse key in the “Preview” pane shows zoomed area in a magnifier glass

· Cannot see multiple keywords

Processing: {Adobe LightRoom / Camera Raw 4.0 and Photoshop}

I Process images in two steps: the first for “global” adjustments… Lightroom /Adobe Camera Raw; the second for “selective” image enhancements… Photoshop

“Global” Adjustments: {Adobe LightRoom / Camera Raw 4.0}

In the global 1^st step, I will “digitally developed” my “selected images” for contacts prints and to post on my website for review and approval.

“Selective” Image Enhancements: {Adobe Photoshop}

Here I will open up my camera raw image as a smart object and apply any pixel replacement and non-destructive image editing for the creative expression. [ See TheSmartSystem ].

(Depending what process you use, you may have to re-import any newly created files into Lightroom)

Anything that can be done by both software will not be noted. Only the uniqueness of each software pros/cons will be noted.

Once entered, rate all points on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important

Lightroom

Bridge

Pros

· Snapshot “Review” & “Final” helpful (4)

· Versions (5)

· TAT! (5+++)

· Double clicking “black cap that in quotes to find black

· Slideshow guy is indication of final processing

Pros:

Cons:

· Do Not Open DNG (-3) because of limited option

Cons:

· No TAT! (-5)

Outputting: {Adobe LightRoom and Photoshop}

In this step all of the digital imaging workflow, I will resize or resample my “Processed images” for final quality output considerations… for the print, the web and video considerations.

Anything that can be done by both software will not be noted. Only the uniqueness of each software pros/cons will be noted.

Once entered, rate all points on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important

Lightroom

Bridge

Pros

Pros:

Cons: