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Digital Processing Workflow
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A general digital processing workflow might look something like this: | A general digital processing workflow might look something like this: | ||
| + | |||
* Copy your RAW files from your camera to your PC | * Copy your RAW files from your camera to your PC | ||
| − | * Use a RAW converter (see [[Photography_Software]]) to browse your pictures. Some | + | * Use a RAW converter (see [[Photography_Software]]) to browse your pictures. Some converters such as Lightroom and RSE will allow you to rank your images for easier navigation. |
* Make adjustments such as white balance and exposure to the images you plan to output | * Make adjustments such as white balance and exposure to the images you plan to output | ||
| − | * For images you would like to print, perform post processing on or publish to the web, convert from RAW to a non-compressed format, usually TIFF | + | * For images you would like to print, perform post processing on or publish to the web, convert from RAW to a non-compressed format, usually TIFF (16bit preferably) |
| − | * For 'happy snaps' that will only be viewed on your computer, convert from RAW to JPG | + | ** For 'happy snaps' that will only be viewed on your computer, convert from RAW to JPG |
* Perform any post processing in your image editor of choice (see [[Photography_Software]]) on the TIFF images | * Perform any post processing in your image editor of choice (see [[Photography_Software]]) on the TIFF images | ||
| − | * You may like to save your changes in a format native to your editor (PSD for Photoshop, XCF for GIMP) so that extra information such as layers can be kept. | + | * You may like to save your changes in a format native to your editor (PSD for Photoshop, XCF for GIMP) so that extra information such as layers can be kept (TIFF can preserve layers too however). |
| − | * Once you are happy with your image: | + | |
| + | * ''Once you are happy with your image:'' | ||
** If you intend to print it, Save a Copy as TIFF | ** If you intend to print it, Save a Copy as TIFF | ||
** For viewing on your PC, you may also like to save a full size copy in JPG format | ** For viewing on your PC, you may also like to save a full size copy in JPG format | ||
| − | ** If you intend to publish to the web, resize (a copy of) the uncompressed image, '''then''' save as JPG. Resizing a compressed (JPG) image can drastically reduce the quality of your photo | + | ** If you intend to publish to the web, resize (a copy of) the uncompressed image, '''then''' save as JPG. Resizing a compressed (JPG) image can drastically reduce the quality of your photo. Also make sure the colour profile is set to sRGB, or else the web browsers will '''NOT''' display the image correctly. |
| − | * Remember to back up your work. | + | * Remember to back up your work. hard drive space is much cheaper than the time you put into taking and editing the photos! |
Also remember, you don't need to convert every photo you take from RAW. Part of the art of photography is choosing what you want people to see - 15 near-identical pictures won't help convince your audience of your skill. | Also remember, you don't need to convert every photo you take from RAW. Part of the art of photography is choosing what you want people to see - 15 near-identical pictures won't help convince your audience of your skill. | ||
Revision as of 22:11, 1 March 2007
If you're using a Digital SLR, more than likely you'll be shooting in RAW mode. RAW allows you to perform many more tweaks to your pictures in post processing than if you shoot in JPG mode. It's also likely that a JPG produced on your PC from a RAW image will be higher quality than that produced by your camera.
There are many different RAW formats - pretty much one for every manufacturer. Because of this, you will more than likely want to convert your photos into another format for post processing, viewing and printing.
A general digital processing workflow might look something like this:
- Copy your RAW files from your camera to your PC
- Use a RAW converter (see Photography_Software) to browse your pictures. Some converters such as Lightroom and RSE will allow you to rank your images for easier navigation.
- Make adjustments such as white balance and exposure to the images you plan to output
- For images you would like to print, perform post processing on or publish to the web, convert from RAW to a non-compressed format, usually TIFF (16bit preferably)
- For 'happy snaps' that will only be viewed on your computer, convert from RAW to JPG
- Perform any post processing in your image editor of choice (see Photography_Software) on the TIFF images
- You may like to save your changes in a format native to your editor (PSD for Photoshop, XCF for GIMP) so that extra information such as layers can be kept (TIFF can preserve layers too however).
- Once you are happy with your image:
- If you intend to print it, Save a Copy as TIFF
- For viewing on your PC, you may also like to save a full size copy in JPG format
- If you intend to publish to the web, resize (a copy of) the uncompressed image, then save as JPG. Resizing a compressed (JPG) image can drastically reduce the quality of your photo. Also make sure the colour profile is set to sRGB, or else the web browsers will NOT display the image correctly.
- Remember to back up your work. hard drive space is much cheaper than the time you put into taking and editing the photos!
Also remember, you don't need to convert every photo you take from RAW. Part of the art of photography is choosing what you want people to see - 15 near-identical pictures won't help convince your audience of your skill.