Every digicam user will create a workflow that suits their own requirements. I'm an amateur photographer producing images for my own use. I need a process that let's me create images for display in my web gallery, store in local "albums" to show friends, print a few select pictures, archive original files.
- Download image files
Copy images files from camera to PC using Chris Breeze' Downloader. I have it set to create date-based folders and to automatically delete files from the CF card and start BreezeBrowser. These date folders all go into a folder I have named "Photo Originals".
More detail on working with Downloader - Get rid of the dross
First pass through with BreezeBrowser to delete the crappy, out-of-focus, pointed-at-the-sky stuff.
More detail on working with BreezeBrowser - Rename image files
Using BreezeBrowser, batch rename images files to format YYMMDD_nnnn.CRW. Date stamp files so that file date/time is same as EXIF data. From this point on the original image files will remain untouched. - Optional further filtering
Optionally, I may do a second pass filter using BreezeBrowser with Preferences set so that "deleted" files are moved to the Deleted folder. This is when I have got a lot of really similar images, so I try to pick the best ones for further processing, but you never know when you might want to go back to one of those "rejects". Besides it's hard to delete one of your babies, isn't it?
- Convert image files
All remaining images are converted using BreezeBrowser. The converted files are placed in a folder called ..\Photo Lab\\ \ . With Pekka Saarinen's LinearSharpen and Fred Miranda's LinearPro actions that linear TIFF has become my default output format.
More on conversion with BreezeBrowser
Prepare archive copy of files Make copy of files (including Deleted folder) in a separate folder "Photo Originals". When there is 650mb of image files I cut 2 CD's for archiving. I have been using WhereIsit? to store a catalogue of these files, but I have just got iMatch and expect it to replace this function especially when CRW becomes a supported format. More on archiving
- Batch process in Adobe Photoshop
Use batch action in Photoshop. This tends to vary depending whether I am creating images for the web or to store in local image catalogue.
More on batch processing - Review results
I review these files to see whether any additional processing is necessary. The most common thing I find I need to use is a levels adjustment to increase the dynamic range. (I have added this adjustment as the Range Fix option in LinearSharpenMenu.) Occasionally, I apply contrast mask to bring out lowlight detail, although this has the downside that the image has to be converted to 8-bit. - Create output versions
If I am going to include any of the images in my online galleries, I run an action that creates JPEG files in thumbnail, intermediate and high quality sizes. For my local album I create a full-size, high quality JPG. - Update EXIF data
Where the batch process has created JPG files, I use BreezeBrowser Tools>EXIF Copy to tag EXIF data onto these files (apart from thumbnails) and apply the EXIF date stamp. - Tidying Up
I've got plenty of disk space so I tend to let the TIFF and PSD files hang around a while, and clear them out every now and again. I don't bother to keep the PSD files unless I have done some complicated manipulation. I figure (a) it's pretty easy to go back to the raw and do it over, and (b) I've only been using Photoshop for just over a year, so if I go back to an image I reckon I will do a better job than I did the first time.