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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Photo Mechanic RAW Workflow
Shi-Yin Gu, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Manchester | Lancashire | United Kingdom | Posted: 8:07 PM on 12.26.04 |
->> Hi folks,
I've done search and returned more results than I expected, I also tried to go through them all but it was killing my eyes big time, and so far, none has the answer of what I'm looking for(gone through 2/3 of results)
I do apologise if someone has asked or posted the same question before.
I just purchased Photo Mechanic, after hearing so much about it and would like to hear your prefered settings for it and your typical RAW workflow.
For example, how would you transfer images from CF cards to computer, edit, convert RAW to JPEG/TIFF, caption then wire?
Thanks in advance!
p.s. I'm using Mac and shoot 100% RAW. |
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Shi-Yin Gu, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Manchester | Lancashire | United Kingdom | Posted: 8:09 PM on 12.26.04 |
| ->> btw, I tried RG, but their forum is closed for the time being, and I'd like to get a hang of it before 7th of January |
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Matt Barton, Photographer
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Lexington | KY | USA | Posted: 11:39 PM on 12.26.04 |
->> Currently I copy my files to my computer in the finder. Then I use Photo Mechanic to batch rename and caption. Next I use Photoshop's File browser for editing and color corrections. This is mainly because I'm shooting more raw files now and the photoshop browser makes raw adjustments really simple. Once I have everything adjusted, I run Dr. Brown's Image Processor which batch converts the raw images to jpgs (or tifs) . And lastly, i open the processed jpgs back up in Photo Mechanic to cull everything down to my best images. This is my workflow for important, non-deadline stuff.
As you think about building your system, I would offer two important pieces of advice. 1) After copying to your hd, Always rename your files FIRST before you do anything else. Figure out a naming system that works for you and stick with it. I'm sure the forums has good threads on this. But trust me, it will save you so much trouble. 2) Once you figure out a system that works for you, do it religiously. That goes with workflow, file-naming and most importantly image archiving. Good luck. |
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 1:19 AM on 12.27.04 |
->> For what it's worth - here's how I do my raw work flow
I dump my card into a folder on my desktop...it never changes I call it WF. I then open WF in PhotoMechanic.....the best part of PM is full size preview. I do a very basic edit.....delete the obvious crap, then do a rename of the files. The WF file now has my rough edit with the proper file names. I burn a CD or DVD of the WF. This gives me a Raw backup.
The next step depends on the client. The movie I just finished wanted my raw files.......they have a very heavy photo dept and I trust them to properly convert, balance and process the raw files. I print a contact sheet(s) for them in PM, then do a jpeg contact sheet in PhotoShop CS, then did a cd/dvd of my raw files plus the jpeg contact sheets and shipped it off. I keep my back up CD just in case fedex messes up and also copy it onto my external hard drive.
Some studios want just jpeg (high) so the process changes abit ...I may shoot jpeg ( but prob not) but after I save my raw files to cd, I use PS to batch process the raw to jpeg, then print contacts, make jpeg contacts, add them to the batch & ship to the client.
My workflow differs from most in this forum in that I don't need to caption usually, but in the few cases that I need to I use PM for that.
I am only scratching the surface in the potential that PM has but for me just the speed in previewing full size images makes it all worth while.
Sorry to be so long winded - hope it helps
Chris |
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Doug Pizac, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | USA | Posted: 11:59 AM on 12.27.04 |
->> Raw Windows --
FYI, PM will mass caption raw files on Macs only right now -- not PCs.
Camerabits is currently working on updating their Win code to do the same. |
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Gavin Ellis, Photographer
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Braintree | Essex | United Kingdom | Posted: 2:30 PM on 12.27.04 |
->> I echo Matt and Chris's comments. In particular, the Dr Brown javascript works nicely with CS if you're batch-coverting to jpeg.
What kind of deadlines are you working to? You mention 'wiring' the images. Are you transmitting from a venue during or immediately after an event? Or are you sending them from the comfort of your own home/office at a more leisurely pace? This may influence the workflow and/or if you shoot RAW in the first instance... |
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Nik Habicht, Photographer
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Trenton | NJ | USA | Posted: 3:20 PM on 12.27.04 |
->> I shoot Raw plus JPG, never raw alone. If I'm on deadline, I'll shoot RAW plus Large Fine JPGs, if not , then RAW plus small jpgs. (If the large fine JPGs look good enough for the next days paper, I'll just edit those on deadline to save time.)
I use PM's INGEST function to copy and generically batch caption all the images into a folder with the job number. I then use Windows Explorer to sort the images by file type, and move the RAW files into a subfolder called RAW. Back in PM I also open the RAW folder. At this time I rename the files in both folders --- the jpgs and the RAW files. It's critical to reset the numbering variable --- because you want Photo1.jpg to be the same image as Photo1.tif in the RAW folder. I use the jpgs for quick editing, tagging and detail captioning anything that I want to transmit.
I open the .jpgs in photoshop and save the caption info using the file info dialog and the picture number. Then I fnd the RAW files I need using PS Browser and convert them to .jpgs after making appropriate adjustments. Pop into file info, load the saved caption, and save to my TRANSMIT folder. Also save a copy back into the job's .jpg folder.
Open the Transmit folder in PM and use its FTP function to transmit. Then move the images to my TRANSMITTED folder.
Regards,
Nik |
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Shi-Yin Gu, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Manchester | Lancashire | United Kingdom | Posted: 3:50 PM on 12.27.04 |
->> Thanks for all your replies, more sharing please!
Gavin, I think I'll be wiring right after the event at venue, I might consider RAW+Large Jpeg setting for this. But, don't let this limit your experience, I'd like to hear your workflow for both deadline assignment and none deadline ones.
Where can I get the Dr. Brown's javascript to batch processing RAW to Jpeg? |
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Gavin Ellis, Photographer
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Shi-Yin Gu, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Manchester | Lancashire | United Kingdom | Posted: 4:46 PM on 12.27.04 |
->> Thanks for the link, Gavin!
Do you caption all your RAW images or just Jpegs? I found that if I caption RAW files, IPTC info wouldn't pass on to converted JPEG's, am I doing something wrong?
Also when Ingest Disc, you have the option to apply IPTC data to images, do you usually apply them later or right at the beginning? |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Northwood | OH | USA | Posted: 5:13 PM on 12.27.04 |
->> PM 4.3, which should be out shortly, will allow you to work with raw and jpegs (renaming etc,) together so that when you rename, move files, etc you can either apply the changes to both raw and jpeg or just the jpeg.
It also has injest renaming and injest in the background so you can injest a second disk and start sorting the first disk.
I have used the beta and it is great. Before I would only shoot raw or jpeg, but with the newer version of PM I have found myself shooting raw+jpeg more often.
And the great thing about PM is that if you purchase it now, the upgrades are free for one year. |
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Shi-Yin Gu, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Manchester | Lancashire | United Kingdom | Posted: 6:36 PM on 12.27.04 |
| ->> Just bought a copy from Adorama, can't wait to get my hands on the disc! |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Hamilton (Toronto area) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 4:21 PM on 12.28.04 |
->> Many of the raw converter applications do not carry the IPTC information through to the converted files. Basically, you have to reapply the IPTC again.
I'm using the Canon system, and DPP does not carry the IPTC to the converted files. I haven't had any luck with Phase One's software either.
Adobe Photoshop's raw converter however will carry the IPTC info through the conversion... |
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