 |
|
|
|
|
Digital RAW Workflow for Beginners
Having an efficient work flow is essential for photographers. In the days of film, many of the tasks in the film work flow were handled by the lab. Now, more and more photographers are switching to digital and have to handle many of these tasks themselves. The purpose of this document is to provide a basic digital work flow for working with RAW images that is camera and system independent.
Work flow Step 2: Importing and Backing Up Your Images There are many ways to get your images from your camera to your computer. Some people use a card reader that will read the images off the memory card from the camera. Others connect the camera directly to the computer and import the images directly. No matter how you get the images to the computer, your first step is to setup an organizational structure for the images and create a backup copy of the RAW files for safety. First, create a folder to store your image files. In our studio, we use the folder name to organize our images. For instance, let's say we are importing images from a portrait session with Jane Doe that took place on January 1st, 2005. Our folder name for this session would be P_2005_DoeJane_0101. If we also did a portrait session with John Doe on the same date, our folder would be named P_2005_DoeJohn_0101. This allows us to keep our images organized in a way that we are familiar with. Use whatever folder structure you like, as long as it helps you keep things organized. Next, we will create the folders under our P_2005_DoeJane_0101 folder that we will use during the course of processing the images. We create the following folders: RAW, WORK, and JPEG. The final file structure looks like this: -+P_2005_DoeJane_0101 -|-RAW -|-WORK -|-JPEG The RAW folder holds our RAW image files, the WORK directory holds the processed TIFF files where we will do all of our editing, and the JPEG folder holds the completed files, ready to be uploaded to the lab. Copy the images from your camera to the RAW folder using whichever method you prefer. As soon as this initial copy is complete, make a backup copy of these images. Some photographers backup to writable CD-ROM or DVD discs. Other photographers backup to a separate backup hard drive. No matter what method you choose for your backups, they are CRITICAL. Make sure you can recover your images if something should happen to your memory card. Work flow Step 3: Verify Your Backup Your backup copy of the RAW images files is important. Take a moment to verify that you can read the images you copied to your backup medium. Once you have verified your backup medium, you may proceed with the work flow. Work flow Step 4: Culling the Herd Converting the images you never want the client to see wastes time and money. Use your preferred image browser to go through the RAW images and delete any that you know you won't use. Don't worry about deleting the wrong file, that is why we made a backup. If you delete a file you wanted, just bring it back from your backup. Once you have selected your "keepers" from the RAW images, it is time to move on to the next step. Work flow Step 5: File Conversion Most cameras come with software specifically designed to convert the RAW image data from its native format into TIFF files, JPEG files, or some other format that is compatible with the popular image editing software. At our studio, we convert the RAW images into 16-bit TIFF files, because we like to have the maximum amount of data available for editing and processing. Your needs may vary. There are many articles on the Internet that deal with the different file formats and the pros and cons of each. For the purpose of this tutorial, we are going to assume that the files are being converted to 16-bit TIFF files. We now open the software that came with our camera and set it to convert our RAW image data to 16-bit TIFF files, and save them in the TIFF folder we created in Work flow Step 2. This step can be time consuming, so we often go out to eat while the images from a session are converting. Once the conversion is finished, you will have a folder of 16-bit TIFF files to do editing and retouching on. We use TIFF at our studio because it is a loss less format. That is, we can save the file as many times as we like without degrading the image quality. JPEG is a lossy format, every time you save a JPEG file, you lose a little more data to compression. Work flow Step 6: Editing and Retouching This step of our work flow is where the real work is done. You will open each TIFF file in the image editor of your choice and make sure your colors and exposure are correct, the crop is the way you want it, and the image is ready for printing. At this point you will make any edits to the image, such as changing the crop, converting it to black and white, or doing any needed retouching. If you use the TIFF file format, you can save as many times as you need to during this process without having to worry about losing image quality. Once editing and retouching is done, save your work file and move on to the next step. Work flow Step 7: Saving the Production File One of the cons to working with 16-bit TIFF files is that they take up an incredible amount of disk space. Once we have reviewed the images with the client and ensured that no further edits/retouching need to be made, we convert the TIFF file to a JPEG production file for archive purposes and sending to the lab. Open the TIFF file in your preferred image editor and save your file as a Baseline Level 10 JPEG in the JPEG folder we created earlier. Why not save as a Level 12 JPEG, you might ask. When printing your image, there is no discernible difference between a level 10 JPEG and a level 12 JPEG. Try it for yourself and see. Once your files are saved as JPEGs, move on the the next step. Work flow Step 8: Backup Your Production Files This is a good time to make a backup (either to CD/DVD, or to another hard disk) of your JPEG production files. This ensures that you have a copy of all your hard work and if something should happen to the original files, you know you have a good backup. Work flow Step 9: Cleaning Up the RAW and Work Files Once we know we have a good backup of our production JPEGs, we delete the entire WORK folder and the entire RAW. This frees up the large amount of space that TIFF files require and leaves us with a manageable set of files from the job. However, we have already made backup copies of the RAW files and the JPEG files, so if we ever need to re-edit an image, we have the materials to do so. Work flow Step 10: Final Touches At this point our production JPEG images are ready to print or send to the lab. Make any final adjustments to the image size and print or upload your images. Final Thoughts With an efficient digital work flow, handling large amounts of digital images is easy and relatively stress free. I hope this tutorial has given you some ideas on how to best setup your own RAW digital work flow. Martin F. Hengst has been a professional photographer for more than a decade. He and his wife Barbara run Captured Radiance Photography, a studio dedicated to glamour, boudoir, and intimate portraiture. His online portfolio can be found at: http://www.capturedradiance.com
MORE RESOURCES: Behind the scenes: The making of 2025's Pictures of the Year National Geographic 2025: The Pictures of the Year National Geographic Inez & Vinoodh photograph young love in Marfa, Texas wallpaper.com The King Of Rocket Photography Hackaday From Hollywood to Cleveland: How this actress is using photography to change girls’ lives in remarkable ways Cleveland.com The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) : Time Travelers : Photographs from the Gayle Greenhill Collection The Eye of Photography Hundred Heroines charity’s Facebook page reinstated after being wrongly flagged for drug content The Guardian Discovering 5 Treasures of Photography The New York Times Tennessee Top 25 | Titans vs Texans Photography Tennessee Titans I saw red and you should, too! Now’s your last chance to capture vibrant fall colors with your camera Digital Camera World Made in America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne at Cooper Hewitt The Architect’s Newspaper Street Photography Winner World Photography Organisation Interview: Wind of Change’s Jason M. Peterson on Their ‘80s Run, His Renowned Photography Career No Echo Amani Willett’s photobook journeys through chronic illness and ketamine therapy to reach his younger self It's Nice That Open Studios, Endless Possibilities Pratt Institute This Photographer Tried to Map Society. Did He Succeed? The Phoblographer I’m a photographer who has never used ChatGPT before. Will it be useful or useless? Amateur Photographer Monmouth County Clerk Announces Winners of 2025 High School Photography Contest - NewJerseyStage.com 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Photography: Joel Meyerowitz World Photography Organisation Pioneering U.S. Street Photography, With Vienna in the Background The New York Times The 3 Best Cameras for Landscape Photographers in 2025 The Phoblographer Renowned Photographer Shares His Message of Love Hofstra University News Polk State Photography Professor serves as visionary leader Polk State College ARKANSAS SIGHTSEEING: ‘Henry and Nolan’ exhibit at Esse Purse Museum offers two varied female photographers’ visions Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Tyler Mitchell: The meteoric rise of Beyoncé's photographer Numéro Magazine Closer Look: 18 hours captured in a single photo National Geographic Meet the Pittsburgher Who Turns Food Brands Into Bonafide Stars Pittsburgh Magazine Uptown photography exhibition weaves together family, history and the African diaspora - QCity Metro This e-reader made photography fun again Android Police Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 Results Announced DivePhotoGuide It's Called Aphantasia. Lots of Photographers Probably Have It The Phoblographer Leica Launches LOBA Grant for Female Photographers DIYPhotography A photographer's epic East Coast road trip along Route 1 National Geographic Most kid cameras are terrible, but these ones are so good that I’d steal them for myself – and I’m a pro photographer Digital Camera World Six Unmissable Photography Exhibitions to See After Paris Photo AnOther Magazine Ralph Meatyard: The humble optician with a dark vision for photography dangerousminds.net Open Call for Eat Right Photography Contest (India) fundsforNGOs I'm 87 and not planning to retire anytime soon. My tips for a long life are to follow your passion and not measure success by money. Business Insider New Photography Exhibition Trans Is Human Launches at Outernet Outernet London klick! Photo Gallery: Steve Kohls photography for The Country Echo pineandlakes.com Post-kill polar bear among 20 epic images from Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 BBC Wildlife Magazine It's A Wrap! STREET FIGHTER Film Completes Principal Photography ComicBookMovie.com What Shooting Every Frame at f8 Taught Me About Photography The Phoblographer SSCXWC 2025 Minneapolis Recap: Crash Pads, Stitches and (Un)Hinged Bikes Cyclocross Magazine Haga Hideo: Legendary Folklore Photographer nippon.com Taylor Wessing backs photography competition The Law Society of Ireland Pet Talk: Bringing a new pet home Sentinel and Enterprise Photographer Gregory Rec’s work continues to impress | Letter Centralmaine.com PHOTOS: The past week in photography in the Bow Valley Rocky Mountain Outlook Photography's Lastest Trend May Confuse Film Shooters The Phoblographer Photographer’s Decade-Long Lawsuit Challenges if States Can Use Images Without Permission or Payment PetaPixel World Press Photo launches 70th-anniversary print sale Australian Photography magazine WARNING: The Fujifilm X-T5 Struggles Badly With Wildlife Photography - A Real World Proof Fuji Rumors This Classic Tamron Lens Has Bokeh that Portrait Photographers Will Love The Phoblographer Here's why this professional photographer shoots film for commercial work – and her analog advice for high-quality results Digital Camera World People Who Do This One Kind Of Annoying Thing Are Thriving Compared To Everyone Else, Says Study YourTango What Our Photographer Saw as a Safe City Became a Blood Bath The New York Times Jorge Lorenzo tells Fabio Quartararo ‘you cannot have it all’ if he tries to leave Yamaha for Ducati motogpnews.com When Photography Is No Longer Enough Fstoppers The Best Wide Lenses From a Decade Ago For Young Photographers The Phoblographer ICP Photobook Club: Rehearsal for a Family - International Center of Photography 11/22/25 City Guide New York The 2025 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners National Audubon Society Capture the Dark 2025: Winning photographs DarkSky International How NASA’s Lunar Photography Brought the Heavens Down to Earth The New York Times |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Online Photo Sharing: Not Just for Family and Vacation Photos You may have joined the photo-sharing craze to share your family vacation photos, but have you thought about other uses for photo sharing?Here are just a few ideas:Scrapbooking: Show off your creative projects. You can design scrapbook pages and enhance them with clipart using software like Paint Shop Photo Album or FotoFinish and then upload them to a photo sharing site for everyone to enjoy. How to Easily Select the Important Photography Category for Your Home Based Business You may have already started to make money from your photography, but if you are still a gifted amateur, then there are effective methods you can use to kick start your chances of making a profit. At the present time there has never been more opportunities for the photographer. Wildlife Scouting Cameras For years I wondered how big the bucks were that were roaming our property in the dark of night. After all, I knew that monster bucks had to be eluding me during the daylight hours only to roam the woods at night. Memories That Get Lost How many people have pictures in a shoe box? In a drawer? Inside a book? Sitting in the garage?Imagine 40 years from now. Someone will get those pictures and they will say: Who are these people? What are they doing in this boat?They won't have a clue about the stories that those pictures tell and they will probably throw part of your story away. HP Digital Cameras - History and Beyond HP has started making digital cameras only recently. However, the firm provides a one-stop-shop for all digital facilities. Digital Camera Macro Mode The digital camera is a wonderful device that allows a diverse variety of applications with its even diverse spectral collection of utilities. As technology progresses it brings along with it those intense pleasures that human beings have only thought of. Help! My Old Colour Photo has Turned Pink - 5 Minute Digital Fix Almost all of us will have seen this particular photographic problem, namely, your old colour photographs appear to have taken on an overall pink or blue tint.This is primarily due to the chemicals within the various layers of the photographic paper starting to breakdown, often due to age, and the way that the photographs have been stored. Better Photos with Your Digital Camera Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take a lot of photos. But if your photos still have trees coming out of your father's head, mom has red eye, and your beloved pet is never facing the camera then here are some tips to help you take better photos. Tiny Cameras, Big Pictures and Make Your Photos Great! The path to picking a digital camera usually leads to a fork in the road. On one side is the small camera that's convenient to carry but doesn't take the sharpest pictures; on the other, a camera that crisply catches all the details and color but is comparatively bulky. Picture Framing for Photographers - Part 2 There are two sources for obtaining the moulding for making a frame. You can firstly start with a straight piece of timber, and using a home routing system make your own moulding shape with a rebate to take the art work. Removing a Textured Pattern from a Scanned Photo - 5 Minute Digital Fix One of the most common problems when dealing with scanned photographs as part of a digital restoration activity is that after scanning, the digital image appears to have a textured pattern to it.This is often caused by the fact that the photograph in question has been printed on textured photographic paper. The Arizona Desert Museum The vast beauty and richness of the desert can be easily seen in one place in Tucson, Arizona. Known as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum ["Desert Museum"], this gorgeous and convenient site is host to a cornucopia of plants, birds and animals native to the desert. How to Make Your Production Look a Lot Slicker for 40 More Tight BudgetsTight budgets are common these days. But the demand for high production values hasn't fallen with a drop in funds. Color Management, the Digital Darkroom, and Adobe Photoshop PrefaceIn order to understand color management, it is important to get your hands around some of the workflow. It is also important to understand a little bit about the ICC itself. A New Way to Use Old Snapshots If you're like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting in envelopes. Pictures from birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings, anniversaries, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Should You Print Your Digital Photos at Home or Use a Photo Printing Service? There are lots of options available for getting your digital photos printed, but which method is the best and most economical choice for you? Let's look at some of the options and the pros and cons of each.PRINTING YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOS AT HOMEConvenience and instant gratification are two popular reasons for printing your digital photos at home. Creating Personalized Photo Calendars About Personalized Photo Calendars:Photo Calendars are 12-month, wall-hanging calendars that you can create using your own digital photos and captions. As you customize your own photo calendar, you can start the calendar on whatever month and year you wish. Camcorder Techniques: How To Make Home Movies Your Family And Friends Will Be Excited To Watch Pre-Production:It's all got to start somewhere, so before you even charge your batteries, rewind those tapes or pack the car, take a seat and have a good think about what you are planning to shoot with your camcorder. 'Planning is the key' to a good production even if you're just shooting a small home movie. Picture Framing for Photographers - Part 1 Imagine being able to frame all your own photographs just as well as a professional. You can save enough money to easily pay for all the necessary tools, and the convenience of being able to do it yourself frees you from having to get someone else do it. Optimize Your Photos for the Web It doesn't matter if your emailing photos of your grandson or putting images of your latest product on your online store. Too many people don't consider optimizing their photos for the web.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 KeralaClick.com |