[dugarner]

Originally Posted by mntmom

I was just curious to see how you save your files? I just started shooting in RAW and love it although I still have a lot to learn.

Do you convert everything to DNG? Do you convert to DNG but also save the RAW files? Do you keep the DNGs or RAW files and then convert to JPEG for Photoshop? But if you do this last option, do you have a separate folder for finished JPEGs as well as the RAW or DNG files? Or are the RAW/DNGs deleted after the final JPEG is made? I am so confused as to how I will organize all these files. I currently save everything by date which was fine when I was just saving JPEGs.

Thanks in advance.

From what I understand, DNG is the same as a RAW file, but not proprietary. However, if you use Photoshop, it can process just about every RAW file out there.

I fix the RAW files if need be, then process them (or just process them if they're okay SOOC) to JPEG. My RAW files stay on my computer until I back them up, then I move them off. But I always keep the original RAW file. I never know when I'm going to need it, or why I'll need it. Sometimes I might realize I mess up in processing and need to start over.

I save everything by date/event, RAW and JPEG together in the same folder. My Sony software has a Lightroom-esque application that came with my camera that makes previewing RAW files and presets very easy.

I would say, no matter what organizational system you use, don't delete your RAW files. You never know!