Camera Raw Workflow

[SuzanneB]

Hi!

I have a (likely very stupid!) question for those of you who shoot in camera raw. I just took a bunch of shots for the first time in camera raw. I'd like to print them but I'm wondering, do I have to go in and edit each photo individually and then convert it to a .jpg? Or is there an EASY button? Please help!

Thank you!
Suzanne

Oh, they are in Adobe Bridge and I use CS3 for editing, thanks!

[nirecreations]

I am totally going to be an enabler here, but check out the 30 day free trail of Adobe LightRoom! With the presets that are available, my pictures have NEVER looked as good as they do now, and there is a 'sync' setting button (for when you shot under the same lighting and such) and I definitely think of it as my easy button!!!

I am sure that someone else will put their 2 cents worth in on editing in PS.

Good luck and shooting in RAW is wonderful! You will be much happier with the amount of info you will get in your images.

[deanie]

Have to agree with Erin, LR is the way to go. In PSE or PS I do believe you have to edit them all individually before you print. LR makes it so easy.

[katrinak]

Chiming in to say LightRoom is the way to go! I don't know any other way

[LauraBean]

Suzanne, you'll have to do some light editing before you can print them, but it doesn't need to take a super long time for each picture. Whatever you're using for software--you already have Adobe Camera Raw--you can just make your adjustments fairly quickly on most pictures and save the heavy-duty editing for the really special ones.

I tried Lightroom and liked it, but what I really love is Aperture; alas, not quite in the budget just yet! Adobe Camera Raw works as advertised and isn't that hard.

[Bush Girl]

Another vote for Lightroom. Just clicking the auto fix button, if sometimes good enough, but I aways like to play (and *cough cough* delete if nec) with each one.

[bluelemur01]

With raw, you do have to do a minimum of editing to each photo, but it doesn't have to take all THAT long. One of the main benefits of shooting raw is that you can adjust the color balance & exposure of each shot individually, something you cannot do nearly as easily with a .jpg, and I like to take advantage of that for each picture. I shoot raw when I know I have mixed lighting that might give a color cast to my subjects, and I feel comfortable knowing it will be easier to fix it with RAW than .jpg photos. When I shoot RAW, I pretty much know I *will* be doing something to every picture that I want to keep.

In Photoshop you can create batch actions if all of your photos are very similar in lighting; that way you can adjust an entire folder at once to give them all the same treatment. I don't have Lightroom but I have not yet seen the need for it, since I can do everything I want in Photoshop.


good luck!

[SuzanneB]

Thank you so much everyone for your input! I guess I will go ahead and edit the photos. I find that most of the time, I make similar adjustments at first pass and I did just purchase Cassie's tutorials on creating actions so I'll try that route.

I'm glad to hear so many Lightroom endorsements. I've been dying for that software and as my boys just started Kindergarten, I finally qualify for the discount! Academic Superstore emailed me my approval today and said that it will ship in a couple of days. I ordered Lightroom 2 and can't wait to play around! Any tips for someone starting out?

Thanks!
Suzanne

[deanie]

Buy Scott Kelby's book!! I'm sure he has a new one for LR 2. Takes you from start to finish and everything in between. There is a thread on the photography forum here that lists all the places to find free LR presets and such. Have a great time when you get your new toy!