One PP is done, what do you do with RAW files?

[DoleWhipDVC]

I'm just curious. what does everyone do with the RAW capture once a photo has been through post processing? Once I have tweaked my RAW capture and entered the, "convert and save" command, I now have a jpeg photo with all changes and the original RAW file. I've deleted the RAW shots in the past, but now I'm thinking I should keep them if I ever want to go back and play around with the effects some more (particularly once I get better post processing software). However, having two of each shot takes up alot of storage space. So...what do you do with your RAW files once they have been processed to your liking?

 

[Bonniec]

I store both raw and edited files on an external hard drive. And because hard drives will fail at some point (experienced that one personally not too long ago), I also burn everything to a dvd. So glad I did!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

My RAW files are my master files. They are saved on two identical external hard drives.

 

[wbeem]

I keep the RAW files in Aperture databases, which are located on a 6 TB external RAID array, and then I backup those files to another external drive. The most important words in that sentence are the first: "I keep the RAW files."

There have been times when I went back to re-process images as my abilities grew or I discovered a new technique. Had I discarded the RAW files, I would have discarded my ability to make useful changes.

 

[photo_chick]

I keep the RAW files. I've gone back to older files and re-processed as I've learned new techniques to get an even better image out of them.

 

[SrisonS]

I keep all of my RAW files. Sometimes I'll change my mind on how I want something tweaked. Or I'll just do completely different techniques with a picture later on. And knowing that software improvements are always around the corner, it's always nice to have the RAWs.

But like others, I backup the originals and jpeg converts to 2 other Hard drives. And since i don't "convert" most of my pics, it's way easier to just keep everything together.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I too keep my RAW files. I have several external drives that I back them up to.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I organize my photos starting with a top-level directory for the year and then other subdirectories beneath that for subjects, events, etc.

I also keep one directory I call "Best of RAW."

Most of my RAW files get discarded when I'm done processing, but anything I'm particularly proud of, or think that I might want to revisit at a future time, go into the Best Of directory. My whole PC harddrive is also backed up to Carbonite.

I don't bother saving the RAW for every snapshot....

 

[mabas9395]

I only have RAW files on my computer. I use Adobe Lightroom for my post processing which is a "non-destructive" editor, meaning, any changes I make in Lightroom is not permanently made to the file.

So when I need a jpg for something, I edit the photo for that specific purpose. Sometimes I need a large file for printing, or a small file for emailing or whatever. Then I create the jpgs, do what I need with them, then delete them.

Not for everyone, but it works for me.

 

[DoleWhipDVC]

Thanks everyone for the insight. I think the main idea to take away is to save the RAW captures!!! Thanks again for your replies.

 

[Groucho]

I can't imagine intentionally deleting the RAWs! That'd be worse than throwing away your film negatives.

File-wise, my workflow is that when I put a bunch of pictures on the PC, I put them in a numbered or dated temporary folder (like process1, process2, or process20120123, etc), and then work on them in Lightroom. The keepers are exported to jpg and put into an appropriate "collection", then the RAWs go into master folders of approximately 1,000 each. Each camera has its own parent folder, then underneath is "00001-01000", "01001-02000", etc.

The whole pile is currently backed up with Mozy, but that will be changing when my current subscription expires, as they no longer offer unlimited-space backups. (I have 1.2tb backed up with them! that'd cost over $100/month with their new rates.) At that point, I'll either go with another online backup option or a pair of hard drives, and probably also burn to blurays.

 

[klmall]

Another save every RAW here. I even did this before I bought Lightroom and still do so. My processing skills have improved and my needs do change from time to time.

 

[NCtoFL]

My photos/raw files, sit on an internal 2TB hard drive, which is regularly backed up to an external 3TB hard drive via Microsoft's SyncToy ( free ). Once a month I take the external hard drive to my parents house, and dump it to a hard drive there.

 

[cosine4]

My RAW files are my master files. They are saved on two identical external hard drives.

Same here. I use SyncToy which is a free download from Microsoft to sync the two drives with my internal drive. I am also considering adding 3rd drive to sync once a month then take to my office at work to keep in my file cabinet incase there was some sort of total loss (flood/fire/tornado) I have a back up off site.

 

[handicap18]

I have all my RAW files (along with all my other files) backed up at Carbonite.com I also have my RAW files backed up to DVD's. Once I have them on the DVD I delete them from my main hard drive to give me more safe. I'll keep about a years worth of RAW files on my main hard drive.

I too would NEVER delete my RAW files without having them backed up. I still have all my film negatives.

 

[racreel]

I have all my files backed up to DVDs that I put in my fire safe.

 

[manning]

I store both raw and edited files on an external hard drive. And because hard drives will fail at some point (experienced that one personally not too long ago), I also burn everything to a dvd. So glad I did!

And back them up fast. I had a drive fail a month after I got it and wouldn't you know it happened while I was backing up photos.

I've changed my routine. I 1st copy to a DVD then to hard drive.

 

[Groucho]

And back them up fast. I had a drive fail a month after I got it and wouldn't you know it happened while I was backing up photos.

I've changed my routine. I 1st copy to a DVD then to hard drive.

I agree with that. Hard drives are, by their very nature, unreliable - especially external drives, which are subject to more physical abuse than internal drives. (An external drive is just a standard internal drive in an enclosure.) Being used only to dump files on to it also means that you will probably not notice when it starts to develop bad sectors until it's too late.

Once my Mozy subscription ends and I start making discs again, bluray will be my media of choice - a bluray will hold about 5.5x as much as a dvd (both singlelayer) and the media now costs about the same or less per gig, so you end up with a much smaller pile of discs. Burners are dropping in price, $80 or even cheaper. Either way, as always, make sure your software verifies the disc after burning!

Hmm... NewEgg has a bluray burner for $60 after rebate right now. Might have to finally grab one!

 

[leeshiebean]

I only have RAW files on my computer. I use Adobe Lightroom for my post processing which is a "non-destructive" editor, meaning, any changes I make in Lightroom is not permanently made to the file.

So when I need a jpg for something, I edit the photo for that specific purpose. Sometimes I need a large file for printing, or a small file for emailing or whatever. Then I create the jpgs, do what I need with them, then delete them.

Not for everyone, but it works for me.

I also keep my RAW files. I used to create a folder (ex. Disneymoon Day 1) and within that make a folder for the RAW files (called Archive) and another for the edited jpgs (called Edited). But now that I use LR3, I do the same as above. It saves a lot of disk space to only have the RAW files and not the additional jpgs. I love LR for keeping my photos organized and easy to find, and of course, for editing.

 

[cosine4]

I agree with that. Hard drives are, by their very nature, unreliable - especially external drives, which are subject to more physical abuse than internal drives. (An external drive is just a standard internal drive in an enclosure.) Being used only to dump files on to it also means that you will probably not notice when it starts to develop bad sectors until it's too late.

Speaking of unreliable external hard drives...I had one of my redundant drives fail this weekend. It might have happened sooner as I haven't tried to access it in a while.