Workflow

[KrazyPete]

What kind of process are you all using to prepare your pictures for print?

I've been shooting JPG. Then, I browse the pictures in the filmstrip view in Windows to delete the ones that didn't come out right. Then I use Adobe Photoshop CS2 for color correction, cropping, rotating, etc.

I tried the beta of Adobe Lightroom and I really like it. I just don't want to know what it's going to cost when it comes out.

What are you using?

 

[Miss Kelly]

I shoot in RAW and I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 to convert to JPEG and color correct, crop, etc

 

[handicap18]

I shoot JPEG then use the software that came with the camera to make any enhancements. I use a Nikon D50 and I believe its called Picture Perfect software that came with the camera. Usually the only enhancements I make are adding some sharpness and occassionally adjusting the brightness. For any cropping I use photoshop elements 4. I find it easier in PSE to crop as it is easier to save the file under a different name and also keep it as a higher resolution.

I don't print all my pictures anymore. Right now I use the computers screen saver to display most of my pictures. I will print occassionally now, but its usually 4x6's for family during the holidays, 5x7's, 8x10's and 8x12's that will be displayed in frames around the house.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I go with the following:

Download from camera to internal hard drive
Burn RAW+JPG images to DVD for backup
Delete bad images
Convert all RAW images to DNG using Adobe's Digital Negative Converter

The following, I repeat for each file using Photoshop Elements:
Open file
Process RAW image
Open in PS
Crop
Clone
Adjust levels
Remove color cast
Adjust saturation
Remove noise
Sharpen
Save in PSD format
Copy finished product to network storage

Monthly, I perform the following:
Burn DVD backups of DNG and finished files then remove from internal HD
Copy RAW images to network drive then include in Elements organizer

*Blue items may not be required

I use the .PSD files to further manipulate images if I need to create .JPG files, such as when I post to websites, etc.

Notice that I delete images AFTER I have burned a copy to DVD. This may not be ideal for everyone but it gives me a sense of security that if I need an image I've taken, even a bad one, I have it. After all, DVDs/CDs are cheap now. The only images that never make it to DVD are those that get deleted in camera, which I sometimes do if they are REALLY bad or just a test case.

So, when all is said and done, my files reside on the internal HD for a limited time, on a network drive for as long as I want/need them (years) and on DVD/CD forever. This means that every 3-5 years I will need to make copies of the DVD/CDs otherwise I risk losing them.

I have a 250GB NAS (network attached storage) device as my external HD and will soon purchase a 500GB NAS device. I use NAS devices instead of external hard drives so that I can share the files with my wife on the local area network.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I copy my images onto a NAS and a local drive.

If there aren't too many, I use Lightroom to review them and filter out the garbage. I delete the garbage before burning it.

I Lightroom to make most of my adjustments and export to PSD files. If I'm dealing with a really large number of files, Lightroom is too slow and buggy so I often resort to Adobe Camera Raw. I much prefer Lightroom though.

I then use Photoshop to do adjustments that I can't do well in Lightroom, like cloning, noise reduction, sharpening, and aspect ratio flipping. When I'm done there, I convert my images to JPGs.

Once I have the JPGs, I archive the RAW files, the JPGs, and any PSDs that I have changed (other than by applying bulk actions like sharpening). Unless I'm working on something big like a vacation or a special shoot, I usually just wait until the end of the month to do my archiving. I do the archiving using Archive Creator. I usually burn two sets of disks - one for at home and one for offsite backup at my office.

I upload the JPGs to Smugmug and send out links to anyone that I think is interested.

If it is a special event, I sometimes build a slideshow and upload that to my slideshow page. If I'm doing a slideshow, I produce 1600x1200 pixel versions of the photos to decrease the size of the slideshow.

I then copy the jpg files to the processed photo section on the NAS. I add those pictures to the photo display screen savers that play on the computers around the house.

 

[0bli0]

here is my workflow which involves Aperture for 100% of my images - both film and digital. my Aperture vaults (built in backup mechanism) are backed up nightly and one copy is moved offsite regularly or as needed.

-open the album or project in aperture i'm adding new images to (or simply create an appropriate new one.
-plug the card into the card reader (or use apple-i) to import the images into the album/project above
-move/copy any images to other album/project if necessary
-keyword
-spot rank '5's and nuke the 'X's (garbage)
(the above actions take only a few minutes. if i need i can export a full shoot or put it up on the web for a customer to see)

(post process steps next - almost exclusively in Aperture)
-process one image for each lighting condition then lift/stamp onto the rest of that type
- make changes to individual shots as required (this is the longest step, but most of the work is already done through the stamp process)
-rank images as processed and add additional keywords
-roundtrip to CS2/CS3 beta as needed

the 'x's are converted to .jpg and burned onto dvd then removed from the library.

i have created individual presets for sizing and colour space (i typically shoot in adobe RGB so they have to be converted to sRGB)

 

[boBQuincy]

Since you asked mainly about printing I will skip over all the other extensive and very involved work. Besides, the other discussions covered it very well and I couldn't add any more to their excellent ideas (many of which I also use).

Once I have an image just how I want it on the monitor, there is even more fun to be had. First is sizing the image to XX" by XX" by 300 dpi, to insure best print quality. Next is selecting the paper and making sure I have the profile loaded for my printer.

Next I press CTRL-Y which allows Photoshop to show me the soft proof, how the image will look once it is on the selected paper. This is an important step if you really want the print to look as close as it can to what is on the monitor. At this point the image will probably look washed out and muted, some more brightness and contrast is almost always needed.
***If you always use the manufacturer's recommended ink and paper you may not need these steps, but it is still likely to make an improvement in your prints.

Then I print the image using the profile and "Perceptual" color setting. Now I print the image, curse the results, and start over! Just kidding, by this point the print is usually very close to what is on my monitor.

One of the hard parts is to remember to look away from the screen for a minute or so to give your eyes a break, it is easy to miss a color cast. It is also important to view the print under a consistent light source. The Ott-Lite is a good one, any fluorescent with a CRI of more than 92 is ok too.

It's a lot of work! No wonder most people just take them to the store!