To Lightroom or Photoshop, that is the question.

[Colin Southern]

if I shoot raw for example, how do I know what needs to be done to what picture? How do I know when to stop?...and so on.

From a different perspective, if you leave all of those decisions to the camera, how do you know if the camera will get it right?

[Colin Southern]

If it is a computer, you always have to back up, otherwise if (when) you have a hard disk failure, you will lose all of your data. That is guaranteed to happen at some point, you just don't know when.

For sure. Keeping in mind though that there's other (and more insidious) forms of data loss though -- the worst are where you don't know the loss is occurring until invalid data has been backed up over all backup sets.

[Colin Southern]

Thanks for your replies. Just to clarify the above. When I import my RAW files I have chosen the option of getting them converted into DNG format. So, does that automatically mean that when I do any edits the information gets stored in the DNG file as well as the database? Or do I specifically have to tell Lightroom to do this?

I chose the convert to DNG format as it seemed the most sensible and portable of the formats. My current backup situation is that I backup the images after conversion to DNG i.e. after importing. I am then backing up the database after I do edits. But, if that information can be/is stored in the DNG files then it would make more sense for me to backup those up more regularly. As if anything did go wrong or I went to different software I would be able to use them with minimum fuss. I used to work with database software so I know of the perils of potential corruption issues!!!

Cheers for now

Gary

Hi Gary,

The short answers are (a) It's been a while since I used LR, but (b) what I do remember is it was pretty clear if you just look at the preferences.

Hope this helps!

[Colin Southern]

Touch wood, I haven't lost any files since I started doing this back in 2003; even though I have had some hard disk failures.

Just so long as you're "thinking outside the box" with the overall strategy. eg lightning strike that takes out the RAID controller and associated drives (had one take out my Mobo and PSU the other day) - fire - theft - virus - "finger trouble" - OS malfunction (all of which that can take out everything).

[oldgreygary]

Hi Gary,

The short answers are (a) It's been a while since I used LR, but (b) what I do remember is it was pretty clear if you just look at the preferences.

Hope this helps!

I found this video that nicely explains the options. You can change the catalog settings to save automatically or you can update manually via the metadata option. The video explains it better than I can.

Yes, your responses have helped!

http://lightroomkillertips.com/2010/...aving-changes/

Cheers for now

Gary

[DanK]

For why I don't always shoot raw, if I shoot raw for example, how do I know what needs to be done to what picture? How do I know when to stop?...and so on. Another reason is that I will be photographing students who are not exactly the most-patient of people. Also, is raw processing not extremely time-consuming?

When you shoot jpeg, the camera does not know what needs to be done to get it right. You are deciding in advance to use one processing menu, without even looking at the image.

Raw processing is not necessarily more time consuming. Most raw processing software has or lets you choose a default rendering as a starting point. In some cases, you can even use or emulate the camera's picture styles as a starting point. And if the image needs serious editing, it is often easier to do it with a raw image.

But back to your LR vs. PS question: I use PS relatively rarely, doing most of my editing in LR and specialty software. However, I find PS necessary for certain types of images, and one of them is pictures of people taken in indoor settings. The lighting is often mixed, which makes white balance and other aspects of color balance tricky. In addition, I often get the dreaded measles appearance, in which the skin of fair-complected people is inexplicably too red. This last problem is much easier to fix in PS than in LR, using a hue-saturation layer.

[Scott Stephen]

Lightroom, to me, is the better single program. PS Elements can be a part of the PP process on 1 out of 100 images, but for basic WB, Exposure, Dodge/Burn, etc., it is the easiest and best. Plus it helps you catalogue and store images. Think how many 100's or 1000's of images you will be dealing with. IMHO.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hello Everybody,

Just a question about Lightroom workflow. I read when "Developing" an image, it's best to start from the exposure working downwards. ( which I have followed.)
However, after following this downward workflow , there is at the bottom "Camera Calibration" (Please refer to image below.) . Here you can select camera portrait/standard/etc. So, when I select, for instance, "vivid", my edited image changes its overall color/brightness.

My question is, shouldn't we first select Camera Calibration before "Exposure" and so on?



Thanks in advance.

Vic

[Manfred M]

Just so long as you're "thinking outside the box" with the overall strategy. eg lightning strike that takes out the RAID controller and associated drives (had one take out my Mobo and PSU the other day) - fire - theft - virus - "finger trouble" - OS malfunction (all of which that can take out everything).

All that is understood Colin; I've had a lightning strike take out computer hardware before, it was a bit strange because the only thing that went were the network cards; but I have certainly had hardware and software failures, so I do take precautions.

The backup systems (I actually have two independent ones) are electicially isolated and are designed so that the power supply can go but no power spike should be able to get as far as the units themselves. These are stand-alone backups and are not integrated into a computer, one is a traditional NAS (mirrored 3TB disks running Linux) and the second can handle up to five 4-TB drives and uses a proprietary OS (Data Robotics).

Can they be stolen; yes, but unlikely based on their location. If there is a fire, I will have a lot more to worry about than just the loss of my data..

I do use Cloud based storage for "the best of the best" in case of a total catastrophic failure, and that solution really only has around 500 images and a few video files. The 600Kb/s upload bandwidth I have means I only load very limited material there.

[Colin Southern]

The 600MB/s upload bandwidth I have means I only load very limited material there.

600 Mega-Bytes per second upload? Wow - I can only dream!!!

[Manfred M]

600 Mega-Bytes per second upload? Wow - I can only dream!!!

I'd love that too; sorry 600 kb/s, not 600MB/s. I must have been sleeping when I proofread that note...

[northlondon43]

Hi Victor

Personally, just as I always look at the white balance presets (as a potential starting point) before deciding whether to manually adjust WB so I view the camera calibration presets right at the beginning, if I really don't like the look of the original RAW, to give me a potential starting point. If I don't like the look of any of them then, like you, I start from the top of the panel and work downwards.

Adrian

[jcuknz]

Of course you could download a trial version of Paint Shop Pro X4 and see how it suits you ...I'm biased as have been using PSP for ages and prefer it to Photoshop Probably a case of what you get used to you like

[hoffstriker]

Hey Victor,

I actually never go top to bottom in LR4. I'm all over the place. However, my basic practice is to start with camera calibration right after upload, then do WB on groups/individual images, then hit the crop that I want, and then who knows where from there. It all depends upon the image. I see no reason you should have to stick with any one way.

[Malco]

Hey Victor,

I actually never go top to bottom in LR4. I'm all over the place. However, my basic practice is to start with camera calibration right after upload, then do WB on groups/individual images, then hit the crop that I want, and then who knows where from there. It all depends upon the image. I see no reason you should have to stick with any one way.

The reason I follow top to bottom in the Basic panel is because Eric Chan and Co who actually develop Lightroom have recommended that this is the best option. When you have been using it for a time you realise that you can get into a bit of a "tizzy" by jumping around all over the place. I would agree that you should start with Camera Callibration before going to the Basic panel. I use a preset with my chosen settings on import.

[hoffstriker]

When you have been using it for a time you realise that you can get into a bit of a "tizzy" by jumping around all over the place.

Been using since LR2... Never had that problem. I regularly have 1500+ uploads. I guess "different strokes for different folks" is the optimum phrase in this case.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hey Victor,
I actually never go top to bottom in LR4. I'm all over the place. However, my basic practice is to start with camera calibration right after upload, then do WB on groups/individual images, then hit the crop that I want, and then who knows where from there. It all depends upon the image. I see no reason you should have to stick with any one way.

fr Malco

I would agree that you should start with Camera Callibration before going to the Basic panel. I use a preset with my chosen settings on import.

fr Adrian

so I view the camera calibration presets right at the beginning

Thanks Adrian, Chris & Malco, guess I'll be going the "calibration route" too.