Digital Workflow with Adobe Lightroom. Rob Redford November, 2013

Transcription

1 Digital Workflow with Adobe Lightroom Rob Redford November, 2013

2 Digital Workflow Introduction In this presentation Motivations for a RAW + Lightroom workflow Workflow example based on my personal workflow in Lightroom 5: import, catalog, process Not in this presentation Tutorial on Lightoom just the basics today Most of the reasons for using Lightroom

3 Digital Workflow A Workflow is simply the set of steps you take to go from images captured on your camera to finished images on your computer A good workflow is fundamental to serious photography. It ensures consistency, keeps you organized, and saves time & effort Workflows can be personalized, but must address key requirements: Where are the digital files stored How are the files indexed and organized (finding them again in the future) Important: where the files are located and how your image processing software catalogs and organizes them are SEPARATE DECISIONS The software you use to process your images and the order of the steps in your developing process. The order is significant! Automating changes across a set of images

4 Your Eye is a Far Better Camera Than Your Camera << Limited dynamic range Lens distortion (varies with f/stop, focal length) Color, contrast, noise, etc. Using RAW gives you more to work with in post processing and lets you get closer to what you saw

5 RAW or JPEG? RAW for control Raw sensor image capture no processing in the camera Lossless Extensive metadata Adjust white balance, exposure after the fact; almost as if it was done on-camera Very large files (note: can slow down camera in burst mode, for example.) Some camera features like HDR don t work with RAW; must be done in post. Generally requires larger memory cards, a faster computer, more disk space You make processing decisions JPEG for convenience Image processed by the camera Lossy (and lose more with each edit) Limited metadata Settings locked in when you shoot; limits extent of post processing Much smaller files, depending on level of compression (but more compression = more information loss) Features processed in camera (but less flexibility/tuning) For snapshots file may not require any processing at all Camera makes processing decisions

6 If You re Unsure: RAW and JPEG Camera will do both simultaneously, so you can decide which one to use later Lightroom can be set with defaults to mimic JPEG processing if you don t want to store both on your memory cards Some high end cameras have 2 cards: RAW on one card, JPG on the other

7 Nikon Camera Settings for RAW

8 Nikon Camera Settings for RAW

9 Workflow and Lightroom

10 Why Lightroom? Designed to be a digital darkroom Used by most professional photographers Designed around a catalog with multiple virtual overlays Organized around workflow, e.g. automation, batches, easy replication Modern re-interpretation of the interface for computer digital photo editing Compared to Photoshop: Simpler, cleaner, and more intuitive interface Nondestructive editing and (full history without making files huge) Better at propagating changes to multiple photos Easier cataloging and search Selective adjustments without needing layers My time: 95% Lightroom, 5% Photoshop

11 Where Does Stuff Go? My Pictures JPG Files RAW Files Developed Catalogs Edited Sidecar files Sidecar files

12 Basic Workflow Process Prepare Develop Finish Import: get the images on the computer Organize and catalog your images Select the keepers Global enhancements: white balance, exposure, tone, contrast, noise, lens distortions, b&w conversion Selective enhancements: spot removal, gradients, adjustment brush, selective color Copy & paste selective edits Save edits as presets for future automation Soft proof, layout, and print Slideshows Photobooks Web posting

13 Lightroom Toolbar Basic Workflow Process Prepare Develop Finish

14 Library Module Import images into Lightroom Files can be stored elsewhere and linked, or copied Extensive keywords and tags, GPS (Map module) Organize images into virtual catalogs As many as you want Extensive attributes (see sidebar) Does not change the location of your files Multiple tools for image selection

15 Library Module

16 Library Module: Select Filter Bar Pick/Reject Rating Color Tag

17 Library Module: Select: Filter Bar These are the defaults: filters can be customized

18 Library Module: Select: Smart Collections Create collections automatically

19 Develop Module: Key Principles All editing is non-destructive Original version is never modified All history states are maintained Go back to any previous state no need to save Makes experimenting risk free A set of changes can be copied, pasted, and saved as a preset Same capabilities as Photoshop Camera Raw but with a more intuitive and simpler interface Easily jump to Photoshop for complex edits and return to Lightroom Fully integrated with Google Nik Tools

20 Develop Module

21 Develop Module: Panels Histogram (frequency distribution) Basic Darkroom Tools Color Adjustments Sharpening and Noise Reduction Lens Corrections

22 My RAW Import Defaults Combined, these settings correct for the flat nature of RAW capture, correct for large sensor noise, as well as automatically adjusting for lens distortion.

23 Workflow Example

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25 1. Library Module: File and Import Filing strategy (Windows) My Pictures > Year > YYMMDD {title} JPEG folder RAW folder Developed folder Import strategy Copy JPEG and RAW files to disk folders Import into Lightroom using Add option Apply personalized Develop Module & metadata defaults, keywords (done by creating a new Preset) Note: can import & edit video also

26 Import Example

27 2. Library Module: Organize Hierarchy: Catalog Collection Sub-collection (s)

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29 Screen Layout in Perspective