How can I streamline a Windows RAW workflow for large numbers of Canon photos?
Asked 8/10/2011
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2 answers
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I’m shooting Canon on Windows and finding my current workflow too slow and cumbersome for handling lots of images. Right now I import from CF card with Canon ZoomBrowser EX, process RAW files in DPP, UFRaw, or RawTherapee, then move into GIMP for further editing. DPP seems to give the best-looking RAW conversion on some images, but it has limited editing features. When I use DPP, I have to export TIFFs before opening in GIMP, which creates very large files and extra backup clutter.
I’m also not consistently tagging or rating images during import, and I suspect that will become a problem later.
What would be a more efficient workflow for importing, organizing, rating, RAW processing, and editing large batches of photos while minimizing duplicate files and wasted disk space?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
9
In general - switch to a one program solution like Lightroom.
It gives pretty good results (I don't know how it compares to DPP though, but it must be at least comparable given its popularity). It will handle the import, tagging, sorting, labeling, and most of your basic edits to the photo all in one program without keeping multiple copies of the image around. It will do all the color corrections, spot removal, sharpening etc without the need to go into Gimp. (If you want to start cutting stuff out of the image or adding stuff in, or selective color, or stuff like that, you'd still need to go to Gimp though. But that stuff should be much more rare.)
I'm a fan of Gimp, I am. But both GIMP and Photoshop excel at making detailed changes to one photo at a time. Lightroom ( or heck even Picasa) allow you to do many of the basic modifications in stride, rather than stopping to mess with switching files around.
Picasa is an option, but really Lightroom is in a whole different league. I was a big Picasa + Gimp fan for awhile, but Lightroom is just so much easier/faster.
Originally by user1917. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1917
15y ago
0
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A simpler workflow is to use a single catalog-based RAW editor for as much of the process as possible. The main benefit is that one program can handle import, tagging, rating, sorting, and most adjustments without creating multiple intermediate files.
That means you can avoid this pattern of RAW file → TIFF → GIMP native file for every image. Programs such as Lightroom are designed for batch workflow and non-destructive editing, so your edits are stored as instructions rather than full-size duplicate image files. That saves time and disk space, and makes backup and organization easier.
You’d still keep GIMP for the occasional image that needs heavy pixel-level editing, compositing, or other detailed work. But for most photos, staying in one application for culling, metadata, exposure/color correction, sharpening, and spot removal is much more efficient.
So the main improvement is: import once, tag/rate immediately, do most edits non-destructively in one program, and only export to TIFF or open in GIMP when a photo truly needs it.
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