Digital Workflow with Adobe Lightroom

Rob Redford November, 2013

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

Digital Workflow Introduction

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

Digital Workflow

Limited dynamic range Lens distortion (varies with f/stop, focal length) Color, contrast, noise, etc.

Your Eye is a Far Better Camera Than Your Camera

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Using RAW gives you more to work with in post processing and lets you get closer to what you saw

RAW – for control JPEG – for convenience Raw sensor image capture – no processing in the camera

Image processed by the camera

Lossless Lossy (and … lose more with each edit) Extensive metadata Limited metadata Adjust white balance, exposure after the fact; almost as if it was done on-camera

Settings “locked in” when you shoot; limits extent of post processing

Very large files (note: can slow down camera in burst mode, for example.)

Much smaller files, depending on level of compression (but more compression = more information loss)

Some camera features like HDR don’t work with RAW; must be done in post.

Features processed in camera (but less flexibility/tuning)

Generally requires larger memory cards, a faster computer, more disk space

For “snapshots” file may not require any processing at all

You make processing decisions Camera makes processing decisions

RAW or 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

If You’re Unsure: RAW and JPEG

Nikon Camera Settings for RAW

Nikon Camera Settings for RAW

Workflow and 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

Why Lightroom?

Where Does Stuff Go?

JPG Files RAW Files Developed Catalogs

Edited

Sidecar files Sidecar files

My Pictures

Prepare

• Import: get the images on the computer

•Organize and catalog your images

• Select the “keepers”

Develop

•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

Finish

•Soft proof, layout, and print

•Slideshows •Photobooks •Web posting

Basic Workflow Process

Prepare Develop Finish

Basic Workflow Process

Lightroom Toolbar

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

Library Module

Library Module

Library Module: Select Filter Bar

Color Tag Rating

Pick/Reject

Library Module: Select: Filter Bar

These are the defaults: filters can be customized

Library Module: Select: Smart Collections

Create collections automatically

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

Develop Module: Key Principles

Develop Module

Develop Module: Panels Histogram (frequency distribution)

Basic “Darkroom” Tools

Color Adjustments

Sharpening and Noise Reduction Lens Corrections

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.

Workflow Example

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

1. Library Module: File and Import

Import Example

Hierarchy: Catalog Collection Sub-collection (s)

2. Library Module: Organize

Screen Layout in Perspective