Experienced User Lost in a New Paradigm . . .

[Paul Harris]

I have been a digital photographer since about 2000. After some other DAM experiences, I have been using IDImager to catalog my photos since the earlier days, and have followed Hert's efforts stateside to PhotoSupreme. Until recently, I have been able to ignore all the conversations about RAW files because I was primarily using point and shoot cameras and only dealing with JPGs.

I have just acquired my first DSLR and am now confronted with RAW files. To be honest, I'm a little bit lost as to the way this will affect my workflow. I believe it would go something like this, but would appreciate the benefit of the experience of forum members:

I would shoot RAW + JPG. On import, I would create versions with the JPG as Primary, and the CR2 as a RAW Version. I could preview the sets and cull the images. I could apply Labels and Geo Tag the Version set and any other Metadata I wanted to apply. I guess that this is where I get lost: If I want to develop a RAW file for a better version of the image, where do I go and what do I use? Is there a preferred RAW processor that works well as an external application in PSu? That seems a little problematic, especially if the app requires importing to another proprietary database, as with Lightroom, etc.

I just need to make a couple of good decisions and don't want to waste my time going down the wrong path. Any recommendations and enlightenment greatly appreciated.

Best,

Paul

[dlp0918]

Paul, I think you'll come to really appreciate RAW files, but it seems like you're biting off a really big chunk as you make the transition.

1. Do you have a good reason to create versions on import? I played around with versions initially, but found no real benefit at the time and there were some behaviors that I found problematic in my workflow. Versioning is certainly not necessary for culling a set of images and filtering by file type is a great way to separate raw images from jpegs.

2. I would suggest really studying the nuances and benefits of categories and labeling, but since you're a long time user of Idimager/Photo Supreme that is probably unnecessary. However, well thought out labels and categories can solve many perplexing data extraction needs.

3. I use DxO PhotoLab as my main raw processor, although I also use Lightroom and occasionally Topaz. I pretty much ignore the database aspects of DxO and Lightroom to avoid contaminating the metadata managed by Photo Supreme. I tend to save the processed images in the same folders as the originals and use Photo Supreme's verify folder command to integrate the processed image back into the Photo Supreme catalog. Note that syncing an image's metadata before invoking an external raw processor is important for making sure that the metadata makes the round trip to the raw processor and back to Photo Supreme.

4. Some Photo Supreme users employ formalized structures of folders and embedded subfolders to separate various types of related images to suit the users' needs. I scrupulously avoid using image folders for any other purpose than as buckets of images. Each bucket holds images that were imported into Photo Supreme during a certain period of time (along with their processed revisions). All of my image search efforts are through Photo Supreme's various searching options. To retain the results, portfolios and collections are excellent.

Clearly my practices are not for everyone, but Photo Supreme provides alternative ways to accomplish amazing things. Good luck with your new camera and your deeper diving into the capabilities of this product.

- David P

[Paul Harris]

David, thank you for your thoughtful reply.

1. The reason I thought I should create versions on import is that it seems that very often a RAW file may not present as well as a JPG taken at the same time. I thought I might need to import both and combine them as a Version with the JPG for Display (faster rendering, etc.).

3. Does DXO require import to its Library to process the image and can you launch it from within PSu with the image selected?

4. My folder structure is strictly based on the creation date/time of the image, but only down to the month, i.e.,

v 2019
2019-01
2019-02

My intention is to keep all versions, including RAW, in the same folders.

Thank you for your insights, and your well wishes,

Paul

[dlp0918]

1. Raw files typically have an embedded lower resolution jpeg image as a preview. For my needs and camera, this preview as displayed by Photo Supreme is quite adequate.

3. After setting DxO as an external application in Photo Supreme's preferences, you can definitely launch it from within PSu with the image selected. You can set up multiple external applications to be invoked in this manner. In DxO's case this can be considered an image import, but you are not explicitly importing from within DxO PhotoLab.

- David P

[Paul Harris]

David, if I understand you correctly, when I import my CR2 files (RAW) into PSu and view the folder, the thumbnail I am looking at is created from an embedded JPG, not from the RAW file? (Just trying to understand) This would mean I don't need to import or create an external JPG, unless I process the RAW file and want to display the changes?

Also, what has led you to select DXO as your RAW processor?

Best,

Paul

[dlp0918]

The embedded (moderate quality) jpg is part of the raw file, no separate jpg file is necessary to produce the grid view thumbnail or the preview in Photo Supreme. That said, the camera does a great job (as you know) of producing a pretty high quality jpg image. So for expediency my camera is set to produce both a raw file and a high quality jpg file for each image I capture.

I have been using DxO for many years. I started using Bibble initially, then when it was bought by Corel, I moved to DxO based on forum discussions and online reviews. Except for its bankruptcy scare several months ago, I have been very pleased with it.

- David P