Lightroom 2 Workflow

[DJdeRidder]

The other workflow topic has been dead for some months. I think many of us Lightroom users have changed their workflow since LR2 came out (two months ago), so I thought let's start a new topic specifically for Lightroom 2 users.

I will start with my own workflow. As shown below, I devide it in five steps. I always try to do steps 1 and 2 directly after coming home, step 3 the next day, step 4 another day and step 5 only when I need some photos for web/print/magazine/etc. Between brackets I have included some explanations and shortcuts.

I added my Custom Filters and Smart Collections separately, as they are important for my workflow (but they don't really fit in any of the five steps).

1) Import
Import photos from CF card to external HD, settings:
- Move photos to new location (i.e. F:/photos/aviation/2008/20080924_ehlw)
- File naming template (i.e. 20080924_ehlw_9876.CR2)
- Develop setting
- Metadata preset
- Initial Previews: Standard

2) Add keywords
Grid View (G):
- Filter out keyworded photos (Custom filter)

Grid View (G) & Loupe View (E):
- Drag & drop remaining photos to keywords list

3) Selection
Loupe View (E), hold Caps Lock and:
- Mark unwanted photos as rejected (X)
- Mark decent photos as unflagged (U)
- Mark quality shots with red color label (6) for developing

Compare View (C):
- Compare ‘burst shots’ & identical static shots
- Mark unwanted photo(s) as rejected (X)
- Mark best photo with red color label (6) for developing

Grid View (G):
- Review rejected photos (Custom filter)
- Delete photos (Ctrl+Backspace)

4) Develop
Grid View (G):
- Select photos with red color label (Custom filter)

Develop mode (D):
- Basic panel (all tools)
- Tone curve panel (all tools)
- Detail panel (sharpening & noise reduction)
- Spot Removal (N)
- Crop Overlay (R)
- Mark photo with purple color label
- Edit remaining photos

Loupe View (E):
- Set ratings for edited photos (1 - 5)

5) Export photos
Grid View (G) & Loupe View (E):
- Select photos with purple color label (Custom filter)
- Run Export dialog/preset to save as JPEG or open as PSD in Photoshop

Custom filters
Custom filters to see at any time whether I forgot to do anything (all filters refer to steps in the workflow):
- Default (all photos)
- Delete Queue (rejected photos)
- Develop Queue (red color label shots)
- Keyword Queue (photos without keywords)
- Metadata Queue (photos without personal metadata)
- Rating Queue (purple color label shots without rating)
- Ready for Publication (purple color label shots)

Smart Collections
Smart Collections to easily find photos when not working in the Library Module (all are loaded automatically):
- Aspect Ratio (2:3 vs 3:2)
- Airfields (loaded from ICAO-code in filename)
- Color Labels (Red & Purple)
- Ratings (1-5)
- Temporary Collections (the only non-smart collection, for specific ‘projects’)

I have only put this workflow on paper since a few days, so it still needs some 'polishing'. Feel free to leave some feedback, ask a question or add your own workflow.

[Polecat]

not strictly topic related, but i'm still working with the older version. Is LR2 faster? because my 1.3 is getting sooo slow....

[DJdeRidder]

not strictly topic related, but i'm still working with the older version. Is LR2 faster? because my 1.3 is getting sooo slow....

I think that depends on several factors (catalog size, computer system etc), but I'm happy with the speed of LR2. The main reason to upgrade to LR2 however should be for the new tools IMHO (multiple monitor support, smart collections, improved search filter & custom filters, output sharpening, local adjustments brush etc).

P.S.1 Why don't you upgrade to 1.4.1 first?

P.S.2 I have added a poll to see how many people use LR1 or 2.

[Iwan Bogels]

Hi DJ,

Funny to see the different approach that you use.

Personally I use Photo Mechanic to sort my photos, and use Lightroom 2.0 to convert my best images from RAW to PSD. Having been trained to use Photoshop, I use that software to make the final adjustments.

As I'm not a spotter, I don't do databases. So the much praised keywording function in Lightroom is not for me. Instead I just keep all images sorted by chronoligical category, named after the event. Something like this:

2007-06 (2345-2789) Leeuwarden Airshow
2007-06 (2790-3101) TLP 2007-03
2007-07 (3102-3205) Gilze-Rijen operationeel
2007-07 (3206-3556) Oostenrijkse Drakens op Nörvenich
2007-08 (3557-6178) Trip Japan

Each topic can comprise just one day, or a whole trip. The reason for keeping the image numbers is to check if any files are missing (did I copy all memory cards?), and to keep all items chronlogical.

For me Photo Mechanic is the fastest way to sort my images. It loads extremely fast and has better zoom potental. Maybe Lightroom can be fast too, but I didn't discover how yet. Also I don't want to clog my system by buffering Lightroom.

Nevertheless Lightroom 2.0 is my favorite RAW-converter.....

Cheers,
Iwan

[DJdeRidder]

As I'm not a spotter, I don't do databases. So the much praised keywording function in Lightroom is not for me.

Funny to see how you keep mentioning that you're not using keywords because you're not a spotter. Adobe did not create the keyword function just for aircraft spotters. I'm not saying you MUST use keywords (that's up to you of course), but there's more possibilities to use them.

I do collect serials (2nd priority after photography), but for my photos I really don't care about serials. In some cases though, for me it is useful to find them by serial, for example when an editor needs a photo of a specific jet (like AFM's Accident Reports section). Also, if an editor or book writer asked you to send all your quality shots of a specific type (say the F-16) would you be able to remember by head every location where you photographed them since you went digital?

I also review photos by type to gradually delete lower-quality photos once I get more/better photos of a specific type. For me it is fun to see the overall quality of my photos improve as I get more photos and delete others.

Before going somewhere I sometimes check photos by type to see what kind of photos I would 'need' from a specific type (taxi/static/takeoff/landing, what angles etc), so I can set some priorities. In this case (click) for example, I only have good shots of German Tornado's taxiing so next time I would try to get flying shots. Wouldn't this be useful from a photographer's view?

Just some examples of other ways to use keywords. Not sure if I am able to convince you though!

[Iwan Bogels]

Hi DJ,

I totally understand your reasons to use keywords in Lightroom. My comments were not meant to argue them, but to show that I work differently.

For me it doesn't make sense to put a lot of time and effort in keywording. I rarely ever have the urge to look up what I have or need. Yes, I might be able to get something published like you mention, but I'm not after that. Maybe, some day, I might and will change my opinion about keywording my own shots. But for me it's now a waist of time.

Nevertheless keywording seems to be "a gift from God" for spotters who have always wanted to keep a photo database. It doesn't matter if you want to keep track of your serials, best shots or any other selection, Lightroom is just the program for you.

Cheers,
Iwan

PS: If you change the title from "LR2 Workflow" to "Lightroom Workflow", you might get attention from several more people. Not everybody might be aware of the meaning of LR. It's like the civvies always using the 3-letter code or ICAO code in their titles, instead of just writing the full airport name.

[HansW1]

Hi Iwan,

Do you use LR for Windows or do you work on an MAC?

Greetings,

Hans

[DJdeRidder]

from RAW to PSD

Why to PSD and not to TIFF?

Well, for the simple reason that I have never worked with TIFF files (not a very good reason maybe ).

Bot TIFF and PSD are losless (unlike JPG), but PSD files are smaller. As far as I know the only advantage of TIFF is that it's open standard, but I'm only using Photoshop for further editing so that's no reason for me to use TIFF. Is there a good reason why I should use TIFF?

Edit: Oops, I thought you refered to my first post. I now realize it's Iwans post.

[Iwan Bogels]

from RAW to PSD

Why to PSD and not to TIFF?

Hi Crizz,

As DJ says, TIFF and PSD are both formats that don't use compression, and thus don't loose quality when you save them.

My reason to use PSD specifically is that I work in layers, and the PSD format supports that. Each image that I convert a RAW file for enhancement, it will end up with up to seven different layers. These layers are all saved in a PSD-file, and allow re-work afterwards if necessary.

I know some of you will think that Lightroom does just the same, but there are some serious differences. Especially when you make local adjustments and use masks. This may sound like me being a "miereneuker", and that's correct when it concerns my own photos.

Hope this explains....

Cheers,
Iwan