Thanks for the input!

No one specifically commented on how JPEG fits in a Lightroom workflow.  However, doing some research/testing on my own, makes me think that I can simply insert JPEG into the same workflow as RAW.

So, Lightroom appears to be my winner!

The tally is in...

Old iPhotos ~= 10,000 (encompassing saving every image between 2003 and 2007 - so some rejects could be removed, but it's a small set)
New IIP/Bridge/EM2 images ~= 5,000 (2008 and newer)


Thanks for the input Neil.

-Tim

Hmmm... Off the top of my head, I think I've got maybe 5000.  Iit could be more, but I can't imagine it's over 10K.  I'll double-check that tonight for sure and reply back.

About 2 ½ - 3 years ago I was shooting JPEG with my Canon Digital Rebel and using iPhoto.  At the time I was outgrowing iPhoto and also experienced an HDD failure.  I lost a couple of months of photos (due to out-of-date backups) and have been hyper-critical of photo storage/backups ever since.  This is where The DAM book (1st edition) entered… I needed to get setup fast and I adopted the ImageIngesterPro (IIP)/Bridge (CS3)/iView Media workflow Peter outlined in the book.

I’ve been using this workflow, but it just doesn’t quite suit what I need I don’t think.  I suspect that I’m over-complicating this for how I need to work.  Here’s the details:

We have two cameras in the family.  Primary is now a Canon 7D, shooting RAW (CR2) (used to be a Digital Rebel [original] shooting CRW).  Secondary is a Canon PowerShot SD200 (obviously shooting JPEG).

We shoot mostly “snapshots”, family events, vacations, etc.  I aspire to do more, but just don’t have time.

My primary machine is a late-2009 iMac.  My working files are internal.  The primary archive and backup/offsite drives are externally connected via FW.  I have an old PowerBook which I occasionally use remotely, but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to cut it anymore moving forward (it’s likely to get replaced with a MacBook Pro at some point though).

As for image “destinations”, regardless of image type (raw or jpeg) there are three primary places:
1. Print 4x6/4x5.3 via “photo lab” for my wife to put in albums
2. Best images (most likely aligning with those which are selected to print) are uploaded to online photo service for sharing
3. Occasionally print at home via consumer grade ink jet printer
4. This goes without saying… Archive/Catalog “most things” (i.e. that which wasn’t rejected/deleted during workflow) for future review/printing/etc

Some other points:
1. I don’t really make use of Photoshop today to do any post-processing above what happens in ACR (via Bridge).
2. Volume of photos is very sporadic.  For family events, there’s a moderate amount.  For vacations, it can be several hundred, up-to 1000 or so.
3. I’ve never had a good feeling of how raw and jpeg handling flow together (or don’t).
4. I’d like to revisit my older images and get them better organized/cataloged.  This includes my pre-HDD Failure images (all jpeg) and my mix of raw/jpeg images since then.
5. Video… I’ve got a stack of non-HD DV tapes I need to work on and with the 7D, I’ve now got video capabilities (which I don’t use today, but I’m sure I will at some point soon)

My challenge and why I’m here today…

My 7D raw format isn’t supported with CS3.  Therefore, I need to do something to address that.  Here are my options as I see it:

1. Convert to DNG on IIP ingestion and continue with my current workflow (except don’t convert to DNG after leaving Bridge)
2. Upgrade to CS5 and continue with my workflow
3. Change to a new application (Lightroom/Aperture) and new workflow

I’m strongly considering option 3 (in particular Lightroom).  Here’s the two options I’m considering for a workflow (and I’m in the process of testing):

Workflow A would be to essentially follow the “Batch Output Workflow” outlined at dpbestflow: http://dpbestflow.org/node/308#workflow

Workflow B is very similar to A.  Where it would likely differ is that I already own (and use) IIP.  I could continue to use IIP to perform the ingest, then just point Lightroom at the landing zone.

I could extend further and catalog with EM2, but I’m inclined to believe that adding EM2 will unnecessarily complicate my workflow.

Finally, the request for help…

First, what have I forgotten to mention that you want to know?
Second, what are your thoughts and recommendations?
Third, how does JPEG (from P&S) fit in this?

Thanks
-Tim

Yep, this is why I'm reviewing the book (for the umteenth time) and looking at dpbestflow... I'm trying to decide what to do with my work flow.  I didn't consider file compatibility with my existing software and therefore, forgot to budget for a software upgrade when I upgraded the camera.  Rather than hash out software/workflow options in this thread, I'm going to start another thread.

It was mentioned in the general topic on dpBesflow (http://thedambook.com/smf/index.php?topic=4412.msg25518#msg25518), but I think this question deserves it's own attention...

After watching the videos, I came to the validation point and really had a head scratcher when it came to running the DNG converter to validate... I thought to myself, when did we get DNG's?  So I watched the videos again.  Nope, no DNG conversion.  As Peter mentioned in the other thread, DNG conversion usually happens right before going to archive.  But that step is clearly omitted from the videos.

I think I understand that there simply should be a DNG conversion step prior to the sync to archive, but I'd like to have Peter revisit this topic and chime in.

Thanks
-Tim
P.S. This is particularly important to me as I've moved up from an original Digital Rebel to a 7D... and my Adobe CS3 is old enough to not support the CR2's my 7D shoots... So I'm looking at modifying my workflow (and possibly software).  So my IIP, Bridge, EM2 workflow might just be done.

I guess I should add that I'm on Mac OS X 10.6.2 with Adobe Bridge CS3.

When launching Bridge today, I was astonished to be met with a message window:

"April Fools Day! Your copy of Snaps has expired.  Please visit www.DAMUseful.com to obtain a current copy.  To stop this message from appearing, remove the script RF_Snapper from your Bridge StartupScripts menu.  You can access this menu by opening the Bridge Preferences and clicking the Reveal button in  the Startup Scripts preferences panel."

I looked at the script itself and found that there is a date verification happening:

        var e = new Date(2009, 11, 31); // expires 3/4/08 (month is 0-based)
        var t = new Date();                             // today's date
        if(t.getTime() > e.getTime())
        {

By changing that 'var e' to be 2010, I'm able to get rid of the warning.  I don't easily see over at damuseful.com that there is/isn't a new version of the script available.

The script header shows the following:

#target bridge
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------
// Snaps.jsx
// Version 04
// December 31, 2007
//

Is there a new version or should I just continue to run with my workaround in place?

-Tim

Please add a jpeg workflow.  This is an area which is lacking from many resources.  I don't intend to have this be a replacement workflow for shooting RAW, but a supplement.  I realize that many people interested in these topics are certainly shooting RAW (as am I for many things), but how many people ALSO have a point-n-shoot that will ONLY capture jpeg?  I know I do.  For me, this ends up being the camera that can drop in my shirt pocket or go in the diaper bag for my wife who's on an outing with the kids.  Problem is, there isn't any (or none that I've found readily incorporated with RAW workflows) information that helps pull in those occasional jpeg images into the workflow.

So, this request is twofold:
1. Please add some supplemental jpeg information
2. Please point me in the right direction on incorporating jpeg into my workflow

I'll spend more time later digesting the entire site, but a couple of points.  On the Planning Overview page, the workflow decision points image is difficult to read (i.e. the font is small in the boxes).  I'm usually fine with a low res image as long as I can expand it by clicking it... can't seem to do that here.  FWIW, I'm on FireFox and run at 1600x1200.

Also, on the "flyouts" (Best Practices -> Color for example), the alternate text pops up and while it's informative information, it obscures the other menu items.  Not sure that there's a good solution for this one.

At first glance, this looks like a great source of information!

-Tim

I've been considering the same iMac as you... but I'm moving from a mini (and it's just not getting the job done for me anymore).

As for your migration, I think the simplest thing would be to take your internal HD #2 and put it in a FW800 external enclosure.  You'll lose a small amount of performance when you move it external (150MBps for your existing internal SATA vs ~800 Mbps [~100MBps] of the external FW800), but my guess is that you won't notice the performance difference.

You'd simply add the new external drive in your FW chain.  This configuration is similar to what I do today...

Internal Drive = OS/Apps/Working files
Ext HD#1 = Photo Library (plus import backups [what you call pre-conversion backup RAW files])
Ext HD#2 = Photo Library Backup (and import backups#2)
Ext HD#3 = Rotated OS/Apps/Working backup drive (rotate 3 drives periodically)
Ext HD#4 = Other large files (movies, etc) that is rarely connected

I'm also interested in opinions of system performance as related to the iMac... I'll not hijack this thread with my "which system to get" query ;-), but I'd be interested in comparisons of the following systems (obviously as they relate to photography operations):

iMac late-2009 lineup (across all CPU options)
Mac Pro early 2009 lineup
MacBook Pro mid 2009 lineup

-Tim

I'm working through how to make use of the DAM system Peter presented in the book and I stumbled while processing my last batch of images.  During the Rate/Adjust step, I cropped a few images.  Too bad for me I was half asleep and couldn't do math, but I think there's a larger concept to gain from this.  I accidentally used a 3 to 4 (3:4) ratio instead of a 2 to 3 (2:3).   I usually use a 2:3 since my images are destine for 4x6 printing 99% of the time.  It wasn't until I completed my entire workflow and actually went to print one of these images that I realized my mistake. (I.e. the workflow is complete for this batch as far as I'm concerned).

So my question/dilema is how do I go back and fix my cropping mistake?  An alternate question is what if I have that ratio on an image, but decide I want to print to a different size (5x7, 8x10, etc)?

Do I need to go back to the RAW/sidecar or work from the DNG, etc.

As for what I HAVE tried...
1. Open DNG in ACR.
2. Fix crop
3. Click DONE.
4. Choose to "Rebuild Item" in iView

I then did another "export to jpg", but that didn't seem to take from iView's perspective.  The DNG seems to be just fine.

TIA and please feel free to tell me to go RTFM if I've missed this somewhere... Like I said, I'm learning.

-Tim

Bill,

Thanks for your input.  You helped me think in a new light... That is, be sure I know what I'm looking at and order the right product.  I did some researching and found the following MAC product numbers which I used for price comparisons:

19500007 - Creative Suite 3 Design Premium
19400084 - Photoshop CS3 Extended
13102498 - Photoshop CS3

From there, choose your favorite search engine and pick the "best" merchant based on your feelings.  I found it interesting that PS Extended was actually cheaper than PS itself.  And I did find some pretty good deals for CS3 Design Premium which is what I ultimately ordered.

Thanks again.
-Tim

I'll keep this topic simple...

What's the best resource for purchasing Photoshop?  I'm not necessarily looking for cheapest, but a good balance of cost/service/reliability is important.

I'm not wild about the $649 price direct from Adobe, but I do need to purchase it somewhere.

I'm looking for PS CS3 for Mac.  Not interested in Extended unless that's the best deal to be had.

Also, if someone has a good resource for CS2, then I'd be able to get an upgrade to CS3.

TIA
-Tim

P.S. I've searched froogle.com and it's difficult to sort out the upgrades/volume licensing/windows/mac/... So I'm turning to experts here.