I'm very surprised nobody mentioned Raw Power, by https://gentlemencoders.com
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Replacing Adobe products with Photos + add-ons
- Thread starter gwerhart0800
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I too would like to get away from Adobe once and for all. Not a fan of cloud subscriptions or storing all of my images (along with other data) there either.
I’m still using LR 6 (with the Nik plugins) and evaluated Luminar for a while this far. Still considering other options.
I’m still using LR 6 (with the Nik plugins) and evaluated Luminar for a while this far. Still considering other options.
I have Raw Power and do use it occasionally, but so far have found that DXO does pretty much what I want and need so I usually just go with it
Would DXO PhotoLab users be willing to share a bit more about your workflow. Are you using Apple Photos as a base DAM and editing with DXO and Nik, and then saving changes back to Photos?
Are you working with RAW files?
Are you working from a Mac or iPad?
TIA
I do not use Apple Photos. I also do not use the Cloud. Everything is processed and stored locally. I actually don't have any sort of formal DAM, have more-or-less established my own system and hierarchy. DXO Photolab 3 does offer the ability to keyword items as you're processing them and I started off doing that but somewhere along the line stopped and never got back into the habit again.
While I shoot photos occasionally with my iPhone I do not process any images on the iPhone itself, nor do I process any on my 12.9 iPad. I prefer to edit my images on my 15" 2018 MBP which is plugged into a 24" LG Thunderbolt 3 monitor.
My workflow is basically: Shoot the images with my Sony A7R IV. Always in RAW. Stick the SD card into the SD card reader which is plugged into the monitor, copy the files to the desktop, creating a new folder. I then change the name of the folder, as the folder name from the camera doesn't mean much, and start with the date and then I add a descriptive name, which works well if I've been shooting just one type of subject, such as flowers or geese or ducks, whatever. So the folder would have a name such as "05/29/2020 Lilies".
I then open up DXO Photolab 3 and in the list navigate to the current folder I want to edit, and the app brings them up so I can view the images as somewhat large thumbnails. I sometimes start right from the beginning and look at each item in larger view and decide about whether or not it is worth editing, but sometimes I already know that I'm especially excited about an image shot further into the series, so I look for that one first. I then begin to edit....
Sometimes I use NIK but much of the time I don't. When I see an image that I think will look better in B&W I'll often process it in color first, send that version to the desktop, and then download Silver EFEX and experiment with that, process the results that please me most, and send that completed image to the desktop as well.
Once I've finished any image to my satisfaction I send it back to the original folder which is still on the desktop. After I have finished my editing session I go into that folder and pull out the newly-processed jpegs. If I am doing a whole bunch of images all related to the same subject and from the same shooting session I will set up a new destination folder for those to go to on the desktop. If I've only processed a handful I don't bother with that. Sometimes I will add a finishing touch by running Topaz Sharpen AI and/or will take an image or two into Luminar 3 to use their excellent "Erase" tool, which I like better than the one available in DXO Photolab 3. Once everything is done, I usually rename the image to something reasonably meaningful and descriptive rather than keeping the original DSC file number.
Last step is to then stick the completely processed images into a folder in my Pictures folder, appropriately named "Edited Images") and copy each also into any other folder into which it might need to live (I am doing a 52 Weeks project so have a folder for each week so far). Once all that is done, I immediately plug in my external SSD and copy all the images to the folders in that device, too. At this point is where I also move the original folder of unprocessed RAW images off the desktop and into the SSD for safekeeping. Once everything is updated on the SSD I eventually copy it all to a second SSD and a third. (One of these is destined to go to the bank safety deposit box, which I do once a month, where I swap out the one which is currently in the box for the one I've just updated.) At the end of the year the whole works is then copied to the archival HDD.
Either then or at some point along the way I also will also insert the SD card back into the camera and format the card so that it is ready for my next shooting session. If I am just shooting casually around home I use a smaller-capacity SD card than I do if I'm going out on a planned shooting expedition, and in that case prior to going out I will prepare the camera by putting in a much larger-capacity SD card and carrying a couple extra ones with me. Also usually prior to going out shooting around home I check the battery level, too, and swap batteries if need be so that I have plenty of battery power in the one in the camera plus a couple of extra fresh batteries. Even when just walking around the neighborhood I usually carry an extra battery and extra memory card, though.
Hope some of this is helpful!
While I shoot photos occasionally with my iPhone I do not process any images on the iPhone itself, nor do I process any on my 12.9 iPad. I prefer to edit my images on my 15" 2018 MBP which is plugged into a 24" LG Thunderbolt 3 monitor.
My workflow is basically: Shoot the images with my Sony A7R IV. Always in RAW. Stick the SD card into the SD card reader which is plugged into the monitor, copy the files to the desktop, creating a new folder. I then change the name of the folder, as the folder name from the camera doesn't mean much, and start with the date and then I add a descriptive name, which works well if I've been shooting just one type of subject, such as flowers or geese or ducks, whatever. So the folder would have a name such as "05/29/2020 Lilies".
I then open up DXO Photolab 3 and in the list navigate to the current folder I want to edit, and the app brings them up so I can view the images as somewhat large thumbnails. I sometimes start right from the beginning and look at each item in larger view and decide about whether or not it is worth editing, but sometimes I already know that I'm especially excited about an image shot further into the series, so I look for that one first. I then begin to edit....
Sometimes I use NIK but much of the time I don't. When I see an image that I think will look better in B&W I'll often process it in color first, send that version to the desktop, and then download Silver EFEX and experiment with that, process the results that please me most, and send that completed image to the desktop as well.
Once I've finished any image to my satisfaction I send it back to the original folder which is still on the desktop. After I have finished my editing session I go into that folder and pull out the newly-processed jpegs. If I am doing a whole bunch of images all related to the same subject and from the same shooting session I will set up a new destination folder for those to go to on the desktop. If I've only processed a handful I don't bother with that. Sometimes I will add a finishing touch by running Topaz Sharpen AI and/or will take an image or two into Luminar 3 to use their excellent "Erase" tool, which I like better than the one available in DXO Photolab 3. Once everything is done, I usually rename the image to something reasonably meaningful and descriptive rather than keeping the original DSC file number.
Last step is to then stick the completely processed images into a folder in my Pictures folder, appropriately named "Edited Images") and copy each also into any other folder into which it might need to live (I am doing a 52 Weeks project so have a folder for each week so far). Once all that is done, I immediately plug in my external SSD and copy all the images to the folders in that device, too. At this point is where I also move the original folder of unprocessed RAW images off the desktop and into the SSD for safekeeping. Once everything is updated on the SSD I eventually copy it all to a second SSD and a third. (One of these is destined to go to the bank safety deposit box, which I do once a month, where I swap out the one which is currently in the box for the one I've just updated.) At the end of the year the whole works is then copied to the archival HDD.
Either then or at some point along the way I also will also insert the SD card back into the camera and format the card so that it is ready for my next shooting session. If I am just shooting casually around home I use a smaller-capacity SD card than I do if I'm going out on a planned shooting expedition, and in that case prior to going out I will prepare the camera by putting in a much larger-capacity SD card and carrying a couple extra ones with me. Also usually prior to going out shooting around home I check the battery level, too, and swap batteries if need be so that I have plenty of battery power in the one in the camera plus a couple of extra fresh batteries. Even when just walking around the neighborhood I usually carry an extra battery and extra memory card, though.
Hope some of this is helpful!
I didn't get away from Adobe, but I did avoid their subscriptions. I switched to Photoshop Elements 8 in 2009. With a couple of free plugins it does everything I needed it to in my work as a full time freelance photographer. I think it cost $69 and I still use it today. It is not upgradable to process the latest RAW files so I run them through the free Adobe converter or process them in Canon Digital Photo Professional 4. It is one of the reason I stopped upgrading at Mojave, Elements 8 is a 32-bit app. The latest is Photoshop Elements 2020 a 64-bit app that can be bought for $79 on sale.
I have tried Affinity and really like it, but having to save files in their proprietary format, it not having a grading system for image content (setting a color code for the best images, second best, etc. like you can in photoshop, photomechanic, lightroom, etc) kills it for me.
I have tried Affinity and really like it, but having to save files in their proprietary format, it not having a grading system for image content (setting a color code for the best images, second best, etc. like you can in photoshop, photomechanic, lightroom, etc) kills it for me.
gwerhart0800 I moved to Lightroom from photos about 2 years ago, and whilst I love it, I do wonder if I could simplify my life by using photos as the primary catalog, I’d lose the joy of LR classic publishers , but have a simplified view for photos, Live Photo’s, videos and portraits. All the editing can be handled by external editors, if I’m honest most (80% ) of my day to day photos just get cropped, wb adjust.
my current stumbling blocks are
my current stumbling blocks are
- is can photos handle 20k -> 50k libraries
- can keywords replace star ratings.
- how do I handle my current 1 stars, photos I won’t delete but done export anywhere (normally stacked) do I hide? Or just let photos handle it
I currently have slightly more than 26k photos in my Photos library, so it does not seem to have any issue with libraries of that size. You can add keywords and descriptions from a Mac, but you are limited to just "star" ratings from an iPad or iPhone. (Something that I wish they would fix!) I don't use the "star" rating system, so I can't comment on that.
After my experiments, I find myself doing most of my editing in Luminar 4. I was not a hard core editing fanatic when I was using LR/PS, so that has carried over. I like Luminar's AI capabilities and find that I get the kind of look I want without as much time playing around. Because of the virus, I have not be out to shoot much, so my editing has been minimal lately.
After my experiments, I find myself doing most of my editing in Luminar 4. I was not a hard core editing fanatic when I was using LR/PS, so that has carried over. I like Luminar's AI capabilities and find that I get the kind of look I want without as much time playing around. Because of the virus, I have not be out to shoot much, so my editing has been minimal lately.
I have 46k images in my photos library (50% RAW) converted from my old Aperture library. Once the library synced to iCloud and across my devices (I do keep a local backup on my iMac), it has been flawless. Photos seems to have no issue managing a large library. I am just missing my editing tolls and Nik plus ins from Aperture.
Raw Power can access the Photos library directly, so you can do batch processing etc. just as in Lightroom while it is attached straight to your iPhoto cloud and keeps albums and such stuff. Extremely useful!
Just a head's up, the DXO Nik suite works seamlessly with Apple Photos now. I am converting my large Aperture libraries over to Photos now, and it works well. Also, it is on sale now until 9/20 for $99, from $149. This is an EISA special.
This alone motivated me to purchase Raw Pawer (not mentioning other benefits mostly around RAW highlights processing). As far as I know this is the only solution for batch processing in Photos library. I wish Photos would add this.
Re questions from IsItJeremy
- is can photos handle 20k -> 50k libraries
- can keywords replace star ratings.
- how do I handle my current 1 stars, photos I won’t delete but done export anywhere (normally stacked) do I hide? Or just let photos handle it
2. I'm using keywords effectively - not really missing star rating, limitation - you need Mac version to set keywords
3. Your decision. Each time I import photos I review them and delete ~70% of them. The rest I add star-keyword ratings for the best and edit them if needed. I use keyword for building shared albums, slideshow or exports. Not touching the others not rated.
There are few compromises with Photo, but if you are casual enthusiast and not earning on photos it is a good solution.
DAM part & system wide integration of Photos is the best IMO - there is no good competition in apple ecosystem.
For editing you have plenty of plugins so casual needs are covered.
I'm using Photos few year now after I've migrated from Aperture.
Raw Power is quite usable as a stand alone now. It has some oddities (why Finder tags instead of keywords? sort of useless for photos), and sidecar storage in separate folder), but still. The addition of LUTs makes it very powerful; that's something Photos can't get anywhere near. You can do interesting stuff with the depth effect from dual camera iPhone photos too. But I'd still want Bridge or something for the keywords, metadata, location info, etc.
I am about to make the same move. I have been steadily culling down my 200,000 image, 2.2tb Aperture library. Down to just about above 100k now. Glad to hear it can handle the size. I did a quick test with Lightroom and one import, and based on that it would take months to import. Lightroom may have kept much of the metadata and functionality, but it moved at an insanely sluggish pace. Damn Apple for killing off one of the best professional apps they have ever made. I just wish Photos was a bit more robust, but since all of my post work goes through the NIK suite and then to a lesser degree photoshop I am OK muddling through with less. I remain hopeful Apple will continue to bolster Photos.
In the old days I save everything and then purged off to smaller libraries for old material. Now I will try and keep my library hovering around the 100k mage mark and purge off junk images more ruthlessly.