Work Flow methods...please post your thoughts and suggestions

Hi,
Here is my workflow method from input to output. Please post any
comments , or suggestions on how this can be improved upon, and/or a
method that is best suited for digital imaging. There is not a lot of
info on this, as it seems different software companies tend not to
promote another company's software in the work flow process.

OS is Windows XP...so some progs may not apply for Mac users:

scans (mostly slide film) with Dimage Dual Scan IV (adobe RGB
profiled) > Adobe Photoshop CS ( dust scratch removal, crops, special
fx, color and lighting adjustments) > Qimage ( for expanding image
quality using better interpolation methods than Photoshop) >Adobe
Photoshop 'Neat Image' plugin to remove noise > 'Focalblade' plugin
for sharpening > Image Print (for outputting to my Epson 2200
printer)better ICC paper profiles than epson provided ones

What's your thoughts, suggestions, YOUR workflowchart etc...

Thx
Len

 

General flow

Scan at max res with or without ICE as reqiuired -> TIF
Crop
Levels / contrast / color adjustments
USM (custom settings, image by image)
Save as master TIF
Repeat
Reload master
Resize down to desired size (print, web, e-mail)
USM (custom setings for each image size)
Save as (TIF/JPG)
Print (if req'd)
Close
Until done with that image

Backup

The use of other packages (Neat Image, etc would go into the flow where needed
prior to printing and/or archival. Color profiling is a "maintenance" task, not
a workflow task, IMO.

Cheers,
Alan

 

CF card to computer via "Downloader pro" (Breeze systems) where it is
put in a "RAW Master" file folder. Images are then copied into a
second folder called "WORKFILE MASTER" (now I have a working copy and
a safe backup copy). Images are culled in "WORKFILE MASTER" and the
crap deleted (I still have everything in "RAW Master" in case I change
my mind). Once the culling is done the "WORKFILE MASTER" folder
contents are copied into a folder called "ARCHIVES" and a subfolder
with a descriptive name. Inside that descriptive name are two folders
"RAW" and "WORKING". I place a copy of the images in each of the
folders (RAW being my digital negatives and WORKING to work on at my
leisure). I then synchronize my "ARCHIVES" folder with my external
HDD so that I have a backup of everything. I then can go back and
clear out "RAW MASTER" and "WORKFILE MASTER" for the next batch.

I now have a culled set of images in 4 locations (2 physically
separate locations) in case something screws up.

After all of that is done my image processing workflow is highly
dependant on the individual images but my common tools are Photoshop
CS, assorted plug-ins and actions, and occasionally output via an HP
photosmart 7960


Drifter
"I've been here, I've been there..."