Using BreezeBrowser and Capture One together

[pklein]

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I'm slowly editing about 650 M8 files I took in Yellowstone National Park, whittling them down to a much smaller number I will post and an even smaller number I will print. I actually like Capture One for RAW conversion, especially for the file quality and detail I get. But I have become painfully aware that it is not at heart an organizing program.

 

I'm seriously considering adding BreezeBrowser to my workflow as an organizer. It seems to be a favorite here. I found Sean Reid's description of his workflow in his "Epson RD-1 Long-Term" review on his (subscription) site http://www.reidreviews.com, which involves using both Capture One and BreezeBrowser.

 

It seems like one organizes in BreezeBrowser (herinafter BB) and convert in Capture One LE (C1). Sean, if you're around, you mention a rough, wholesale convert to Jpeg step with C1, followed by editing in BB, followed by a more fine-tuned conversion of the "keepers" in C1.

 

Questions for Sean, or anyone else using the C1/BB combination. Sorry if these are "for dummies" questions, C1's help file is sometimes kind of opaque, and I've learned C1 pretty much by the seat of the pants.

 

1. Does organizing images involve moving the keepers into a new folder, or using some kind of tagging which C1 can pick up? Please describe how you use the two programs together.

 

Here's what I'm doing now: I've got about 650 files on 4 cards, so I have a folder called Yellowstone with sub folders 1, 2, 3, and 4 for each card. I've created JPGs (some already done in-camera and some via Quick Proof). I've been looking through the JPG files in another program (VuePrint is my default viewer), writing down the file numbers of the best files, with the idea of eventually moving them to a folder called Best, and then doing the fine-tuned C1 conversions. I've also noticed a function in C1 called the "Move To" collection, is this something I could use to tag my keepers and move the keepers into the Best folder?

 

2. Does BB still need to have initial JPG files created for it before it can do it's thing? When tagging and moving, is it smart enough to move both a DNG and JPG of the same name together? There is some mention in he docs of "linked" JPG/RAW files, and it can read DNG now.

 

3. Is the beta of C1 v. 4.0 worth using presently? I'm used to v. 3.7, and I don't have a lot of spare time. However, if some of the new features (such as highlight and shadow recovery) are working well and add value, I might try it).

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

--Peter

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[sean_reid]

BB Pro can tag RAW files, move them around, etc. whether or not the RAW files each have an associated JPEG. But, of course, without that JPEG, the program can only use the embedded thumbnails to show the picture.

 

I tag edits in BB Pro using either "Control G" or the up arrow key (down key untags). I then move or copy the edits to a new folder called "edits" and process them in C1. The command I use is simply "only select tagged". Unless told to do otherwise, BB Pro will move or copy not only the selected RAW files but also the associated JPEGs. When I'm in C1, I simply open that "edits" folder.

 

This is all much easier than writing down file numbers. I think BB Pro has a demo version and I'd recommend trying it. I've used the program constantly for many years now.

 

I haven't tried C1 4 yet.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[scott kirkpatrick]

3. Is the beta of C1 v. 4.0 worth using presently? I'm used to v. 3.7, and I don't have a lot of spare time. However, if some of the new features (such as highlight and shadow recovery) are working well and add value, I might try it).

 

I shoot 2-6 GB/month, which is probably well below Sean's or most other working photographers' take, all raw, and process all of it in C1 3.7.7 Pro. I have tried 4.0, and like the new highlight and shadow controls, but there is one killer item that 4.0 doesn't do right yet. In 3.7, when I log the program off it cleans up all the preview files made in the current session. In 4.0, there doesn't appear to be a clean-up control, and what's worse, it puts the previews into each directory that I am editing, rather than into a single file where I could manage storage manually. I like the idea that the editing settings that I arrived at are with the raw files for archiving convenience, but can't see the value of putting the previews there.

Another annoyance is that generic profiles, like the JFI set, don't work. Profiles appear to have to be renamed so that their names start with a camera name, and they are called up when that camera is in use.

 

 

The image quality in 4.0 seems to be as good as in 3.7, or even better, and that means the best that is available for the M8 right now. The user interface is changed in ways which will require better docs or extensive video viewing before i can recover all the things that I am currently used to doing. So I can wait for the beta upgrade that is supposed to be coming in the next month before I start using it fulltime.

 

scott

[pklein]

Thanks, Sean and Scott. Sounds like I'll wait on the C1 beta, and BreezeBrowser sounds like it's well worth trying and probably keeping.

 

--Peter

[Jamie Roberts]

BB Pro can tag RAW files, move them around, etc. whether or not the RAW files each have an associated JPEG. But, of course, without that JPEG, the program can only use the embedded thumbnails to show the picture.

 

I tag edits in BB Pro using either "Control G" or the up arrow key (down key untags). I then move or copy the edits to a new folder called "edits" and process them in C1. The command I use is simply "only select tagged". Unless told to do otherwise, BB Pro will move or copy not only the selected RAW files but also the associated JPEGs. When I'm in C1, I simply open that "edits" folder.

{snipped}

 

I'm with Sean on this, and I've always used Breezebrowser to do an initial cut for processing RAWs. I'm happy that they have JPEG/DNG support there for the M8, too... it makes proofing very quick.

 

It's not image management software, but it is fabulous at what it does. The ability to change the internal time stamp on an image (or a set of images) is invaluable when you're shooting an event with 3 cameras and all their clocks are "not quite right."

[Paul_S]

I have used the Downloader Pro/Breeze Browser Pro (DP/BB) combo on Windows, before I switched to Mac. Now, on the Mac I use Photo Mechanic (PM) which fully replaces the combo mentioned. There is a Windows version of PM too. I think BB is great software but I am more thrilled now about PM. Anyhow, both are good.

The funny thing is that I as a C1 Pro user do the tagging and selecting always in C1, not in PM (or BB in the past). C1 has apparently sufficient options for me.

 

Since 2 weeks I use C1 4 beta now on a daily basis, and compared it to C1 3.7.7 LE and Pro (mostly on Mac, sometimes Win also). Regarding tagging and selecting is C1 3.7.7 LE limited to tag/untag and the Move To folder (for the Best or Keepers). C1 3.7.7 Pro has 1 to 5 rating or 3 colors (good-medium-bad) and the Move To folder. C1 4 beta has 5 star plus the ability to select and sort on rating. It includes the Move To folder option as well.

If you like quick previews, C1 has a Quick Proof (3.x) or Web Contact Sheet (4 beta) option.

 

C1 4 beta has a nice number of new options, both for workflow as well as for adjustment. Image quality has been improved. It is still a beta however, and you should not use it for serious work (I don't have serious work, as you may understand )

Enjoy using BB, it is great software, but what you described can be done within C1 as well, IMHO.

[sean_reid]

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The ability to change the internal time stamp on an image (or a set of images) is invaluable when you're shooting an event with 3 cameras and all their clocks are "not quite right."

 

Amen, amen on that point especially. I would be lost without BB Pro and that's one feature I've also used several times.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[pklein]

Veni, vidi, downloadi. Likee.

 

BB is great! For just a couple of dozen photos, C1's LE's own tagging abilities can be used very conveniently. But BB is really facile and fast with viewing, tagging and moving, and it's a better choice for me for a large number of files. I especially like the ability to tag several files and run them as a slide show, which I can view until something clicks and I know which ones are the good ones.

 

The view with large icons (rather than the default size) is basically a quick, fast contact sheet that you can use with the tagging function, doing into Main View if I need more detail.

 

I just used BB to cull 650 photos from Yellowstone down to about 125 in one evening. I doubt I could have done it that fast in C1 alone.

 

Oh well, there goes another 70 bucks. . . Thanks, guys, you've cost me a little money, but saved me a lot of time.

 

--Peter

[sean_reid]

For those who are interested, let me give Chris Breeze the plug that he deserves:

 

Breeze Systems - Digital Camera Workflow Software: Browser, Downloader, Canon Remote Capture

 

My wife (also a professional photographer) and I use BB Pro constantly.

 

BTW, Chris has been responsive to the needs of DRF photographers. I got him early RAW files from both the R-D1 and the M8 and he implemented support quickly.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Veni, vidi, downloadi. Likee.

 

BB is great! For just a couple of dozen photos, C1's LE's own tagging abilities can be used very conveniently. But BB is really facile and fast with viewing, tagging and moving, and it's a better choice for me for a large number of files. I especially like the ability to tag several files and run them as a slide show, which I can view until something clicks and I know which ones are the good ones.

 

The view with large icons (rather than the default size) is basically a quick, fast contact sheet that you can use with the tagging function, doing into Main View if I need more detail.

 

I just used BB to cull 650 photos from Yellowstone down to about 125 in one evening. I doubt I could have done it that fast in C1 alone.

 

Oh well, there goes another 70 bucks. . . Thanks, guys, you've cost me a little money, but saved me a lot of time.

 

--Peter

 

A couple tips:

 

Control W toggles between BW and color - very useful

Control B shows the file at full size with a hand for moving it around

Control D opens the file directly into Photoshop (if that is set as one's default image program)

Up arrow key tags, down untags

 

It's groovy.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean