mannys Posted October 18, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi everyone, Set me straight. With the files from the M8, what should be the workflow to get the "best" images from the Leica camera/lenses? Open up the files on C1 LE as DNG... then what, do complete post-processing in C1, or is it advisable to move the opened DNG/RAW files afterwards into Photoshop if one is more familiar with PS? Please expand on this, as I know I haven't asked enough. I don't know what it is I don't know! Thanks a bunch! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 18, 2007 Posted October 18, 2007 Hi mannys, Take a look here So what is the "best" workflow for the M8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Morten Grathe Posted October 18, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 18, 2007 Shoot RAW and process the images in a Raw-converter. Which on you choose depends on personal taste. I like Lightroom, and it finishes most of my files for enduse. If I want a special effect I use Photoshop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted October 18, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 18, 2007 You really can't do COMPLETE post processing in C1. Open the file, make any color balance, sharpness and exposure compensations you prefer, and then process the image into a TIFF or JPEG that opens in your favorite photo editing program. As a rule I try to get the image as close to what I intend to print within C1, and only use Photoshop for the changes I could not make in C1, like spotting, burn, dodge etc. Best wishes Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted October 18, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 18, 2007 It's a learning curve, and will differ if you're delivering to press, inkjet print, web etc. Like for others, Lightroom does the trick for me until printing (to inkjet) - then I use CS3 for colour and QTRgui for B&W (REALLY recommend this...) Worth it when you get there... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted October 18, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 18, 2007 I've done some test between C1 LE and LR/Bridge>ACR 4.2. I find that C1 with the standard Leica M8 IR profile give me the best skin tones and color, not that you couldn't get good color from LR/Bridge>ACR but it's just easier using C1 as the first step. I make any exposure and WB adjustments in C1 then process them into Tiff's. If I open them in PS for more adjustments I first covert them to PSD format (PSD's use less hard drive space if you add layers to the image). I haven't decided yet to get rid of the Tiff or keep it after Saving As PSD so for now I keep it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted October 18, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 18, 2007 Note that when you move from tiff to CS3 that you can have CS3 open the file in ACR if you prefer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted October 18, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) You really can't do COMPLETE post processing in C1. {snipped} I tend to agree with Dan, but it really does depend on your workflow. I know a number of people I respect who try to use PS as little as possible (meaning, not at all most of the time), and simply print the results right from C1--> RIP. You do need a print engine of some kind, unless you're going straight to the web. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 18, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 18, 2007 I tend to agree with Dan, but it really does depend on your workflow. I know a number of people I respect who try to use PS as little as possible (meaning, not at all most of the time), and simply print the results right from C1--> RIP. You do need a print engine of some kind, unless you're going straight to the web. I am doing exactly as Jamie suggests, C1-LE V.4 straight to Image Print, unless I need to spot the image and the like. I have already posted what a miracle IP is. I am now trying to decide when to move to C1-Pro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pemayeux Posted October 18, 2007 Share #9 Posted October 18, 2007 For those that convert in C1 and move the tiff or jpeg to PS, do you leave the M8 profile embeded once in PS or do you change it to another color space like Adobe RGB or ProPhoto? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted October 18, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 18, 2007 I am doing exactly as Jamie suggests, C1-LE V.4 straight to Image Print, unless I need to spot the image and the like. I have already posted what a miracle IP is. I am now trying to decide when to move to C1-Pro. Have you decided that v4 is the way to go? A lot of postings have suggested the beta's images were worse than 3.7.7. I also didn't much like the scattering of large files all over the place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted October 18, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 18, 2007 For those that convert in C1 and move the tiff or jpeg to PS, do you leave the M8 profile embeded once in PS or do you change it to another color space like Adobe RGB or ProPhoto? I export/develop to ARGB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 18, 2007 Share #12 Posted October 18, 2007 Have you decided that v4 is the way to go? A lot of postings have suggested the beta's images were worse than 3.7.7. I also didn't much like the scattering of large files all over the place. Geroge, I like what I see in V4. I like the controls, a lot. The proliferation of files *is* annoying. It becomes part of the backup process, as well, so I have lots of copies of these files. I hope this part gets better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfarkas Posted October 19, 2007 Share #13 Posted October 19, 2007 I like that the C1 metadata travels with the files in v4b. This way I can use a portable drive to backup my files in the field (in my case the Epson P-5000), connect to my laptop (which stinks with regards to color accuracy), go through the DNGs in C1, make any small edits or ratings, then when I get home or to the studio, connect the same portable drive to my workstation with gorgeous Eizo display and make any small tweaks necessary. Then, when all is said and done, I can backup the whole folder and everything is taken care of in one step. I think this is actually a nice feature. Call me crazy. I also make every attempt to do 90+% of my edits in C1. I output directly to unscaled JPG in sRGB and print whatever size I desire on photographic paper. No sharpening, no scaling, no fuss. I use the same files to print 20x30 that I use for 4x6, which are the native camera resolution. Simple is good. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsjxyz Posted October 19, 2007 Share #14 Posted October 19, 2007 I am using iPhoto, now I can edit also the DNG in iPhoto in Mac. jsj Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelikan1931 Posted October 21, 2007 Share #15 Posted October 21, 2007 after C1 conversion from DNG to Jpeg, I use Photoshop CS to resize for upload to flickr, but the colour comes out washed/flat sometimes, anyone knows why? I know I have have lost something during the conversion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted October 21, 2007 Share #16 Posted October 21, 2007 after C1 conversion from DNG to Jpeg, I use Photoshop CS to resize for upload to flickr, but the colour comes out washed/flat sometimes, anyone knows why? I know I have have lost something during the conversion. I don't have an answer for you on the uploads, but regarding converting to JPEG in C1. I've found that some of the strange anomalies that we have been blaming on the M8 (strange lines in the midde of the frame, cross hatch patterns and highlight artifacts) only occur when converting to JPEG. When I converted the same image to TIFF those issues went away. I've stopped using JPEG on C1 for that reason. Anyone else notice this also? Best wishes Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted October 21, 2007 Share #17 Posted October 21, 2007 I would not convert to JPEG until the last step in the workflow. JPEG is 8 bit. It is much better to stay in 16 bit, such as TIFF, for editing. I too use C1 to PS to print as my workflow. C1 seems to have the best M8 profile. I hate that C1 saves files all over the place that I'ld rather not save at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Ortego Posted October 21, 2007 Share #18 Posted October 21, 2007 I’m new, so I find this thread quite interesting. The consensus so far, is C1. Likewise, I see Aperture isn’t referenced as a possibility so I was wondering why. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted October 21, 2007 Share #19 Posted October 21, 2007 I would not convert to JPEG until the last step in the workflow. JPEG is 8 bit. It is much better to stay in 16 bit, such as TIFF, for editing. I too use C1 to PS to print as my workflow. C1 seems to have the best M8 profile. I hate that C1 saves files all over the place that I'ld rather not save at all. Don, is there an advantage to converting to JPEG at the print stage? I've been printing from TIFF files. Best wishes Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted October 21, 2007 Share #20 Posted October 21, 2007 The use of JPEG is to get to small file sizes for sharing or for those with small hard drives. It is not intended for high performance use. So, print directly from TIFF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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