JPG clarification, my workflow, Quality, Apple's One to One.
(iPhoto keeps two copies of images, the unaltered original, and a jpg version that includes any editing changes you've made.)
I believe that iPhoto keeps the original and a list of the changes that you have made to the photo, but it isn't actually made into a jpg until you export it. This is important: If you were to make a jpg in another program, say Photoshop or Photoshop Express, and then return several times to edit it, the quality of the image would degrade, because each time you save a jpg it compresses the image. (I know that this is how Aperture works -- original and list of changes, and would presume that iPhoto is the same way. I'm not familiar with Lightroom, but would guess that it operates the same way. But, then, I've been wrong before.
)
As far as workflow: Many of us work in iPhoto, Aperture or Lightroom for file organization and simple editing. Photoshop is very expensive, and has a steep learning curve. Photoshop Express doesn't have all the bells and whistles. Years ago I used Photoshop, and loved it. Now I have PS Express ... it works for what I want it to do. (Note, however: I am not a professional photographer, and I'm new to (D)SLR's.)
Most of us avoid jpgs for editing. Some offset printers require jpgs, and they do work well for use on the web. If we need a jpg, it's created as the final step, saving our raw and/or tiff files in case further editing is needed.
Before I clear my chip, I copy the files to my harddrive. (1st copy.) Before I reformat my memory card, I copy them to a CD or DVD. (2nd copy) I have a time capsule, so they are backed up there. (3rd copy). Then I bring them into Aperture. (4th copy) I have a lot of photos (for a non-professional), and still have plenty of space on my harddrive. Eventually I'll change this process, but it works for now.
There are many different ways to organize your photos. Some do it all by date. Some do it all by subject. I find a combination of broad topics then date works best for me. But, my method is always evolving.
In Aperture, I have several main folders, and then subfolders within that. I was married not too long ago, so I have a folder for "His Family" and one for "Her Family." A folder for "Us" (which has non-specific events). A folder for "Special Days/Trips." And ones for "Misc." and "Working files."
In the families folders, I have a subfolder for each year, and then a project for each event, usually a holiday. In "Us," I have some "everyday" photos: Walk at Waukewan Park, for example, in their own project. I also have two subfolders: one for each of us. In Special Days, I have a subfolder for our wedding, our honeymoon, and several vacations. "Misc." has subfolders for items I tend to photograph regularly: Landscapes (local, not part of special trips), Squirrels, Birds and Our House. (Our house is further broken down into various construction projects, snow storms and flowers in the yard.).
ALL of my subfolders, and eventually all of my photos, are labeled with the date, in the format of YYMMDD +Period+description + index number. If I want a better description, it always goes after the index number.
I organize my photos in the order I want them, (usually in the order they were shot), and then use Aperture to rename the versions with index as a Batch Change. Sometimes after that I will go in and manually add a description after the index number: "110321.Grand Cayman 28 - Sting Ray City" or "101225.Christmas 3 - Baby Bump!" (For sorting purposes, I never interfere with anything before the index number.)
My hierarchy might look like this:
1. Folder: "Special Days+Trips"
2. Subfolder: "110318.Cruise"
3. Project: "110321.Cruise.Monday -Grand Cayman"
4. File: "110321.Grand Cayman 12" or
4. File: "110321.Grand Cayman 28 - Sting Ray City"
I organize my photos in the order I want them, (usually in the order they were shot), and then use Aperture to rename the versions with index as a Batch Change. Sometimes after that I will go in and manually add a description after the index number: "110321.Grand Cayman 58 - Sting Ray City" or "101225.Christmas 23 - Mary's Engagement Ring!"
Originally Posted by GrantMeThePower:
Right now i typically shoot JPG, plug in my SD card, copy to a folder and then use picasa and gimp as they are free programs. I dont feel, however, like i'm getting much out of them or getting the quality that i ought to.
I haven't used Picasa or Gimp, but you probably get what you pay for! (Isn't Picasa mostly for sharing photos?) The secret to quality images, of course, isn't in the post-processing programs, it is, first and foremost, in the skill of the photographer, and then in the skill of the person doing the photo editing.
One last piece of advice: If you bought your Mac from an Apple store, it's well worth the $99 to get Apple's One to One -- a year of personalized training on the OS as well as many of the Mac apps, which would make the transition to Mac's much easier. You go for an hour at a time, and can schedule several classes a week if you want. Work on what you want to work on, and at your own speed. (I've used a Mac since forever, and have even taught seminars at the local collage using them, so I thought I knew most of what there was to know. I purchased the One to One for my Dear Spouse -- and found, as I tagged along, that I learned a bunch of tricks, too!) (And for newbies to DSLR, they have a segment on using your camera, too!)
I hope all this helps!
