Photo processing question

[DuckDogDr]

Actually managed some good photos this week while diving .
I was shooting in RAW format.

So once I go through crop etc , what format should I save in and how do you add copyright / signature to photo?

 

[Sunkmanitou]

Actually managed some good photos this week while diving .
I was shooting in RAW format.

So once I go through crop etc , what format should I save in and how do you add copyright / signature to photo?

I would recommend always keeping it in raw format until you want to print or publish online. At that time convert to JPG and save a copy, keeping the original RAW. For adding watermark there are extensions (plugins) available in Photoshop. There probably are stand alone programs- just do a search online.

 

[jpalmer]

I can't say if it's the best but this free Faststone Software has worked for my needs. It's an easy to use interface that allows batch editing for resizing, renaming, adding watermarks, etc. You can also usually add a watermark directly in RAW editing software. In Lightroom, you do it in the export properties window.

FastStone Photo Resizer - Powerful Image Converter/Resizer

 

[oliveradamx]

I'm thinking about trying to process photos through AI. Did any of you guys do that?

 

[Wrench]

I use lightroom. My d800 and I think my sony rx100iv also can apply the copyright data.

100% agree on saving the raw and posting in jpeg. Most sights won't even take a full sized raw file.

 

[GooseJuice]

Hey, it sure if you’ve found a good solution yet or not. I think it depends heavily on how invested you are in photography.

If you are looking to hone your skills as a professional, then learning the Adobe suite will pay major dividends. Lightroom is easy to pick up, and is great for making global adjustments to your images (balancing exposure, color correcting/grading), and photoshop is a great tool for creative manipulation of your photos, but is probably overkill for your needs.

There are a tremendous amount of resources on YouTube for learning Lightroom, but if you have any specific questions or want to recreate an edit style you like, don’t hesitate to reach out! I was a professional photographer for years specializing in landscape photography before switching careers.

 

[isherwood91]

I agree that you should store your files in raw or digital negative format. If you were to convert and then discard the raw files you drastically limit your future processing options.

I've been using Lightroom for about 15 years. I like the way it lets me import photos to a specific folder structure, apply any preprocessing settings, attach my preference for metadata, etc. I have adobe's photography subscription plan.

There are certainly other options for free and open source software, but they tend to be a little less efficient. If you only deal with handfuls of photos now and then, that may be just fine.

Regarding AI, the latest crop of tools for reducing noise have been very impressive. Be wary of overprocessing, though, as your photos will end up looking like fashion from the 90s once everybody starts using it--obviously done with the trends of the day. I much prefer slightly enhanced, natural looking images when it comes to nature.

 

[MustangHX]

Always keep the raw file as a backup, you might want to retouch it in the future.

For copyright info, Steve Perry has a good video on that: