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What software are you using?

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LeeSandstead

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Hello everyone!

I just ordered the Nikon d700, so I'll need to upgrade my software. My previous camera since its release has been the D2h, so my software needs an upgrade.

I saw what Thom was using in terms of his workflow, but what are you guys using?

Since I have win7 64-bit, I'd like to use as much 64-bit software as possible. Right now, my workflow is Nikon Capture 4 for initial processing, View NX 2 for viewing and CS2 for post processing. View NX 2 works okay. I'm happy with it except that I am limited to how many characters I can include in file renaming (?!?) and that it is sooooo slowwwww. (But with Win7, I'm not getting the constant crashing that I have in the past with this program.)

Any suggestions? I look forward to start posting pictures with the d700!

Lee

--
Best,

Lee Sandstead
http://www.sandstead.com
 
Nikon Capture NX2 for nef's processing and CS5 for more complicated jobs.
 
I like the NIK plug-ins more than the Nikon products as they can be part of my Photoshop work flow (convenience) And I like the extra plugins like sharpening and noise reduction.

I run a the Viveza to get the colors and contrast right, then a small script I made as my normal workflow. Then I add sharpening and noise reduction as needed.

Roman

--

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”
~ Ernst Haas

We are officially live!!!!
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Old Web Site
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RomanJohnston said:
I like the NIK plug-ins more than the Nikon products as they can be part of my Photoshop work flow (convenience) And I like the extra plugins like sharpening and noise reduction.

I run a the Viveza to get the colors and contrast right, then a small script I made as my normal workflow. Then I add sharpening and noise reduction as needed.

Roman

--

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”
~ Ernst Haas

We are officially live!!!!
http://www.commercialfineart.com/
Old Web Site
http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/
Click to expand...
I like the Nik plug-ins and I use them in my copies of NX2, CS5 and LR3. If I had to only purchase one, I am going to have to say that I would purchase LR3.
 
LeeSandstead said:
Right now, my workflow is Nikon Capture 4 for initial processing, View NX 2 for viewing and CS2 for post processing. View NX 2 works okay. I'm happy with it except that I am limited to how many characters I can include in file renaming (?!?) and that it is sooooo slowwwww.
Click to expand...
It is time for you to upgrade to Photoshop CS5. It is about $200. If you wait for CS6 it will cost you about $600. Adobe doesn't give an upgrade price for versions older than three versions.

I use Lightroom 3, ColorChecker Passport, and CS5. I upgraded from CS2 on a Mac and there has been a significant speed improvement with CS5 -- especially launch speed.

I tried the trial of NX2, but didn't find with worth the hassle of having to use TIFF to get to Photoshop, didn't like the interface, and quirkiness.
--
Robin Casady
http://www.robincasady.com/Photo/index.html
 
Photoshop CS3 for any other heavy editing that needs to be done, usually nothing, which is why I've never upgraded from CS3.
 
NX2 for main PP then tif into CS5 for stuff NX2 can't do, plus Nik plugins.
 
Downloader Pro to start -- makes putting meaningful names on the files easy.

LR3 for the RAW files (99.9% of my pix are RAW)

NX when LR3 doesn't quite do the job

PS when I have to get fancy

I like LR because it does a reasonable job of conversion and also provides me with Digital Asset Management. Since I've been using it for 3-4 years now, I'm used to it and find other programs not as easy to use.
 
I am a pro shooting jpegs on a D700. I use CS5 for everything as workflow means EVERYTHING to me. Bridge is as important as CS5 which is used for editing and keywording.

I have NX2 but find it too clumbsy for me and not enough features. View NX2 is nice but again a different program and I am too lazy to learn other programs. CSx is enough of a headache to learn..... or learn what not to learn.

dennis
 
Thanks everyone for the tips. I'll definitely get CS 5, some more NIK plugins and explore Light Room 3.

I think I'm staying with Nikon View NX 2 for the moment because I can toggle between two files at full zoom to find the sharper image. (I was disappointed in PhotoMechanic, because I could not do this.)

--
Best,

Lee Sandstead
http://www.sandstead.com
 
LeeSandstead said:
I think I'm staying with Nikon View NX 2 for the moment because I can toggle between two files at full zoom to find the sharper image. (I was disappointed in PhotoMechanic, because I could not do this.)
Click to expand...
CS5 & Bridge both allow you to do this (or more images) on one screen ........even better, you can have them on the screen at whatever percent you want.

dennis
 
If I understand what you are looking to do you can do this in PM, by either having the images side by side and use the Z key to zoom in, if you press the L key you can lock them so they both pan around at the same time.
LeeSandstead said:
I think I'm staying with Nikon View NX 2 for the moment because I can toggle between two files at full zoom to find the sharper image. (I was disappointed in PhotoMechanic, because I could not do this.)

--
Best,

Lee Sandstead
http://www.sandstead.com
Click to expand...
With regards to software, I've been using Lightroom 3 and CS5, although I had to use xRite's Passport Checker to create profiles to get the colors right. I find Lightroom very easy to use, and like the speed when you are applying adjustments to images, but it tends to bog down some times, I don't know if this is a resource problem with regards the spec of my machine and that Lightroom needs a very powerful machine to run smoothly.

I've just started using Photo Mechanic along with NX2 and the Nik Color Efex filters. If you like using Picture Styles, the colors from NX2, then it has great potential. I'm finding Photo Mechanic great for the initial sorting and metadata addtion (faster than Lightroom), but I'm finding NX2 a bit slow. If the image is close to right between the original exposure and the Pictures Style, and just a Nik Filter is required then it is great. But for lots of images that require a few tweak to white balance, etc then I find Lightroom quicker, having to open an image from Photo Mechanic to NX2 to tweak the white balance is soom much slower than Lightroom after you've imported the images to the catalog.

I'm going to be going to workflow with Photomechanic first, selected images imported to Lightroom, then Lightroom for bulk work and organizing and CS5 for the advanced stuff.

I'll continue to use PM/NX2/Nik filters for quick bulk stuff, i.e. shoot with the picture style mode, bulk apply skin softening filters, extract jpegs and generate proof contact sheet.

John
 
LeeSandstead said:
Hello everyone!

I just ordered the Nikon d700, so I'll need to upgrade my software. My previous camera since its release has been the D2h, so my software needs an upgrade.

I saw what Thom was using in terms of his workflow, but what are you guys using?

Since I have win7 64-bit, I'd like to use as much 64-bit software as possible. Right now, my workflow is Nikon Capture 4 for initial processing, View NX 2 for viewing and CS2 for post processing. View NX 2 works okay. I'm happy with it except that I am limited to how many characters I can include in file renaming (?!?) and that it is sooooo slowwwww. (But with Win7, I'm not getting the constant crashing that I have in the past with this program.)

Any suggestions? I look forward to start posting pictures with the d700!

Lee

--
Best,

Lee Sandstead
http://www.sandstead.com
Click to expand...
--

Disclaimer: Posts written by me are my views, ideas and opinions only, and should not be taken as facts, unless stated otherwise. :-)

Light is everything

http://www.fotopropaganda.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9240992@N05/ (my pixel mess on flikr)
http://www.pbase.com/photopropaganda
 
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