RAW Conversion:
Whilst batch processing will quickly and easily convert large numbers of images, to get the best from a RAW file they will need to be opened and worked on individually. I use the UFRaw plugin in Gimp. Profiles for my camera are used for optimum image parameters. In the raw-converter I adjust the white balance and exposure to ensure that the highlights are not 'clipped' and leave everything else till the next stage.
Adjusting the image:
I use Gimp which opens the raw image in an additional 'front end' to the programme (Ufraw plugin), once converted they are transferred into the main program and I work on them as I would any other image. My method is to first carry out any resizing, cropping and transforming. Next I make colour and contrast adjustments (usually in levels or curves) and finally sharpen the image if required. Gimp scripts offer excellent 'smart sharpening' and noise reduction options which only sharpen the detail not the 'grain' and soften smooth areas without taking away detail. Individually adjusted images are then saved into the appropriate folder, this may require additional folders to be created. Saving files as .tif will maintain the quality, but for photographic lab printing files are saved as .jpg.
Archiving and storage:
By now I have a folder on computer containing other folders for the original RAW files, adjusted, and resized images. I may have a number of folders containing different sized versions of the same images. Once all the work is carried out, the main folder containing all the others is written to CD or DVD for storing. ( I never clear the camera cards before writing files to CD / DVD, to insure that files always exist in at least two places ). CDs / DVDs are stored safely and I can return to these when I need to work on images, opening them again from the original RAW files. I use single use media NOT re-writeable disks. I always write images to a second media ( CD / DVD ) and never rely on having just the one copy on my hard disk, there are too many potential things to go wrong. Images take up large amounts of space on the hard disk so will need to deleted at some stage to create space; I check my back-up copies before deleting them from my hard disk.
