We left off in yesterdays post, NX2 Batch and Bake Part1, creating, saving and naming a preset for the purpose of zeroing out in-camera sharpening using Nikons NX2 Picture Control Develop section.
The purpose of the todays workflow is to (using yesterdays defined preset) batch your source NEFs, output them as TIFFs and store them in a new source folder. Then open up the TIFF folder select your files and open in ACR and Save images as PSD to use in PhotoShop. We are basically going from NEF -> TIFF -> PSD with our NEF RAW files updated with our preset adjustment.
I went into a lengthy discussion on the why’s of this yesterday and this posting will give you some of the application workflow.
After you open up the Nikon NX2 goto to the top tool bar and Open Batch/Run Batch Process.
Nx2 Open Batch/Run Batch Process
Next, a Batch Process dialogue box opens and this is where you fill in (1) Source: Browse and identify your directory path where your NEF files are currently residing . (2) Apply setting: Check box, then in the drop down box select ‘Use Settings File’. Then another dialogue box will open, here you select your preset adjustment. (3) Rename setting: Check box. A dialogue box will open up. Your task is to rename your source NEF to something unique, You will be presented with another drop down box to help you. I use a 2 digit sequence, an underscore, then letters CC for color correct (4) Select File Format: Use the drop down box and select TIFF, (5) Destination: Select folder. Browse and identify your directory path where want your converted NEF files which will now be Baked with your preset adjustment into a TIFF to reside, ….cool stuff …and fairly quick
Fill four boxes and select Tif from drop down
Once you have run your batch file, you are finished with NX2 and now you’ll work in Adobe Camera raw (ACR)
I’ll digress a bit for a snippet of info about my own file management workflow. First of all I never work on original images. When I am going to work on a photo, I create a top level folder with a meaningful name that I use for the final image, I create three separate subfolders, 1 source, 2 working 3 share. Within the 1 source, I’ll create 3 subdirectories, 1.1 Source NEF (here I’ll duplicate and save NEF’s into), 1.2 Source TIFF 1.3 Source PSD. Later, after I open the Psd files in Photoshop, I will ‘save as’ in the 2 working directory, I will typically rename major saves with an Fx prefix, that way I can keep track of files. When I am finished, I duplicate the final image and save in folder, 3 share, as a master psd, flattened PSD, and Web JPG. Not complicated, but everyone has to have a workflow that gets you back to your source and moves you forward thru your share and that is a routine so that as technology or your skills improve you can find your files. Here is a peek at one of a recent Image folder structures;
Structure of File Work Flow
The final part of the process is to goto your Source TIFF folder either in bridge, CS5 or Finder, highlight your files and you get this dialogue box in Adobe Camera Raw to work thru:
(1) Save Image: select and enter, (2)Destination: select from drop down (3) Select Folder: Select folder. Browse and identify your directory path where want your PSD files to reside/output (4) File Naming: Set a meaningful name, I put a F + sequence +document name (5) Format: Save as file Extension. (PSD) …that’s it your done.
I have noticed that it seems to be human nature for you brain to click off when you say work flow, that’s okay, I get it, but you need to have one and stick to it.
I have spent the better half of six months grappling with how to reset sharpen to zero on a batch of my RAW NEFs, but still use the NX2 RAW convertor, bake then off in NX2 as TIFF’s and the Open in ACR to save as PSDs….This is a good starting point to explore if you’re looking for a similar workflow. If you have any questions or get stuck trying this, please comment or contact me, I’ll be glad to help and would be interested in some feedback.
ref material Jason Odell’s ” Sharpening Techniques for Capture NX2 and The photographers Guide to Capture NX2
