Batch Processing

[pharmnatr]

Hi All,
Can someone please tell me how after I standard edit one photo I can apply those same editing parameters to multiple photos rather than edit one photo at a time.

Thanks in Advance,
Al

[Norm F]

Al,

This tip for batch processing RAW files was previously offer by Butch.

In the organizer select all the photos you want to convert before you start the Raw Converter.
Press ctrl+I to open the first photo. Change as you think necessary. Then Alt+click the Open button to apply the settings from the first photo to the others without actually opening them.
The Open button will change to “Update” as you press this button each selected photo will open in the converter in its turn with the first photos settings..

If you're editing JPEGs, the only option I'm aware of is to use "adjusment layers" and then drag them on to each photo.

[Wendy]

Hi Al ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Wendy

[MikeH]

This tip for batch processing RAW files was previously offer by Butch.

I've never got this to work properly. Currently I'm doing any batch processing of RAW images in DPP.

Mike

[Norm F]

Mike,

I can't say that I've used the tip either. Just filed it away for future reference. I kind of got away from using RAW. I don't care much for ACR. I'm starting to use RAW again because I'm such a lousy photographer and I can overcome more errors.

How do you like DPP so far?

[MikeH]

Norm,

Over the past three weeks I've been comparing ACR, Raw Shooter Essentials (RSE) and DPP...

Initially I didn't get good results from DPP, but I then found that Version 1.6.1 which came with my 350D had been upgraded to 2.1.1.4 to address some of the issues.

Both DPP and RSE have more functions than ACR for Elements. There is far more control over adjustments, plus features like RAW curves, RGB channels, printing, "before & after" comparisons and batch conversion. DPP also allows you to create and save settings in "recipes". More features does mean that both are more complicated to use than ACR though, but still relatively easy.

In the testing I did, I was very surprised to find that DPP produced the best results out of the three in terms of overall image quality. ACR does give consistent results, particularly in Auto, but I've found the image to be softer than with DPP. Good for some applications like portraits, but for others DPP gives sharper, more accurate images.

As I said though, DPP requires more effort to get the result, whereas Auto in ACR actually does a good job. I haven't abandoned ACR though as I like the automatic switch to PSE. DPP can launch Photoshop automatically, but not PSE.

My previous experience is that Canon software is pretty lame. That's why until three weeks ago the installation cd was stored away unsealed in the 350D's box. But from what I've found and read elsewhere DPP rates highly against ACR, RSE etc.

Oh yes... when installing DPP I was careful to keep a large barge pole between my PC and ZoomBrowser.

Mike

[Norm F]

Mike,

That's very interesting. I appreciate your thoughts on the program. I think I'll take it for a spin.

So when you do use DPP, do you covert to a TIFF upon completion and then open that in Elements?

Thanks again,

[MikeH]

So when you do use DPP, do you covert to a TIFF upon completion and then open that in Elements?
Yes...my workflow is download the images into PSE, do some initial sorting, then do the RAW conversion in DPP, save as TIFFs, then back to PSE. There isn't as much swapping about as it seems because I don't go between PSE > DPP > PSE for each image. If I have a lot of images to work on then I convert them all in DPP before going back to PSE to work on selected ones.

What I didn't mention yesterday was conversion to B&W. Although you can convert RAW images to B&W in each program, I haven't yet found a better way than using the Channel Mixer in PSE3. The "Graveyard" image in my Gallery was done this way - RAW conversion in DPP, save as TIFF, convert to B&W in PSE3 with the Channel Mixer.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=6433

I am going to continue playing with B&W conversion in the three programs so I will let you know how I get on.

On converting to B&W in general, I have come across another method using Channels, which should work in PSE4. I'll post an update on that as well.

Mike

[Norm F]

Thanks Mike. That's an awesome black and white in your gallery!