file types - which is best

[darkeeboy]

Any thoughts/suggestions on what file type to use for saved images? I currently capture in raw, but have been ps'ing and saving in .tif format - this sometimes makes a 50mb file! I have seen LZW as a compression option for tif, or do I use jpg?

From saving one file in the three formats it creates a file size of:
raw - 5mb
tif (none) - 17mb
tif (lzw) - 7mb
jpg (12) - 3mb

What are your suggestions for the end file type? I understand that tif keeps the layers?

[onefivenine]

If you want unprocessed archives then RAW is the obvious choice.
For your processed images then TIFF LZW will use less disk space than TIFF alone - but it's very slow to save this format - the old 'time versus money' decision.
TIFFs will save quicker but use up more storage.
JPGs will only contain a fraction of the information that was in the original RAW - so no going back with them.

I keep all my RAW files.

[pixelpixel]

I only get jpg from my camera....I save all 'raw' versions and any edit versions are in psd.

[Autopilot]

Currently i capture as RAW+JPEG. Then convert the RAW to .PSD for editing and archiving plus a final hq JPEG. I might stop getting the camera to save to JPEG once i and better at PP, but its nice to see my results Vs the camera.

[darkeeboy]

thanks for all the advice, I think I need to set up a proper workflow!

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by darkeeboy

thanks for all the advice, I think I need to set up a proper workflow!

Whats one of those ?

[senu]

Originally Posted by darkeeboy

thanks for all the advice, I think I need to set up a proper workflow!

Hmm Hmm...

[senu]

Originally Posted by pixelpixel

Whats one of those ?

....Says the man who shoots as jpeg and edits psd!

[Tobers]

Use Lightroom, use RAW, and do most of your edits in Lightroom on the RAW file. Any "serious" editing, export from Lightroom to Photoshop using TIFF and Lightroom will keep the edited file linked to the original using stacking.

[Liquid101]

In an ideal world you want to capture in RAW and convert your chosen photographs to uncompressed TIFF for printing and storage.

You should then convert all your RAW files to the Adobe DNG format for archiving. This is the one they are trying to make into the standard open RAW format.

However, uncompressed TIFF is still the best archival storage format because it is well supported and tracked. Many different packages will open it now and in the future.

JPG should only really be used for web delivery. You don't realise how much data you're throwing away with JPG compression.

PSD is only useful if you want to save multi layer documents. It certainly isn't a great way of storing images in an archive as only a few software packages can open them. TIFF also supports some layer data so you could also use this.

With storage so cheap these days, there is no excuse for not creating several copies - even in TIFF format.

[gibbsy]

Agree with the saving as TIFFs. I always double my insurance by burining the original RAW file to disc as well. You can save your TIFFs as LZW as they can easily be uncompressed to full size in PS. I usually send 8 bit LZW to magazines and libraries and leave it up to them to if they wish to open them up to 16 bit uncompressed. My only tip would be to store the TIFFs unsharpened as this is what most publishers want.

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by senu

....Says the man who shoots as jpeg and edits psd!

My camera only has a jpg format. I have psd files from early 96, not ever had an issue. Maybe due to the fact I have only need 72dpi images for my job I have never worried about any issues regarding backup.

[senu]

Originally Posted by pixelpixel

My camera only has a jpg format. I have psd files from early 96, not ever had an issue. Maybe due to the fact I have only need 72dpi images for my job I have never worried about any issues regarding backup.

I was just having a laugh..
Nothing wrong with Jpeg or PSD ( i use them too) and thankfully Adobe has had the sence not to make older psd files incompatible with Newer versions of Photoshop. The rule with jpeg is of course to always keep the "original"
But
When you eventually get a camera with RAW.. ( and you will one day) you might find your self learning new habits.. quickly .. then "workflow" will siddenly stop sounding strange!