LR3/Topaz file nightmare - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/10/2011 05:00:56 PM · #1

So, I currently run LR3 and decided to try out the Topaz suite of products on free-download trial. Started with a particular image in RAW --- image.CR2

1. I took this image and performed DeNoise on it. Output file generated was image.tif
2. Took image.tif and performed InFocus on it. Output file generated was image.tif.tif
2. Took image.tif.tif and performed Adjust on it. Output file generated was image.tif.tif.tif
3. Took image.tif.tif.tif and performed Detail on it. Output file generated was image.tif.tif.tif.tif
4. Took image.tif.tif.tif and performed DeNoise on it. Output file generated was image.tif.tif.tif.tif.tif
5. Took image.tif.tif.tif.tif.tif and resized for web in LR3. Output file generated was image.jpg

So, from processing one RAW file using the Topaz Labs suite of products (and not all of them, mind you), I now have
1x RAW file
5x TIFF files
1x JPEG file giving 7 files in total.

This is an absolute nightmare to have to keep track of!

1) Is there anyway to not generate a brand-new tiff after every adjustment? Later on down the line, how would I even know the difference between .tif and .tif.tif.tif since there doesnt appear to be any identifier about the product that generated it.

2) Do I just have to delete all the intermediate files to keep things "simple". This just seems to add another laborious step to the workflow, no?

3) when I generate a JPG, how do I get LR2 to automatically import that into my folder next to the original? I export to the desktop, and the file is there, but I need to manually go and fetch it and import it into LR to see it. Shouldn't LR3 do this automatically?

Message edited by author 2011-02-10 17:01:15.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

02/10/2011 05:14:41 PM · #2

well, I'm VERY new to LR3 but here is my work flow...

Import to LR3, do usual steps for raw editing
Import to PSE8 do some more editing steps for raw, including anything that I have to do with Topaz, I do a save just before I start reducing (so far all of these copies are going back to the original file next to my original) but these are PSD files, I only get a file saved with I do a save as...not for every editing step...but then I have my Topaz plugins in my PSE8 NOT my LR3 program...not sure if that makes the difference?

then I do my reducing and make my final safe for web as a JPEG...

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/10/2011 08:16:32 PM · #3

Originally posted by gcoulson:

If you always indicate 'Edit a copy' when you go to edit in an external program, a new file will be created. If you're comfortable with only one non-raw file then only the first 'edit in' selection should be edit a copy. From the copy just choose 'edit original' when you select 'edit in'.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/10/2011 09:25:44 PM · #4

I feel your pain...I have the NIK suite for LR that does the same thing. Basically, you are creating a TIF file for something you would normally do with Layers. It's fine once you have the final result you want to delete your TIFF files, but there's also another option if you want to save them.

Select them all, along with the original file, and then right click and choose "Edit in" -> "Open as Layers in PS". Then PS will create a new file, with each TIFF as a layer. You can label each, then save it to a PSD. Then delete all the TIFFs, and keep the final JPG file, and the PSD.

It won't save you any space--but it will result in fewer files...unless you prefer to just delete them (saving space and files).

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

02/11/2011 06:49:57 AM · #5

THanks for the input guys, I think selecting Edit the Original rather than Edit a Copy should solve this problem.

Last question, when you export a file as a JPEG, is there anyway to have that JPEG automatically imported into LR3 next to the original?

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/11/2011 08:11:22 AM · #6

Originally posted by gcoulson:

LR doesnt import jpegs does it?

02/11/2011 08:18:23 AM · #7

Yup, sure does. Considering I sometimes shoot in JPG, I'd have a problem otherwise!

smardaz

02/11/2011 09:02:22 AM · #8

click the box in preferences that says "import jpeg next to original even though mike doesn't think its possible"

NiallOTuama

Google Pixel 2

02/11/2011 09:07:50 AM · #9

Can't you just click the "edit original"? I'm on LR2.6 so I'm unsure if this option is available in 3.

Personally I like the different TIFs--it allows me to be able to, from a similar starting point, veer around other editing options. So after a bit of denoise, I might want to shove it through some topaz, but then from that point maybe I would also like to do through a bit of silver efex. I do think the renaming is pretty poor. I will (in future cause I just thought about it) rename the images. So after I'm done denoising it call it img213_denoise.tif or something.

02/11/2011 09:39:21 AM · #10

Originally posted by smardaz:

click the box in preferences that says "import jpeg next to original even though mike doesn't think its possible"

I'm pretty sure I had that selected, but I'll go back and double-check.

Originally posted by NiallOTuama:

Can't you just click the "edit original"? I'm on LR2.6 so I'm unsure if this option is available in 3.

You can, but I'd prefer not to since I need that original for submission verification (I usually delete my images off my camera one I transfer to computer).

Message edited by author 2011-02-11 09:39:38.

NiallOTuama

Google Pixel 2

02/11/2011 09:52:21 AM · #11

Originally posted by gcoulson:

Originally posted by NiallOTuama:
Can't you just click the "edit original"? I'm on LR2.6 so I'm unsure if this option is available in 3.

You can, but I'd prefer not to since I need that original for submission verification (I usually delete my images off my camera one I transfer to computer).

But surely you only need the original raw, not the intermediate TIFs. I didn't think toapz edited raw files... It doesn't allow me 'edit original' with my Nikon NEFs anyway. Not sure about canon support? Unless you don't shoot in raw?

02/11/2011 10:17:46 AM · #12

Originally posted by NiallOTuama:

Originally posted by gcoulson:
Originally posted by NiallOTuama:
Can't you just click the "edit original"? I'm on LR2.6 so I'm unsure if this option is available in 3.

You can, but I'd prefer not to since I need that original for submission verification (I usually delete my images off my camera one I transfer to computer).

But surely you only need the original raw, not the intermediate TIFs. I didn't think toapz edited raw files... It doesn't allow me 'edit original' with my Nikon NEFs anyway. Not sure about canon support? Unless you don't shoot in raw?

You are entirely correct. I shoot in JPEG a fair deal, so I can do Topaz directly on my original..hence my comment about choosing not to do so, since then I would have no unaltered original to submit to SC if needed.

NiallOTuama

Google Pixel 2

02/11/2011 10:18:39 AM · #13

Originally posted by gcoulson:

Originally posted by NiallOTuama:

Originally posted by gcoulson:
Originally posted by NiallOTuama:
Can't you just click the "edit original"? I'm on LR2.6 so I'm unsure if this option is available in 3.

You can, but I'd prefer not to since I need that original for submission verification (I usually delete my images off my camera one I transfer to computer).

But surely you only need the original raw, not the intermediate TIFs. I didn't think toapz edited raw files... It doesn't allow me 'edit original' with my Nikon NEFs anyway. Not sure about canon support? Unless you don't shoot in raw?

You are entirely correct. I shoot in JPEG a fair deal, so I can do Topaz directly on my original..hence my comment about choosing not to do so, since then I would have no unaltered original to submit to SC if needed.

Shoot in raw so, problem solved :)