The
Master File Workflow - An Overview
STAGE ONE: Data
Capture
This
step is different depending on if you shoot film,
digital RAW, or digital TIFF or JPEG.
For the film photographer, data
capture means making a scan of the film. The scan is a digital
representation of the film, and gives us the starting point for
the second stage.
For photographers photographing
in RAW, data capture means converting your RAW file into a full-resolution
TIFF file and using the raw conversion settings not to interpret
the file, but to make a good starting point for interpretation
in stage two.
For photographers photographing
in JPEG or TIFF mode, skip stage one. Capture in these modes
does not allow the control that RAW mode and film scanning do.
If you want more control, switch to RAW mode.
STAGE TWO: Interpretation
Interpretation
involves adjusting the photograph, most commonly the color, contrast,
and density. This can be done to the photograph as a whole, and
it can also be done to small areas (locally), which is often
referred to as "dodging and burning". The goal of interpretation
is to make the photograph look the way you want it to look; to
say what you want it to say.
Interpretation is what used to happen
in the darkroom. There is no simple simple step-by-step process
to describe all the possibilities that encompass interpretation,
but we have many tips posted that can help.
A file that has been interpreted is often called a Master File.
STAGE THREE: Targeting
Targeting
involves setting the height, width, dpi, sharpening, borders,
and other factors to the optimum settings for a specific use.
Any other specific use requires a separate targeted file. If
you wanted to make the best 16x20 and 20x24 prints, you would
need to make two separate files--one targeted for each size.
Files can be targeted for photo quality prints, for web, for
offset reproduction, or any process that can print a photographic
file. Read in-depth information on how to target your file.
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2006 West Coast Imaging all
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