It can be difficult to handle the HDR process, especially with so many brackets running around your hard drive. I have found the most efficient way to manage the chaos is with a very efficient filing system and the power of batch processing. Batch processing allows you to use the same settings for multiple images thus cutting down on the time it takes for you to edit each individual image.
I use batch processing with Photomatix as well as Adobe Camera Raw to speed up my workflow. It took me a bit of time to realize how to batch process my images in Adobe Camera Raw on a PC. From my understanding on a Mac you can simply highlight multiple RAW images and right click and select edit in Camera Raw. It wasn’t that easy on a PC.
You must first install Adobe Photoshop Bridge (here’s a crash course on Bridge from an old Tutorial). It is a free install with the purchase of any Photoshop program. With CC, just go to the cloud and click the install icon to download it. Bridge will allow you to open multiple images in Adobe Camera Raw on a PC. This is essential for any HDR photographer wanting to make their workflow much more time efficient. Take a look at the tutorial to see just how efficient batching in Adobe Camera Raw can be.
If you liked this tutorial, you will LOVE HDR Insider!
For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
If you have Lightroom, this is a no-brainer. The Develop module IS ACR, and you can click “Synchronize” with the images selected.
True, I have LR, never use it 🙂 I am a PS guy, can’t convert me either 🙂
Hi Blake! 8-22-14
I had a question on this video about LR, I am assuming you are on LR5. But when you said to go into LR and into File, then browse in bridge, I don’t have that option . I am using an iMac OSX Maverick , LR5, and PSCS6 with bridge. I also have Camera Raw, and use iPhoto for my main storage of my images, mainly because I am not sure how to load those into my LR right now. I did back up my hard drive, and make files to ADD into LR, but didn’t make the plunge yet, as I don’t want ALL my files from iPhoto going into LR! I have over 15,000. But like I said, I did get all those files into a folder for LR, took me 2 weeks but they are in the files for LR to be transferred.
Hope this makes sense. ANYWAY to the point now, uh, I do not have that route; LR, File, browse in Bridge! IN fact, I see no option to get from LR into Photoshop. So, question is : do I need to first, Click on Library, or develop in LR THEN do something else to get into bridge? Like make a correction first to an image, then right click on something to get a menu THEN LR will give me an option to get from LR into bridge, or PS? Many people have talked about this on Facebook in our photography groups etc. and many are STILL confused by LR5, bridge and PSCS6, I am NOT on cloud, I have the downloaded version of CS6.
Thank you so much!
Kari Nanstad
RNanstad@comcast.net
I feel horrible about this response, but I do not use Lightroom for that exact reason. The file micro management… I am sorry! I own the photographers LR & PS bundle, but I haven’t even downloaded LR.