What is Workflow

Workflow is simply the steps taken between shooting pictures and creating final output images. This can be as simple as downloading JPEG files from your digital camera, printing, and storing or it can incorporate RAW file conversion, image optimization, organization, printing contact sheets and individual prints, and production of several output file sizes and formats.

Standardizing on a single, repeatable workflow may sound like a lot of work, but taking the time up front to decide how you want to manage your photos will allow you to get more out of your post-production time. Whether you shoot 100 pictures a month, or many thousands, a consistant workflow allows you to get the most of your images in the shortest time.

Why RAW Workflow

There are significant benefits from taking advantage of your camera's RAW file format:

• RAW files contain more data than JPEG files

JPEG files can hold 24 bits of information (8 bits for each of the three colors: red, blue, and green) for each pixel in the image, where most RAW formats contain 36 (12 per color) or even 48 (16 per color) bits of data; and JPEG files are compressed using a "lossy" process - meaning data is lost while making the files smaller, while RAW file compression is lossless. More color information means you will have more latitude over the modifications you can make in post-processing. Further, many camera makers include more shooting information in their RAW files than they do for JPEG's - most notably White Balance data. RAW applications can use this extra data to start off RAW conversion one step ahead, and still allow you total control over the image processing.

• RAW files bypass much of the in-camera processing

Sounds illogical to bypass the in-camera processing from that fancy new camera you just bought, doesn't it? But, in-camera settings must be set before you take the picture, while RAW workflow allows you to make adjustments after the fact - with no loss in flexibility or quality. So, would you rather adjust color settings before you take the picture, or afterwards while viewing the image on a large screen?

• RAW Processing is Non-Destructive

Non-Destructive means that the original RAW file is not altered while making image adjustments. While most image editors overwrite the original file when editing, most RAW converters do not. This allows you to preserve your original image and experiment more broadly with different conversion settings. Any changes or settings you make in a RAW converter is stored separately from the image file - sometimes locked in a database, sometimes accessible in individual files.

All this power and flexibility does come at a price: RAW files are much larger, allowing you to capture fewer images on your camera's memory card. Also, those large files take longer to read and process with your computer. RAW files are also not viewable or printable directly out of the camera by most image viewing applications and photo printers - RAW files must to converted to JPEG, TIFF, or other formats for general use.

Bibble 4 has been created from scratch to get the most from RAW files from the widest selection of cameras on the widest array of computer types. Bibble is the fastest RAW conversion application on the market today, and offers a staggering array of tools to optimize your digital images. Read on to learn more about the Bibble Labs’ RAW Workflow tools, and how you can benefit from RAW workflow with Bibble.