Workflow question

[DJPixelMan]

Hello All. Daft question really, depending upon how you look at it.
Just done a shoot which filled up about 32gb of CF card. No problems. Transfered to my organizing folder, opened in Phocus, converted to fff, edited/printed/etc. No problems.
But then I got to think. I want to see my files in my Lightroom catalogue or in Bridge. Can't see the fff files, but I can see the FR3 files..and open them. OK, so what? Well, the What is..space. I don't really want to keep the FR3 AND the fff files as that would take far too much disc space..96 mb combined/picture. So, what do you people do? Should I convert all of my FR3 picture to dng or Tiff? I don't really want to delete the FR3 file really as I may want to use it again, so I burn them to DVD...but, I still want to browse the images in Lightroom and Bridge..which I can't if they are fff files. If I convert and store to the dng or Tiff files..well..I may want to go back to Phocus to tweek the FFF file a little, so that would not be too smart.

Sorry if this sounds like muddled thinking, but I want a really flexible workflow..am I wanting too much? With all of the problems in the world..this is my only one..am I being pedantic/demanding?

What do you people do with your FR3 files and subsequent image storage?
Thanks for your thoughts.

Regards

David

 

[Derek Jecxz]

David,

I shoot 8gb cards, burn to 8gb DVDs each numbered 850050, 850051, etc... Then record in a spreadsheet / database the contents and location of each numbered DVD (3 columns: #, Location, Description).

Once burned, I use Phocus to Import all the 3FRs to FFFs into a working drive with 100s of gigs of space with folders named 850050\fff, 850051\fff, etc... corresponding to the DVD. Then I delete the loser FFFs through Phocus.

Once I have my keepers, I edit in Phocus, export to TIF into 850050\tif, 850051\tif, etc... and then do the rest in PS/CS. Once an FFF becomes a TIF I rarely go back and edit the FFF and make a new TIF. I close the books on the image. I don't use Lightroom. When I create JPGs they're stored in 850050\jpg, 850051\jpg, etc...

Very simple, I always know where to go to get the originals.

Kind regards,
Derek Jecxz
www.jecxz.com

 

[googaliser]

Same issue

DJPixelman,
You are not alone - this has been driving me crazy also - and I wasted many hours this weekend trying to simplify my workflow, storage etc (to little avail)
I was prematurely excited when I heard the latest update of Lightroom could interpret H files - but as you say - only the 3FRs which in my mind is a useless feature. If it could handle the FFF's then it starts to get interesting.
I am a big fan of Phocus for editing (don't touch H files with lightroom anymore) - but use Lightroom for cataloging - and currently run separate workflows for my H and Non-H work.

Derek - your approach is interesting - thanks for sharing - but not sure I'm that organised/systematic/patient. Keen to hear other approaches also.

I applaud Leica for using DNG format in their new digitals - and one of the many features I am looking forward to when my M9 arrives (and bizarrely, it actually featured in my decision making)

 

[lemonlib]

i bought a 6 tb array...on raid 5...


lemon