Never Delete Images from your Memory Card in the Camera

I found these very interesting comments on a forum which I visit with respect to deleting images from your memory card while out shooting.  I have permission from the author to reproduce it here.


When I worked for Kodak, they absolutely insisted on two basic principles:

• Do not ever, under any circumstances, delete ANY images in-camera. They were so insistent on this that it was a sacking offence to do so (and, yes, they did check every job). The point was that assessment of images on the small camera-back screen has a number of inherent drawbacks:
  

1. Irrespective of the shooting mode, the camera-back image is a JPEG processed with camera default settings. It bears only a passing resemblance to the RAW image actually shot.
2. The resolution camera-back is so relatively low that detail is often simply not visible. This detail may be important.
3. There is no way on earth that we could accurately assess anything on a 3" diagonal screen which would subsequently be viewed on a 27" diagonal screen.
4. An apparently 'duff' shot may not be usable in it's own right - but it may be a source for cloning to improve a different shot. (Think of cloning open eyes from a duff shot onto a better shot which suffers from closed eyes.)
5. So-called 'Chimping' is best left to the experts - the Chimps. Useful for checking for closed eyes / nice smiles but very little else in terms other than sheer curiosity. No monkeying around!
   

• Only ever format the card(s) IN-CAMERA.
  

1. Different cameras (even within the same marque, different eras) have different ways of organising the data. At that time (and possibly still, to this day), many but not all cameras used a 12-bit FAT. This was not always compatible with the computer OS - some 16-bit, some 32-bit, now many don't even use a FAT as the camera knows it. Format in computer, while very tempting, may lead to unusable cards. Plus, it's logical to format in the equipment being used to record subsequent images.
2. Different brands of card could occasionally throw up compatibility problems with certain cameras. We had a fair number of difficulties specifically with Lexar cards in Canon cameras and settled on SanDisk as being the most reliable brand - or, rather, the least unreliable!
   

Since those days, I have always worked on those two principles (with a third one of never shooting any job on less than 4 cards - simply to spread the risk of loss). One problem with digital is that anything other than a full capture tends to be completely blank - with film there was at least something which could be rescued in some form.
Perhaps it's a matter of supreme caution but adhering to those two basic principles will come as close as possible to guaranteeing results. You may 'get away' with a less rigorous technique - but then again you may not. Why take the risk?

Lightroom Tips

For anybody using Lightroom take a look at Matt Kloskowski's site Lightroom Killer Tips as in January he will be showing how to process images only in Lightroom.  No Photoshop editing or using plug-ins.  Worth a look every day.

Guide to Using Camera Raw

I spotted a Guide to Using Camera Raw on the X-Rite website.  As it is a free download I have placed the pdf file on the 'Members' Only' page of our club website.

New Projector

Now that SPS has a new high resolution projector it is best to resize your images to 1400 x 1025 ppi for club competitions or any other time that your pictures are shown via the club laptop and projector. If you resize to 1024 x 768 ppi the projector will re-size, and interpolate, so your files may lose quality.

Those of you who were at the opening meeting last Thursday will have seen how good the new projector is.

Photoshop Bridge Update

There are updates for Photoshop and Bridge CS5 available from the Adobe website. However, you may have a problem as I did in installing the Bridge CS5 update. I kept getting a message to tell me to close Bridge CS5, even though it wasn't open. If this happens, open Bridge and go to Edit>Preferences>Advanced and un-tick the check-box that says, "Start Bridge at Login." Then close Bridge, download the update and everything should be fine. The same thing applies to the Camera RAW update which is also available.

TechTip -Take fine control of your cursor

Ian Rathbone recently came across the above tip in the paper.

Anyone editing photos,editing documents or taking screen grabs will want to select precise areas on a computer screen-but it is impossible to move the cursor accurately with a mouse.
Under Windows Vista and Windows 7, though, the cursor can be moved pixel by pixel using the keyboard.

To enable this option, open the Ease of Access option in control panel, select the mouse control menu and select the 'Set up mouse keys option' under the heading Keyboard Shortcut, tick the box labelled 'Turn on Mouse Keys with left Alt+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK'. Save your changes, and you'll be able to move the cursor by tiny increments up and down, left and right, using the four arrow keys on the the keyboard. Selecting Control & Shift will speed up the movement.

Note: do not select the 'Turn on mouse Keys' option as this disables your numeric key pad.

Patch Files for Profiling and CS5

I have discovered a problem when you need to print patch files for obtaining printer profiles.  This affects people with CS5 (also CS4 for Mac).  But there is a workaround.


When you are printing the patch files you must select 'No colour adjustments' in two places.  One of these options is missing in CS5 (CS4 for Mac).  There is a workaround and if any Stokesley PS member needs more information feel free to contact me.


Paula Davies

Colour Management and How to Set up Photoshop (Elements or CS) for Printing

I have just found a very interesting website which has lots of information on Colour Management - ColourProfiles.com  

If you scroll to the bottom of the page "Introduction to Colour Management" there are two drop-down boxes where you can select your version of Photoshop and Make of Printer.  Click on the "Click Here" button and you will find detailed instructions on how to set up Photoshop (Elements or CS*).

Paula

Tape for the back of prints

As a follow up to Dave's post about the tape coming off the back of prints I have a couple of suggestions.

Until recently we used the brown paper tape which you lick and stick.  You don’t need to put it all the way round the backing sheet.  Just a few pieces strategically placed should do.  Sometimes they have it in Boyes.

At present we are using removable, acid free, self adhesive Hinging Tape or Artists’ Tape which I got from Hobbycraft on Teesside Park.  The trade name is Stix 2.  They make several different tapes so you need to check that you are getting the removable one.  Here’s a link to the stix 2 website page which shows what the packaging looks like.

Paula

Tape used on mounts for competitions

Tapes used for fixing images to mounts

I have had a couple of complaints by judges about tape used to fix some images to their mounts. The concern is whilst in transit, the tape is coming off and could fix to another print damaging it. I am sure none of us would either like that to happen to one of our prints or be the cause of the damage.

I will bring this up at the next committee meeting, as I do not like imposing rules on competition entries. Competitions should be fun, and should not be governed by rules. However, if necessary they can be imposed especially if it is damaging other peoples work.

Therefore, in the interim, could I ask you to check the back of your mounts and look at the way you fix them on to ensure there is no way they can work loose and damage another image.

Thanks, and I will remind you on thursday when I see you all. Please pass this on to those you are in touch with, who do not use the blog.

Dave

A useful depth of field calculator

This website has some useful information on depth of field including a calculator where you can find your SLR and key in focal length etc to calculate depth of field.

A good source for Photoshop Tutorials

If you want to know how to achieve things in Photoshop there are loads of good tutorials from a very knowledgeable photographer here http://www.crhfoto.co.uk/knowhowlist.htm .  Clive uses the full version of Photoshop but a lot of the tips would work in Elements too.

Paula

A neat trick to make your inkjet printer cartridges last longer

There's in interesting video here which shows how you can reset your inkjet cartridges.

Paula