![\"hidden_valley_130119\"](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/hidden_valley_130119.jpg\" "\\"Hidden")
<\/a><\/p>\nHidden Valley (2013)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I import the file into Lightroom I rename the file with a shoot name, capture date and the original file name.\u00a0 It ends up like this \u2013\u2019 joshua_tree_130119__SM35116.dng\u2019.\u00a0 (Yes, I convert to dng when I import.)\u00a0 The shoot name (\u2018Joshua_tree\u2019 in this case) is an easy way to tag the image with the location right in the file name.\u00a0 This is extremely helpful in Lightroom when I want to create smart collections.\u00a0 The reason for adding the capture date (format is YYMMDD) is it helps me later on as you will see.<\/p>\n So once the file is imported into Lightroom I go through a selection process and finally identify the photographs I want to work on.\u00a0 These I\u2019ll develop in the Lightroom Develop module and if they pan out I\u2019ll do more with them in Photoshop.\u00a0 And if they make the cut for my portfolio I\u2019ll copy the files to a directory on the portfolio drive titled \u2018Almost There.\u2019\u00a0 This folder is for photographs that still need some final proofing and tweaking before they end up in the regular portfolio folders.<\/p>\n In the \u2018Almost There\u2019 folder I rename the file to its almost-final name.\u00a0 This file was renamed to \u2018hidden_valley_130119_5116.tiff\u2019\u00a0 In this name I replace the shoot name (\u2018joshua_tree\u2019) with the title (\u2018hidden_valley\u2019).\u00a0 I keep the capture date (don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll explain why in just a minute).\u00a0 And I also keep the sequential part of the camera file name (\u20185116\u2019).\u00a0 The reason for this is I also like to copy the RAW file to a subfolder of \u2018Almost There\/RAW\u2019 because I\u2019m trying to keep a copy of the original RAW file with the final TIFF.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t want to rename the RAW file so I keep part of the original camera assigned file name.<\/p>\n I mentioned that in the \u2018Almost There\u2019 folder I do final proofing and tweaking.\u00a0 Proofing involves printing and I use Image Print for that.\u00a0 One of the key decisions in printing is Rendering Intent; that is, deciding if you want to use Perceptual or Relative Colorimetric when rendering the image on paper.\u00a0 I always check out the two options and determine which works best for each image.\u00a0 Some work well with Relative Colorimetric and with others Perceptual works best.\u00a0 Also, Image Print provides a black point control that can be used to tweak the amount of detail in your shadow areas.\u00a0 This is also very important to me so I\u2019ll also adjust the black point control to get the result I want.\u00a0 For example, the image above used Perceptual rendering intent with the black point control set to 50.\u00a0 This is going to get added to the file name.<\/p>\n But I also want to remain open to slightly different settings if I should print on different papers.\u00a0 I use Red River Polar Matte 99 percent of the time.\u00a0 But sometimes I like the Red River Polar Metallic paper.\u00a0 So, once I finalize the paper and rendering settings I add them to the file name.\u00a0 So the final name ends up \u2018hidden_valley_130119_5116_rrpm_p50.tiff.\u2019<\/p>\n The thing that\u2019s great about this naming system is I\u2019ve documented the settings I use in Image Print right in the file name.\u00a0 I could keep a separate database of all the settings (arg!) or just print everything the same (and compromise the quality I\u2019m after).\u00a0 But putting the settings in the name means a year from now when I\u2019m printing this I\u2019ll know exactly what settings to use to get the exact same results I got the day I proofed it and gave it the thumbs up.<\/p>\n So what about the capture date?\u00a0 Well, that\u2019s simple.\u00a0 It serves two purposes.\u00a0 The most important is when I\u2019m matting the photograph I write the title of the photograph and the year on the photograph itself and on the matt.\u00a0 And the year is right in the name.\u00a0 So the title of this photograph would be \u2018Hidden Valley (2013).\u2019\u00a0 Easy.\u00a0 The other reason is if for some reason I need to go back and find the original RAW file in my backups I have the date it was shot and that\u2019s the way all my files are organized \u2013 by year\/month\/day.\u00a0 So it\u2019s easy to find.<\/p>\n OK, so I told you this wasn\u2019t sexy but some of these more mundane things sure make life a lot easier so I have less grief and more time for the sexy stuff.<\/p>\n We offer some great photography workshops. \u00a0Check them out<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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