PS Guru's, technical question

I shoot 'x' amount of images at a wedding and then cull them down to

200 proofs. I get the images right in ACR (using bridge now) and then

batch to full size jpg. From there I batch the the jpg's with an

action that crops them down to 7X5" which is the printed proof size.

 

The client gets their 200 7X5" proofs and cd's with both full size

images and cropped (7X5)images.

 

So far so good.

 

Along comes CS2 with a cropping/rotating ability in ACR. I'm finding

this tool very useful, sometimes a tiny crop can improve a picture

(especially when you have a damn 90% viewfinder).

 

Problem is that when the pictures get to the cropping action, if I've

already cropped into the picture then I get left with white space

around the photo. The action was made for full size files and crops

that way eventhough I hadn't specified any DPI, just the L & W.

 

I there any way to get around this, i.e. to set up a crop in an

action which takes a 'large as possible' 7X5" crop from the middle of

the image whatever it's size and DPI?

 

I could size each crop as it comes through the action but I'm really

trying my best to get away from the time spent on computer by getting

the WB right at the time of shooting (with my new and V.V.Good

WhiBal) and setting maximum amount of automation in PS. I'm very busy

next month with about 9 weddings booked, 3 in 3 consecutive days, and

I don't have the time or patience for too much ACR or PS work.

Hi Ben.

 

You could go through all the color and straightening tasks, and just click "done". Then

"select all" and command R to put all the images back into ARC. Above the film strip on

the left are two buttons, select all and synchronize. Click on select all and then

synchronize and just select crop. As you crop one image all the images will be instantly

cropped the same. Then hit save and select j-peg. I actually do this as I go and do it in

batches of 5 to 10 shots. Even while it is saving to the desktop file you can move on to the

next group.

<p>Here's what I would do.

<p>Insert a Fit Image... step (File|Automate|Fit Image...) in the action to resize all your

photos to a known size before the cropping step. Then re-record the cropping starting

from the known size. Fit Image... is more or less the 'large as possible' step you're

requesting.

<p>--ben

In other words make sure that the crop is after the resize in the action, please pause while I kick myself for being so stupid...

<p>Just curious: why do you crop photos in actions? I imagine every image needs

different cropping or don't you run into photos being cropped at the wrong place (e.g.

missing arms and heads). As far as I can tell, Photoshop will always apply the same

cropping...

<p>Note: I don't do wedding. I visited the forum today for the first time so if the answer is

obvious to a wedding photographer, please forgive me... but let me know.

<p>Thanks

<p>--ben

When we used to shoot film the picture was cropped from full frame (7 1/2X5") to 7X5", the crop being taken straight from the middle. Unless you have changed your shooting style with digital the same should be true. If the picture is off to one side then it helps to have the 1/2" leeway but one tries to get the picture right in camera to minimize fiddling afterwards.

<p>I see, thanks.

<p>I print myself and I don't care too much about standard formats, I use whatever works

for the image... but then I never process 200 photos at once.

<p>Well, snapshots go to the lab but then I don't care at all. Thanks for the explanation

<p>--ben

What is ACR? This is the second time I've heard that term today. Thanks.

It's a typo Todd. Should read ARC... for "Adobe Raw Converter".

Marc, is there a feature like this outside of ARC for film negs I scan into digital?

Not to nitpick, but ACR is not a typo. It stands for Adobe Camera Raw. Of course Adobe calls it Photoshop Camera Raw, so neither is really right...