BrianSmall
Well-known member
Breeze Browser..................hands down!!
Reviewing & culling RAW files without Lightroom
- Thread starter Abinoone
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Just from this post I loaded Faststone image viewer and Photo Mechanic. As soon I opened Faststone and it was amazing, speed and ease of use. Then I loaded Photo Mechanic, it wouldn't even display my Z9 files. One of the review stated "It may be a little difficult to use", I agree.
I'll use NXStudio and Fastone, within the past 20 minutes I'm liking Fastone more and more. If within a week I'm still liking the software, I make a donation.
I'll use NXStudio and Fastone, within the past 20 minutes I'm liking Fastone more and more. If within a week I'm still liking the software, I make a donation.
I like FastStone (FSIV) because you can compare up to four images and you can easily run it form a keyboard quickly. But, I also use it in conjunction with Fast Raw Viewer when I need to critically review the raw file. Yes, FSIV can read the raw file, but I find reviewing it in Fast Raw Viewer more helpful. And you can get the latter to run as an external editor with the touch of a key. So, FSIV when I am culling a lot of images and Fast Raw Viewer at the touch of a button when I really need to see the raw image and want to see things like highlight or shadow recovery.
Then I rename and back them up with downloader Pro and finally import them into LR Classic. Not saying this will work for everyone, or that other options are not just as, good, if not possibly better, but it works for me.
--Ken
Then I rename and back them up with downloader Pro and finally import them into LR Classic. Not saying this will work for everyone, or that other options are not just as, good, if not possibly better, but it works for me.
--Ken
As a side note, there was a discussion on another photo forum where we talked about this subject. We talked about the some of the challenges of using embedded jpegs for culling and the desire to review the raw file. Olympus, and especially Ricoh, had embedded jpegs that were sometimes challenging due to a lack of resolution (Ricoh) or lower quality (occasional posterization from Olympus files). I had mentioned that FSIV did use allow the use of the raw file for viewing, and a member had suggested that it was preferable to review the raw files in the program that you were going to eventually edit the files because there are a number of raw engines used to convert, and they can render differently. I suspect this is the case, but I have not done any testing to see if the differences are worth noting.
Nonetheless, I wanted to call it out if it matters to some folks, or to see if anybody has any additional information they want to share. I cannot recall what converter that FSIV uses, but believe it may be DCRaw. And I believe that Fast Raw Viewer uses their own program called LibRaw. Adobe, as we know, uses their ACR. Make of it what you will, as I use all of the above and have not had the time to do any meaningful comparisons.
--Ken
Nonetheless, I wanted to call it out if it matters to some folks, or to see if anybody has any additional information they want to share. I cannot recall what converter that FSIV uses, but believe it may be DCRaw. And I believe that Fast Raw Viewer uses their own program called LibRaw. Adobe, as we know, uses their ACR. Make of it what you will, as I use all of the above and have not had the time to do any meaningful comparisons.
--Ken
John Navitsky
Well-known member
fwiw, while i haven’t done it, i know you can configure photomechanic to use jpgs as the preview so you could shoot raw + jpg and get better previews
thelordofthelight
Well-known member
One more vote for NX studio. Although it's not as fast as faststone viewer, it represents the most accurate colors. I use it to first apply ratings (star ratings or number ratings from 0-9). You can then use the filter to filter out the selected ones and delete the rest with select all.
Am I not sure I am understanding you correctly - you don't want to use LR - and find Photoshop tedious - so if you are not using LR - do you use Bridge to view and cull?
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I rely on Photo Mechanic. It is fast, and its keyword, IPTC, and cataloging features are impressive.
I love the fact that it is a real database system. I like working with it and applying keywords. I think of Lightroom as an entry level everything program and that’s OK. It doesn’t stack up favourably against the speed and flexibility of a dedicated DRM program for culling, sorting, rating and keywording.
Clearly several personal favorites are mentioned. One of my favorites is FastRawViewer . I like it because it quickly works with raw files and helps me select an image for posting and also for printing among several similar images:
FastRawViewer is very fast and works with RAW files. For posting small jpgs on the web #1 is usually all I need. Printing is another matter.
I sometimes find a few almost "identical" images that look the same that is where items 2 and 3 let me select the one with the best exposure. At 20 fps I still may have more than one image and that is where I use items 4 and 5 to pick the pest one to print by helping me select the best infocus image that shows the best detail.
For just posting small jpg's on the web this is more work than is needed. However for a larger print selecting the image with the best exposure, focus and along that shows the best focus and detail is more important to me.
I am sure all the other methods mentioned are equally as good to those using them. A lot comes down to what you are accustomed to using and why change something that works for you. However if you are looking for a change or possible improvement FastRawViewer may be worth a look.
- Allows comparison of 2 or 4 contiguous images
- Has a fast visual way directly on the image itself to illustrate shadow exposure
- Has a fast visual way directly on the image itself to illustrate highlight exposure
- Has a fast visual way directly on the image itself to show what's in focus
- Has a fast visual way directly on the image itself to show areas of detail
FastRawViewer is very fast and works with RAW files. For posting small jpgs on the web #1 is usually all I need. Printing is another matter.
I sometimes find a few almost "identical" images that look the same that is where items 2 and 3 let me select the one with the best exposure. At 20 fps I still may have more than one image and that is where I use items 4 and 5 to pick the pest one to print by helping me select the best infocus image that shows the best detail.
For just posting small jpg's on the web this is more work than is needed. However for a larger print selecting the image with the best exposure, focus and along that shows the best focus and detail is more important to me.
I am sure all the other methods mentioned are equally as good to those using them. A lot comes down to what you are accustomed to using and why change something that works for you. However if you are looking for a change or possible improvement FastRawViewer may be worth a look.
In that case when you don't need or want a management system like Lightroom it just comes down to deciding if you want to cull with the embedded jpeg or with the raw. Adobe Bridge is free to everyone so I'll add that to the list of suggestions. It has keywording and ratings.
Download Adobe Bridge for Free
Download Adobe Bridge digital asset management software when you get started with Adobe Creative Cloud.
agrumpyoldsod
Well-known member
The best way is to use downtime while shooting to review and rate your images IN-CAMERA and also delete obvious misses (but not more than that) -- this means that the files imported into LRC come pre-graded and this is the fastest way I have found to safely cull in the field. Later you can simply review your 5* and 4* images and process the best of those. Later when you have more time I recommend going through the entire shoot again -- which is why deleting is such a bad idea, except obvious misses.
Using PhotoMechanic (PM) requires transfering files onto a computer and this takes time -- YES if you are shooting live action sports you will need to PM to be able to tag each image you want to send to your desk.
I also use Snapbridge and iPad if choices are hard.
Using PhotoMechanic (PM) requires transfering files onto a computer and this takes time -- YES if you are shooting live action sports you will need to PM to be able to tag each image you want to send to your desk.
I also use Snapbridge and iPad if choices are hard.
In the field, I load all images to iPad pro then Sandisc SSD as this fulfills two needs : first is backup…I get two, then as Andy says, it’s easier to review and rate at that time.
Abinoone
Well-known member
I enjoy using Photoshop, but find it tedious to load images just to review them quickly to decide whether I want to keep them or not. I don’t use Lightroom at all. I’m looking for an easy way to view RAW images, and cull those I don’t want to keep.
Not so. I use PM with the external HD I used in the field to back up all my images. After culling, only the "keeps" are copied to my desktop computer.
Can PM read and cull directly from the card I think was the point.
I understand the OP is asking for LR alternatives and I sent him a PM but after Karen's comment, I wanted to share a similar thought here. I do a similar process as Karen. But after watching Steve's Lightroom Library Module video course on Lightroom I switched to using that with two monitors for the culling. Like many here I resisted the idea of paying 9.99 a month. That really changed my view of the process. I had considered PhotoMechanic as Karen uses. I had considered FastRAWViewer. PM uses the embedded JPG. FRV doesn't handle HE*. But what really convinced me was Steve's process and how easy it would be cull and then use LR to handle 90% of my needs. Steve shows how using stacks is particularly helpful with high frame rate. I also discovered how absolutely powerful the new LR, ACR, PS masking tools are. (These aren't covered in the video) For example, it can split a face into parts (eyes, nose, etc) with a click. The filtering is also quite powerful. For example if I want to review my ISO images for consideration of special processing that is very easy as well. Also I liked the face detection for tagging and the easy of adding tags. Using LR means learning one less piece of software.
So this post isn't really for the OP who wants an alternative but for those that might want to take another look at LR.
I think is an excellent choice if you want to view RAW images and is preferred for that. Unfortunately for Nikon Z9 users they don't support HE* RAW (they show the embedded jpg) and have told me the Nikon SDK is too slow so not sure they ever will.
I was replying to Andy's comment that using PM "requires transfering files onto a computer and this takes time" ....................
PM will work on cards via card reader, external HDs, computers, etc.
I'm with Karen, AKA ButlerKid, on this; Photo Mechanic. It's fast and powerful. It allows renaming files and the folder into which they will go. When finished, I have my keeper photos in a folder that references date and place. AND each photo filename also includes same place/date info. Non-keeper photos get marked during culling and then moved to trash in two keystrokes.
But I am asking - do you use Bridge - have you used Bridge?
jfredrick
Well-known member
ACDSee to organize and Fastone for culling.
A good DAM (Data Asset Management) program is ideal for organization. This is where Lightroom shines but I don’t care for the monthly subscription Route.
Photo Mechanic and Adobe Bridge are also good DAM programs. A lot of good choices and info in this thread for culling options!
As other have mentioned, I also use Fastone Image Viewer for review and culling. I really like its speed and ease of tagging.
Based on my experience, however, it does not seem to handle Nikon Z9 He* files (full screen view does not work). I am running the current version based on the Fastone web site. Is there a setting I need to look at?
Based on my experience, however, it does not seem to handle Nikon Z9 He* files (full screen view does not work). I am running the current version based on the Fastone web site. Is there a setting I need to look at?
Not being a wildlife photographer I rarely use burst settings and, even when shooting stacks, don't come home from a shoot with huge numbers of RAW images. I copy the images from cards to a camera-specific folder, batch-develop them into TIFFs in Bridge and cull and label using the "high-res" previews, also in Bridge. I keep the rest along with the RAWs in the camera-specific folder. I then move copies of the TIFFs to project-specific folders for editing. The downside is that really large folders load slowly and it requires a lot of both memory and fast storage. The upside is that there's no separate "catalog" and I can go all the way back to the original RAW if necessary. Would this work for wildlife shooters with huge numbers of images from bursts - perhaps not but storage has become cheap and fast computers with lots of memory are more available now. I'm up to 10 TB drives at this point and because I'm compulsive about backup need 4 individual drives of at least 10TB each.
Hobbzz
Well-known member
I have but I still prefer XNview for the controls.
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