Understanding Digital Workflow (4 weeks)

What is digital workflow? In essence, digital workflow is the entire process from capture to print (or website, or DVD). When you release the shutter on your DSLR, what you have actually done is saved a certain number of pixels or bytes in a certain order. What you do from that moment on is described as digital workflow, a series of technical and creative decisions including what software you use to process your RAW or JPG files, how you name and save your files, what changes you make to exposure, white balance, sharpening, etc, and what method you use to export, print and backup your images.

There are, of course, many different ways to do this. In this 4-week class, you'll get an overview of how the whole process works, what are the best practices that have been developed by professional photographers (who deal with hundreds of gigabytes of photos every month), and an introduction to core software staples such as Lightroom and Bridge.

Organizing data doesn't sound very sexy, but you'll soon discover that without a good method for dealing with your files, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the ever-expanding options and sheer volume of data offered by newer 12+ megapixel digital cameras. Understanding Digital Workflow is a critical training towards managing the process of taking pictures in the 21st century.