RAW Workflow (Canon+Mac)
Finally after months of experimenting with settings, color profiles, photo management and manipulation software (including, of course, Adobe Camera Raw as well as Phase Capture ONE Pro) I realized all of this is unnecessary.
Shoot in RAW. Then use Canon’s Digital Photo Professional to tweak the photos. It works non destructively (just like Aperture) and saves all the Raw manipulations in Canon’s CR2 Raw files. When done, export these tweaked and perfect RAW Photos into JPEGs and import into iPhoto for nice previews, slide-show and fast photo management anyway.. Then import the CR2 Raw files, which served as the basis for those JPEGs you just exported out of DPP.
This way you have all in iPhoto, the Raw files which you can still tweak and change in DPP at a later date and the JPEG reviews for slideshows, CDs, websites, whatever…
So easy. So cheap. Just a little open-mindedness and good will. 
Hm, how rare. When shooting RAW (though, with my Nikon), I set the camera to take both the RAW image and then to automatically produce a JPEG preview from it. I’m not sure if the Canons’ have this capability, but it sure saves having to create preview JPEGs manually.
Whats more, I’m refusing to use iPhoto. This is a personal issue, though, as when its full with photos, it runs so slow on my mac.
Comment by Matt Cox — 21 April, 2006 @ 12:03
(cont.)
I have a plugin that allows me to open and save the RAW file through Adobe Photoshop.
I guess I’m working this way to save killing my 4yr old iMac. I really need a new one.
Also, sorry for splitting this comment over two posts. I’m replying from my phone, which only allows so many characters. I love the browser though: Opera Mini
Comment by Matt Cox — 21 April, 2006 @ 12:12
Hi Matt, thanks for commenting! Canon, too, has the option of taking JPEG simultaneously. I meant a preview of an image manipulated in Canon Digital RAW Professional, not one coming straight from the camera. Nice shots you’ve got there..
BTW, I also like Opera, wish they’d port it to Pocket PCs as well–they have a bit larger screens. The usability of Opera Mini on my Symbian 60 is about as good as it gets for such a small just-a-few-buttons device.
Comment by Roman — 21 April, 2006 @ 14:32