Post by michelb on May 6, 2015 7:13:46 GMT
I think I should share here the answer I have given yesterday to different questions in the Adobe forums.
"What is the fastest way to adjust brightness in multiple files using Elements 13?"
and
"How do I apply corrections to a large group of pictures PSE12?"
john_oc a écrit:
I have approximately 100 jpegs that I need to brighten. I need to adjust the brightness by "100" on each; is there a quick way? "Process Multiple Files" doesn't work...
Thank you!
My answer:
Simple and powerful: use the ACR (Camera raw) module.
Depending on the power and amount of RAM of your computer, you can now open and edit several files at the same time in the ACR module.
Use the menu File/Open in camera raw.
Select a batch of files (let's say 20 to start with)
Select all files in the filmstrip on the left.
When they are highlighted, you'll notice that the ACR module shows its automatic correction settings. In general the brightness of your pictures will be already enhanced.
The changes you'll apply to the sliders will change all highlighted pictures.
Take the opportunity to fine tune all other sliders, highlights/shadows, clarity, vibrance, sharpening or denoising...
Tip:
What you do in the ACR module does not change anything to the pixels in original jpeg. Only the settings are saved, which is called parametric editing. So, after this editing session, when you record the changes ('Done' button), you are able to reopen the jpeg (it will open automatically in ACR, even from the organizer). You'll be able to start the edits with either:
1 - the original jpeg values (all sliders to zero, toggle auto/custom in the right panel).
2 - the default ACR automatic corrections
3 - your last edits (file settings)
4 - the settings in the most recent editing session (which is useful to apply to several image consecutively).
Those settings are saved in the metadata section of the jpeg. No need to create a version set at that stage.
Important: even if you are happy with the default automatic settings of ACR, apply a small change of your own so that the settings are saved in the metadata section when you click 'Done'.
You have now edited your first batch. If you are using the orgnizer, you might want to 'update thumbnails', which will show the brightness enhancement in the thumbnails. You are ready to do the edits needed by individual files, like cropping or sharpening in ACR. Instead of clicking 'Done', you can click 'Open' which will open the file in the editor (you can edit in 8 or 16 bits). You have to go to the editor to apply other edits like layers, local adjustments; you have to use the editor to save in any other file format or to print.
For the next batch, the editing settings are available from the dropdown menu on the right (previous conversion). Open the files, highlight them all, select previous conversion, click 'Done'. Wait for the settings to be saved in the jpeg files.
In a situation where you have 100 jpegs, the above workflow is by far the quickest and most flexible you can use. Just imagine you have a wrong white balance setting in your camera, can you imagine the time you would need by editing individual files in the editor?
Next question:
"Is there also a fast way to save all of the files that I have edited (and are selected in filmstrip on the left) as JPEGs? I don't mind if doing so will overwrite the existing files.
Or, is it necessary to open each file separately and then do a "save as"?
Yes.
Once you have edited your batch of jpegs by clicking 'Done' or 'Open',the simplest way is to use the organizer to 'export' your files.
Edit (May 07 2015)
As a matter of fact, I was wrong there, the batch edited with simply 'done' will write the settings to the metadata, but in the organizer the thumbnails won't be updated and the export function will ignore the edits. The edits will be available if you re-open the files from the organizer as well as from the editor. That's why I recommend, before clicking 'Done', to use the 'Save' button to create DNG versions of your edits. They won't be automatically imported, so import them (I choose the option to write the DNGs in the same location). The 'watched folder' may help here.
Advantages of the DNGs : updated thumbnails, ready for export, clear separation from 'normal' jpegs. They contain the original file unchanged as well as your edits or the default ACR settings, you don't need to keep the original jpegs.
The 'Export' feature creates new files somewhere on your computer. You can choose the output file format (jpeg, psd, tiff, png, pdf...). You can choose the output size and quality, the location (another folder, a thumbdrive...) You can rename them with a starting text string (important if you want to keep the custom order assigned in an album).
Important: the exported files are not by default imported in the catalog. Most users consider the exported files as temporary and delete them after they have been used for a given purpose like sharing to the web or printing. If you want to keep a copy, import the new output folder. You could also try to stack the resulting file with the original by selecting both the original and the output files in the organizer and using the option to 'suggest photo stacks'.
John,
If I may add...
The 'parametric' editing workflow outlined above is that used by Lightroom (highly recommended for 'bulk shooters'). Lightroom has much more to offer in terms of speed and customization, like presets, but the recent versions of Elements is remarkable with the ACR module. What is lacking is the option to open in ACR directly from the organizer. Maybe Adobe does not want too much competition with Lightroom... Once you have already opened in ACR from the editor, the organizer automatically opens again in ACR. Another workaround would have been to allow jpeg to DNG conversion from the free standalone DNGconverter, a common feature request.
Speed is not the only advantage of ACR editing. It's not only easier, but you get much better quality for:
- exposure
- white balance
- separate enhancements of shadows/highlights
- clarity and vibrance
- sharpening and denoising.
- 16-bits editing (internal ACR processing and ability to open in 16-bits in the editor)
- no risk of cumulative savings of jpegs for successive edits, with possible quality loss (compression)
The parametric and non-destructive edits also offer non-destructive cropping and straightening... and I forget some others. I process nearly as many jpegs as raws, so it's easier for me to use the same tools. The raw workflow is still better, but with good jpegs from today's camera and experienced photographers, you'll get excellent results easily and rapidly. Just don't set the camera to extreme contrast, saturation or sharpening, your results will be about as good as with raw.
"What is the fastest way to adjust brightness in multiple files using Elements 13?"
and
"How do I apply corrections to a large group of pictures PSE12?"
john_oc a écrit:
I have approximately 100 jpegs that I need to brighten. I need to adjust the brightness by "100" on each; is there a quick way? "Process Multiple Files" doesn't work...
Thank you!
My answer:
Simple and powerful: use the ACR (Camera raw) module.
Depending on the power and amount of RAM of your computer, you can now open and edit several files at the same time in the ACR module.
Use the menu File/Open in camera raw.
Select a batch of files (let's say 20 to start with)
Select all files in the filmstrip on the left.
When they are highlighted, you'll notice that the ACR module shows its automatic correction settings. In general the brightness of your pictures will be already enhanced.
The changes you'll apply to the sliders will change all highlighted pictures.
Take the opportunity to fine tune all other sliders, highlights/shadows, clarity, vibrance, sharpening or denoising...
Tip:
What you do in the ACR module does not change anything to the pixels in original jpeg. Only the settings are saved, which is called parametric editing. So, after this editing session, when you record the changes ('Done' button), you are able to reopen the jpeg (it will open automatically in ACR, even from the organizer). You'll be able to start the edits with either:
1 - the original jpeg values (all sliders to zero, toggle auto/custom in the right panel).
2 - the default ACR automatic corrections
3 - your last edits (file settings)
4 - the settings in the most recent editing session (which is useful to apply to several image consecutively).
Those settings are saved in the metadata section of the jpeg. No need to create a version set at that stage.
Important: even if you are happy with the default automatic settings of ACR, apply a small change of your own so that the settings are saved in the metadata section when you click 'Done'.
You have now edited your first batch. If you are using the orgnizer, you might want to 'update thumbnails', which will show the brightness enhancement in the thumbnails. You are ready to do the edits needed by individual files, like cropping or sharpening in ACR. Instead of clicking 'Done', you can click 'Open' which will open the file in the editor (you can edit in 8 or 16 bits). You have to go to the editor to apply other edits like layers, local adjustments; you have to use the editor to save in any other file format or to print.
For the next batch, the editing settings are available from the dropdown menu on the right (previous conversion). Open the files, highlight them all, select previous conversion, click 'Done'. Wait for the settings to be saved in the jpeg files.
In a situation where you have 100 jpegs, the above workflow is by far the quickest and most flexible you can use. Just imagine you have a wrong white balance setting in your camera, can you imagine the time you would need by editing individual files in the editor?
Next question:
"Is there also a fast way to save all of the files that I have edited (and are selected in filmstrip on the left) as JPEGs? I don't mind if doing so will overwrite the existing files.
Or, is it necessary to open each file separately and then do a "save as"?
Yes.
Once you have edited your batch of jpegs by clicking 'Done' or 'Open',the simplest way is to use the organizer to 'export' your files.
Edit (May 07 2015)
As a matter of fact, I was wrong there, the batch edited with simply 'done' will write the settings to the metadata, but in the organizer the thumbnails won't be updated and the export function will ignore the edits. The edits will be available if you re-open the files from the organizer as well as from the editor. That's why I recommend, before clicking 'Done', to use the 'Save' button to create DNG versions of your edits. They won't be automatically imported, so import them (I choose the option to write the DNGs in the same location). The 'watched folder' may help here.
Advantages of the DNGs : updated thumbnails, ready for export, clear separation from 'normal' jpegs. They contain the original file unchanged as well as your edits or the default ACR settings, you don't need to keep the original jpegs.
The 'Export' feature creates new files somewhere on your computer. You can choose the output file format (jpeg, psd, tiff, png, pdf...). You can choose the output size and quality, the location (another folder, a thumbdrive...) You can rename them with a starting text string (important if you want to keep the custom order assigned in an album).
Important: the exported files are not by default imported in the catalog. Most users consider the exported files as temporary and delete them after they have been used for a given purpose like sharing to the web or printing. If you want to keep a copy, import the new output folder. You could also try to stack the resulting file with the original by selecting both the original and the output files in the organizer and using the option to 'suggest photo stacks'.
John,
If I may add...
The 'parametric' editing workflow outlined above is that used by Lightroom (highly recommended for 'bulk shooters'). Lightroom has much more to offer in terms of speed and customization, like presets, but the recent versions of Elements is remarkable with the ACR module. What is lacking is the option to open in ACR directly from the organizer. Maybe Adobe does not want too much competition with Lightroom... Once you have already opened in ACR from the editor, the organizer automatically opens again in ACR. Another workaround would have been to allow jpeg to DNG conversion from the free standalone DNGconverter, a common feature request.
Speed is not the only advantage of ACR editing. It's not only easier, but you get much better quality for:
- exposure
- white balance
- separate enhancements of shadows/highlights
- clarity and vibrance
- sharpening and denoising.
- 16-bits editing (internal ACR processing and ability to open in 16-bits in the editor)
- no risk of cumulative savings of jpegs for successive edits, with possible quality loss (compression)
The parametric and non-destructive edits also offer non-destructive cropping and straightening... and I forget some others. I process nearly as many jpegs as raws, so it's easier for me to use the same tools. The raw workflow is still better, but with good jpegs from today's camera and experienced photographers, you'll get excellent results easily and rapidly. Just don't set the camera to extreme contrast, saturation or sharpening, your results will be about as good as with raw.