Then I was offered ASP beta and was very intrigued with true non-destructive editing (better than Canon DPP because I could go back days latter and still undo), stacking and versions - this has got to be the cat's meow.
I then got LR3 trial (with updates I got over 60 days of free use. I opened ASP and LR3 side by side and worked over my photos previously edited with DPP and PSPX4. I passed keywords between the two and generally figured out what process they were trying to fit me in. I dug in and was struck by how non-intuitive (very non-Corel-ish) ASP was at first. However with time I actually found it very intuitve to complete a workflow process that previously required several programs for every photo.
I landed on an ASP workflow that was efficient and therefore ultimately intuitive which leaves LR3 uninstalled.
A long story to get to how I landed on my final workflow:
1) Take many RAW photos which usually includes many bracketed exposures for HDR. I take way too many knowing I will ultimately kill many of them.
2) Insert card into computer (LR3 would instantly ask me if they should be imported, cataloged and tagged - ASP count this as Wish list item).
3) Open ASP and click "D" for download. I have preset Download to grab the photos and place them in a folder called “RAW” subfolder "year" folder and subfolder by date. I could then attach any tags that would apply to the whole down load.
4) I then have to import them into my ASP Catalog/Library (LR3 did this automatically via watched folders - ASP count this as Wish list item).
5) Then I go to all thumbnail view, (F8 changed to Shift T - I hate mouse when I can use keyboard) to get an overall feeling of the shoot.
6) I then start the process of rejecting photos. if needed I can go back and forth to image view for a better (shortcut changed to Shift I), I use the following criteria for rejects:
a) do I have photo of similar composition but better quality that can replace the reject (selecting two photos in multi-view makes this easy.
b) is it just so bad it has to go, and only remotely brings back a memorable moment.
7) I then star/rank (keyboard shortcuts 1, 2, 3, etc) what is left over and apply more pertinent tags/keywords (LR3 has most frequently used Tags/Keywords shortcuts - ASP count this as Wish list item).
While ranking them I am also stacking them (short cut K). ASP has an annoying habit of not rolling the stack after associating the stack. You have to deselect the stack and then select it again (LR3 does not have this flaw and it really cuts down on efficiency - I have complained since the first beta). I base my stack on both composition and HDR needs. Stacking makes for a very neat and easy to scan catalog.9) Editing then occurs utilizing the available short cuts. Here I will also make versions of different exposures. Under Batch Output you can create your own hand offs. For instance I created “TIFF HDR” with its own “shortcut Shift H” that creates a tiff of the selected RAWs, names the tiffs by date and time, and places them in my “HDR” folder. Finally it calls up my HDR program to begin the compiling process. I made a similar Batch Output called “TIFF Stitch” that hands off to my photo stitch program. Let your imagination go on this one create program calling short cuts. This is where ASP kicks LR3 - creating custom Batch Outputs and giving them shortcuts. I never make a Batch Out from scratch I just duplicate the closest thing and tweak a little.
10) Finally I Click “F” a default batch output which has a preset to save the final picture in a folder “READY”/ “date.jpg”
I hope this helps kick start the use of ASP for some of you. I completely understand some folks would consider the above insanity but it really works for me and it is a great time saver.
