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[Affinity Photo] How open above 200 RAW and produce it one by one


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I start read Photo Manual and I can't find information about massive RAW development with batch processing. I'm new in app so I maybe wrong, but it's look like I can open RAW file, but is limited to File > Open and I don't have option open all files in folder with navigation mode (next / previous file) for massive edditing.

 

What I want

 

1. Select folder or files in folder - at once above 200 RAW files

2. Open it all above 200 RAW files in Affinity Photo without crash

3. Develop RAW one by one fx. I start develop RAW file no 1, next file no 2, next file no 3, ..., next file no 241 with posibility turn back to previous file and for example delete file from harddisk (remove scene duplicates) or change develop setting

 

4. When I set RAW settings in Develop Persona I want next set:

        a ) the same file name for output file fx. mountain-

        b ) set output folder fx. "my vacation"

        c ) set dimension, DPI, format etc. for all files but by setting it once fx. 300DPI 1024x768 JPG

        d ) export all files by one click

 

Result:

In folder "my vacation" I have output above 240 JPGs with 1024x768px dimension, 300DPI etc. with file convention mountain-001.jpg, mountain 002.jpg, mountain-003.jpg,..., mountain-241.jpg.

 

Question

How do that in Affinity? Is it a posibility work in Adobe Lightroom style in this app?

 

Comment

My question is not about posibility develop RAW, because Affinity Photo do that, but about massive edition. At this scenario I have 200-600 RAW files and I want edit them all in Affinity at once but without openning files in parts of fx. 20 RAW files, but with proceed in queue. For more explenation my question I publish video with what I want and I get in Adobe Lightroom here.

 

As you can see in the window part below I get thumbnails of RAW files. When I click on them I can switch to another RAW file and develop it. If I want I can go back and change setting of RAW. When I set in Develop all settings I simply use Export. On this window I set what I want, press export and go drink tea when Lightroom do rest.

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sad but true, its not possible at the moment. You have to work with something like lightroom for now :/
I hope they will make the it happen to develop a series of RAW pictures in the near future.

There are already some threads about this problem here in the forum.

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Hi affi.usr,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

No, currently this is not possible: there's no way to apply a set of settings from the Develop Persona to multiple RAW files in Affinity Photo. You can use batch jobs to process multiple RAW (or processed files  - JPG, TIFF etc) but you can only apply macros you created in Photo Persona to them which means the RAW files are automatically developed/processed before the macro is performed/applied.

 

We have plans to develop a DAM (digital assets management) software later, able to work with libraries/large collections but there's no info/details about its scope/capabilities at this point.

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No, this is not possible. There no way to apply a set of settings from the Develop Persona to multiple RAW files in Affinity Photo. 

 

I think this is a very serious, if not crippling, omission from Affinity Photo.  Applying a set of settings to a set of RAW files from a photo shoot is not, in my opinion, a function of a DAM. 

It should be a feature of the Develop Persona.  

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Agreed, how should a general usable DAM (meaning one not made the specific proprietary way) know which individual settings have to be applied to certain RAW files. IMO this would only work if an individual RAW converter allows to use external reusable control files for applying settings over to a bunch of RAWs.

 

Today most RAW converters all have their own individual batch processing implementation, though some of them might be controllable also via command line argument scripting and the like.

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Hi ostonica, v_kyr,

Sorry for not being clear. I was describing what's currently possible to do with the features/funcionality present in Affinity Photo now. Affinity Photo is quite recent and in constant development. There's still areas to develop/improve as we move forward. I don't know which functionality future developments would bring. This is even more true for the planned DAM.

 

I've edited my previous post to avoid more confusion.

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I think this is a very serious, if not crippling, omission from Affinity Photo. 

 

But it's not, is it?

 

It's pretty clear that Photo's Raw support model is not intended to be a replacement for dedicated Raw converters which are designed to function in a bulk conversion/processing "production" context. 

 

Use a tool designed for the job. That's obviously not Photo.

Keith Reeder

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I bought Affinity Photo not being sure it would be able to make batch processing to develop RAWs. Anyway, I've just developed my first picture with it and I'm glad to say it only took me less than 2 hours for a difficult picture* before I have read any help or manual or seen any tutorial.

 

a speaker in a convention in a dark room with a bright screen behind him : a dark, underexposed picture with much bur and huge highlights

 

Unfortunately, I have a bunch of similar picture to process and it will be faster to do the whole with Lightroom.

 

So, Photo won't allow be to throw Lightroom away just now. But I bought it prior not to have to use Photoshop and to replace The Gimp, a great open software I support for years, but that have some lack of ergonomics and functions.

 

I'm delighted with Photo and I still wait impatiently to have a better batch RAW development process, but I can't blame Serif not to have it done yet because Photo is already a wonderfull software and a bargain.

 

Please apologize some languages mistakes I could make : I'm french.

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We have plans to develop a DAM (digital assets management) software later, able to work with libraries/large collections but there's no info/details about its scope/capabilities at this point.

 

So I'll check batch processing mode. Thank you for your sugestion. After reading answers I want add my opinion. I think DAM is great solution for some people working with a lot of types graphics. Specialised images cataloging and navigation program with labels, searching with tag etc. is good idea. In some place it make a advantage.

 

 

It's pretty clear that Photo's Raw support model is not intended to be a replacement for dedicated Raw converters which are designed to function in a bulk conversion/processing "production" context. 

 

Use a tool designed for the job. That's obviously not Photo.

 

I have different opinion. When you have to get editor with explorer inside app Lightroom is the good choice. You can catalogue photos etc, but take a moment and ask where is lack his funcionality. When you need remove object, add text, using mask you have to switch to Photoshop to deal with this job. I watch first 14 video of AP turorial, read 1/6 of manual and I see how many killer function in comparision to Lightroom Affinity Photo does.

 

So why it can make only switching between RAW file easier? Out the box I get great functionality to make layers, working with blending modes etc. It was very anoying to me when I need some retuche and I need switch from Lightroom to another app.

 

I think Affinity Photo is dedicated to advanced working with photos too. Name of app sugested that. So it have too make this:

 

1. when I develop one RAW - save preset of my settings and apply to anothers RAW

2. easy switch between a lof of RAW with simple navigation

3. set export setting for a lot of RAW

 

Why?

1. It's boost productivity. When I need more advance functionality I simply click on another Persona, add what I want. I save time to switch app. Concept of Persona get advance when I need another Persona's funcionality I simply click on it. Sometimes you have similar photo, but on one of them you want add some changes fx. increase light effect on the night I can start on it for example by brushes. At this point you can copy settings from another RAW and add in other Persona effect by brush for example.

 

2. Crucial is simply navigation. When I need complex navigation functionality I want Adobe Bridge replacement (DAM), but for a lot of people labeling, staring not make sense. They want simple develop RAW and exported it like sport event shooting or simply amatour photography interesing place from vacation. I think add navigation window with RAW thumbnails and option save project (get all opened files as a project for later working with) it's all what they need.

 

Next and previous RAW file, export/not export and delete from hard disk is what a simplest navigation should have. If you want more - use specialised navigator for it. From performence issue Affinity Photo could simply open file only when user click on it and when switch save temporary file with preferences. When RAW project is opened then by clicking in navigator you load develop setting. If you not apply setting you have default which you can set in Export Persona. At this point you have for example create Infrared style output by simply one clicking.

 

3. I like photography at free time so I take photos - in definition more than one in one place. When I have time I get RAW development. When I need switch between program is frustrating and in place of fun of it I'm waiting to open new app. Export Persona get amazing functionalities at this stage so why not extended it to develop more file at once? When we get new RAW project we can simply run batch processing. Setting from all picture are loaded from project file. I don't need add brushes and fx. blending mode to all pictures, but when I develop RAW I want some adjust for my specials shoots. When I go to holidays and come back I want some photos saved for documentary and I don't have too too complex develop on it. At the same time I have part of pictures to make more work and it is the place where Affinity Photo can win.

 

Photographers don't have app with simply navigation mode for massive develop RAW and Photoshop funcionalities. It's why Adobe sell pack for  photographers Lightroom + Photoshop.

 

I hate in Lightroom that it has too complex options outside develop - Slideshow, Book or Map - I don't need it.

 

Summary

From Affinity Photo I need one simple thing - fast switch to next RAW and develop it with advance options in case I like shoot.

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Indeed - but Photo is not a "Raw converter". It's a pixel editor that happens to provide a Raw conversion capability.

 

Right Photo is not a dedicated RAW converter, but on the other side other Apps aren't too. - For example Photoshop Elements is first of all a pixel editor too, which provides image organization and RAW conversion capabilities (even batch processing of RAWs and non-RAWs to some degree).

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Photoshop Elements is first of all a pixel editor too, which provides image organization and RAW conversion capabilities (even batch processing of RAWs and non-RAWs to some degree).

 

Primarily because PSE has a cut-down Adobe Bridge - something specifically designed for this kind of job.

 

Photo isn't PSE, and it makes no pretence of providing an equivalent of, or an alternative to, Bridge. Until this happens -- and it might - my point is that it's a waste of time and energy to complain about the lack of something that Photo is clearly not currently designed to do.

 

Make it a feature request by all means, but don't waste your energy by getting bent out of shape about Photo not doing what it's clearly not meant to do.

Keith Reeder

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I have different opinion. When you have to get editor with explorer inside app Lightroom is the good choice. You can catalogue photos etc, but take a moment and ask where is lack his funcionality. When you need remove object, add text, using mask you have to switch to Photoshop to deal with this job. I watch first 14 video of AP turorial, read 1/6 of manual and I see how many killer function in comparision to Lightroom Affinity Photo does.

 

I don't dispute that it would be a useful thing to have, but my point is that you seem to expect that it should already have this ability, and that's clearly not Serif's current design ambition.

 

There are other Raw processing priorities that Photo needs to square away before I'd argue there's a case for bulk Raw conversion capability:

 

1 Vastly improved conversion speed. At the moment it takes many users tens of seconds to just open one Raw file in the Develop Persona: this is clearly something that need to addressed and significantly improved upon before we can speak seriously about batch-converting hundreds of files; and

 

2 Conversion quality. Photo's conversions aren't bad, but they're a very long way from being a match for established converters like Photo Ninja and Capture One: it'd be madness for Serif to concentrate limited development resources on creating a batch conversion function before its conversion results match those of current conversion solutions.

 

So - as I say in the reply above - call this a feature request, but don't be surprised that it's not currently part of Serif's design intentions for Photo.

Keith Reeder

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...

 

Make it a feature request by all means, but don't waste your energy by getting bent out of shape about Photo not doing what it's clearly not meant to do.

 

Well I don't have and/or use Photo at all and I also don't process my cam RAW files with bitmap editing software, since there are much better dedicated RAW conversion tools around for this job. - So I personally don't care much about such build-in features, though who knows other people might instead have a need for it, or you have to implement it since the competition offers that too etc.

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I don't dispute that it would be a useful thing to have, but my point is that you seem to expect that it should already have this ability, and that's clearly not Serif's current design ambition.

 

There are other Raw processing priorities that Photo needs to square away before I'd argue there's a case for bulk Raw conversion capability:

 

 

Develop Persona is step to easy deal with RAW. Optimalisation is always crucial so I agree with you. I think next step is make easier load another RAW and work with it.

 

 

Well I don't have and/or use Photo at all and I also don't process my cam RAW files with bitmap editing software, since there are much better dedicated RAW conversion tools around for this job. - So I personally don't care much about such build-in features, though who knows other people might instead have a need for it, or you have to implement it since the competition offers that too etc.

 

Photoshop CS6 has adance option to work with medic images. It is very specialised function and a lot of user don't simply use it. I think we should ask about what is universality base and when we need specialisation. It is reason why Illustrator don't replace InDesign and vice versa. App function is not equal with someone have to use it :)

 

I think about how make something new. I'm looking for new way working with RAW. If someone don't need massive RAW develop then can in my scenario not check box and it is all.

 

Specialised RAW converters has lack advance picture manipulation capability. Lightroom is not Photoshop and Photoshop is not Lightroom. So why not mix this together in Affinity Photo? In another way we can take Lightroom in mounthly plan with Photoshop and don't think about new solution because we have one.

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@affi.usr:

 

For now, you can batch rename all the files lightning fast using free apps "Total Commander" or "Free Commander" and then continue with your task.

 

P.S.

BTW, don't be so impatient. Affinity developers do their job the Earth way.

They don't have time to visit God and learn how to make things happen at the blink of the eye.  :P

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...

 

Photoshop CS6 has adance option to work with medic images. It is very specialised function and a lot of user don't simply use it. I think we should ask about what is universality base and when we need specialisation. It is reason why Illustrator don't replace InDesign and vice versa. App function is not equal with someone have to use it :)

 

I think about how make something new. I'm looking for new way working with RAW. If someone don't need massive RAW develop then can in my scenario not check box and it is all.

 

Specialised RAW converters has lack advance picture manipulation capability. Lightroom is not Photoshop and Photoshop is not Lightroom. So why not mix this together in Affinity Photo? In another way we can take Lightroom in mounthly plan with Photoshop and don't think about new solution because we have one.

 

My point was more meant for Keith, namely that I'm not going to make any feature request in this regard, since I personally use other workflows and completely other software for RAW conversion and bitmap editing/image retuching. - Though of course other people might here instead have a high demand on these RAW processing things for Affinity Photo, which is also Ok. - In short, the Serif marketing and dev teams has finally to decide what makes sense for them due to their evolutionary development process here, in terms of competitive features, their development time versus costs and feasibility etc.

 

Well IMO there isn't any app (and probably there never will be) which does it ALL the right way for everyone, so I doubt AP will be this "I can do it all" game changer here, at least not in the near future. But I also wouldn't mind if it maybe would be one day.

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IMO we shoud ask themselves which aproach is more convinient for edit more than one RAW at the time. I prefer add extra money to Affinity team (it is why I bought Workbook when I think this is a bit overpriced for me) to develop more universal Photo editor than buy next few app for other task. They have simple switch Persona in app and from my point of view it can be a advantage when they create mix Lightroom (simple next/previous load RAW) with Photoshop like (as Photo is firstly designed to) function to make work in the easiest way.

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My point was more meant for Keith, namely that I'm not going to make any feature request in this regard, 

 

And I really don't care what you do - I responded to you in good faith, because the point you made about PhotoShop Elements was irrelevant to the discussion.

Keith Reeder

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... because the point you made about PhotoShop Elements was irrelevant to the discussion.

 

Don't know if it is irrelevant to mention in a thread about RAW batch processing themes, that some of the competitive players in this image editing segment do support this. But never mind, my intention was not to demand this feature, it was just a plain example.

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How much is a used copy of Lighroom going for these days? If you can find one cheap enough, why not use it for the mass production part of your workflow and Affinity for all the rest? I have LR4 but I never wanted to spend the $$$ on photoshop. When Affinity Photo showed up for Windows I jumped on it :)

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Dear rmar, I'm consider that since I've read that Affinity Photo don't have option to fast switch to another RAW file. In Poland is hard to find used Lightroom. Most user when bought then used them without any break. I think market need two separated lines of apps:

 

 

 

1. massive production RAW with FTP / Instagram / FB etc. social media compatibilities

2. massive production RAW without social media and limited to develop only

 

I think LR is placed more in (1) I'm looking for (2). For me situation is clear. When I want detailed retouche it's really don't matter how open next file - I will spend few hours on it, so it's here started academic question. At this place I agree with you. One soft like Raw Therapee (because is free) or LR (better quality, less noise) in duet with Affinity Photo make a job.

 

My scenario is another. You have a lot of RAW photo like some event or holidays. Most of them you proceed typicaly white balance, curve adjustment, balancing colors etc. Now you win on lottery and you found shoot of your life. You get your girlfriend on the beach in bikini, amazing lights and you falling in love when you see this picture... and on the first plane you see some trashes. You will remove them few second and lunch two times longer Affinity Photo. Get you my point? Do you understand difference betweens this two scenarios?

 

From other hand preview of opened files when is more than few I think it can make Affinity Photo job easier.

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