Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Capture One Q&A => Topic started by: PhilippeRouquet on April 05, 2018, 08:14:42 am

Title: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: PhilippeRouquet on April 05, 2018, 08:14:42 am
I would like to keep all my original RAW images unprocessed and edit only copies of them.
How can I make use of variants to achieve this in a reliable way?
For example, does it make sense to create a new variant and working only on variant 2, etc.?
I generally use color tags for tracking processing steps increments, like red = unprocessed keepers, green = edited images, majenta = print worthy.
I just want to find a way to protect the RAW original (to keep it unprocessed).
I know Capture One 11 does not allow naming variants or making a RAW image read-only but is there is a reliable way to achieve my objective using variants alone or combining variants with another scheme like color tags or keywords.
Thanks for advising.
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: Doug Peterson on April 05, 2018, 09:06:20 am
What underlying reason do you have for wanting to do this? What problem are you looking to solve or prevent?
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: uptownguydenver on April 05, 2018, 10:52:28 am
Capture One never modifies the original file so you never have to worry about changing it. If you modify a file and you want to see the original for comparison, for example, you can choose Image > New Variant and you will see the original file unchanged. You can set that as a Compare Variant if you want to see the two together to see the action of the changes.
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: PhilippeRouquet on April 05, 2018, 12:18:56 pm
Yes, I know C1 never alters the original file but works by saving instructions sets on top of the file (parametric image edting). I am also aware that if I create a new variant, I am presented with the original file unchanged.

What I want to solve is the following: prevent from overriding accidentally variant 1 and/or find a way to set my variant 1 to always be the original unprocessed file.

For example, I start to work on a keeper (red tag):
I create a new variant for a normal edit in colors (variant 2)
I create another variant for b&w (variant 3)

I just want the unprocessed original file (variant 1) to be available for display without having to create a new variant everytime I want to look at the unmodified RAW.

In other words, I do not intend to promote other variants (2, 3 or 4) to position 1. I would like to set or reserve variant 1 for the unprocessed original file.

I hope my intention is clear. Sorry, my native language is French and it is not so easy to formulate.
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: UnfamiliarLight on April 05, 2018, 12:25:47 pm
Then only editing variant 2, 3 etc will get you what you want. If you always create a new variant before you start a new set of editing your original will remain unchanged and available to look at whenever you like.

You can also see what the original file looked like by holding <alt> and clicking the Reset button (see https://help.phaseone.com/en/CO9/Optimizing-Your-Workflow/Workflow-tips.aspx#item5) next to the undo button. That temporarily removes all edits and shows you what the original looked like.

Clearly that his not the same as having two separate images to look at but I personally find the ability to flip between the original and my current edit helpful.
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: PhilippeRouquet on April 05, 2018, 01:11:21 pm
Indeed, this is what I want, make this variant 1 to remain the unprocessed original. It would be nice to have a lock feature but, I guess, it will be up to me to make it systematic.
Thank you for the <alt> flip trick, this is very useful.
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: LeonD on April 06, 2018, 07:43:12 am
What I want to solve is the following: prevent from overriding accidentally variant 1 and/or find a way to set my variant 1 to always be the original unprocessed file.

For example, I start to work on a keeper (red tag):
I create a new variant for a normal edit in colors (variant 2)
I create another variant for b&w (variant 3)

I've recently started editing variants for exactly the same reason.

One additional thing is the type of variant you create.  If you've created your variant 2 (in your example above) and wanted variant 3 exactly the same except being b&w, I'd use Clone Variant.  But if you want your next edit to be completely different, I'd use New Variant.
Title: Re: Protecting RAW unprocessed originals with variants
Post by: Bart_van_der_Wolf on April 06, 2018, 08:58:49 am
One additional thing is the type of variant you create.  If you've created your variant 2 (in your example above) and wanted variant 3 exactly the same except being b&w, I'd use Clone Variant.  But if you want your next edit to be completely different, I'd use New Variant.

Exactly, and that also means that it is not necessary to start with or keep an 'unprocessed' variant, because it can be instantly created when/if needed by using "New Variant". Variants can also be promoted/demoted if the order in which they appear is relevant for some reason.

Cheers,
Bart