I notice several Lightroom threads concerning aspects of workflow with Lightroom. I don't want to hijack a thread, nor do I want to create redundant threads, so I ask forbearance (or relocation, Mr Moderator) if I've done either.
My current workflow is ACR-->iView Media Pro/Photoshop CS2 (organization/image manip/etc)-->ImagePrint or PSCS2 w/custom printer profiles. I've gotten quite used to it and it works for me. I'm wondering how Lightroom is going to fit with this workflow and with my disk-organization scheme.
I have several workflow-related folders (I use folders only for workflow, not for categorizing or filing images; my system is keyword and iView "catalog set" based.) Images go from the CF card into a "Captures" folder where they are renamed and converted to DNG and saved in a second folder while I decide what further to do with them. From here they either get offline archived without further processing (or after processing), discarded, or "starred" for PS work and final output. For this latter path I save the DNG's as TIFF's for PS work in a third "working" folder which also gets archived eventually offline. There may be several variants of the original image here, distinguished by filename suffixes on the same basic filename (which is itself date-and-time based). Images for print output go to a "Print Queue" folder, where again there may be different versions of an image to be printed, again related by a common filename "root"; JPEG's for website upload go to an "upload" folder, etc.
It seems better for me to have LR reference the images where they are, which means I guess that each folder would show up as a Shoot. I guess. Problem is, these folders aren't "watched" like in iView so changes as I move things around don't show up. I don't want to constantly have to re-import and have a bunch of different "shoots" to contend with, some referencing images in the same folder.
I'm used to my current workflow which is smoother than it may sound, but intrigued by LR's potential for bulk adjustments and easier printing, to name a few benefits it promises. Just wondering how to integrate all of these disparate apps. I've done various tutorials and viewed Michael and Jeff's DVD, but I'm wondering whether LR is going to allow me to do what I want, or whether I need to consider a different workflow.
I'm not averse to change as long as I can keep a keyword-based organization system, with virtual "collections" (eg LR collections or iView "catalog sets") for logical groupings of related images; and a reliable way to distinguish versions of working or final-output files, yet be able to maintain a connection with the originals. I'd also rather not have to undo vast amounts of work already done in iView, which I find very nice to use. Not asking much, eh?
Any pointers to further resources, or advice, would be welcome.