Following is the current workflow I’m using for the bulk of my digital imaging work. This workflow has been refined from over a decade of image processing, and uses the latest available software.

Raw/DNG Image Workflow, starting from the camera memory card:

1. Ingestion: Copy files from CF card to computer, using Bridge scripts or Adobe Photo Downloader. During ingestion: a) Convert to DNG, b) Apply your custom metadata template, and c) Make a backup copy to a second hard drive.
2. Initial Sorting: Browse the folder of new images in Adobe Bridge or iView. Apply keywords to images – assign at least one keyword for every file – and perform initial ranking (up to 2 stars on this round). Delete obvious rejects (optional based on disk space).
3. Archive DNGs: Burn optical media archive of DNGs for offsite storage.
   Optional here – synchronize your backup of all working DNG files. If not now, synchronize at least every few days. Use a file backup utility with synchronization capability for this.
4. Make Final Selections: In Bridge or iView, continue ranking, select the final set of files to be converted to master PSD. Read more…

In Adobe Camera Raw, you can make better contrast adjustments if you pull back the Saturation to -100. Removing the color allows you to concentrate on the tonal relationships in the image. After getting a very nice-looking grayscale image, bring the Saturation back in.

You can load multiple images into Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) from Bridge. Simply shift-select a range of images and do one of the following:

1. Press Cmd+O (Ctrl+O) to open the files into ACR being hosted by Photoshop.

2. Press Cmd+R (Ctrl+R) to open the files into ACR being hosted by Bridge.

Once in ACR, you can select individual images from the filmstrip to apply adjustments or change settings for multiple images. You can synchronize adjustments between files.

When you’re done making any adjustments to the raw image settings, press Cmd+A or Ctrl+A to select all the files in the filmstrip, or shift-select specific images to be batch processed.

At the bottom right of the ACR window, click one of the following buttons:

1. Click Save… to convert the raw files and save as a different format, such as DNG or PSD, without opening the files.

2. Click Open to convert the raw files and open them into Photoshop.

3. Click Done to apply all the changes you made to image settings without converting or opening the images.