The iPad In My Workflow
A portrait of Madame Bink edited on an iPad2
Having recently upgraded from an iPad to an iPad2, I’m still very much in love 
Using it at home, at work and whilst I travel, it is probably the most widely used “appliance” that I own. But where does it fit into my photography workflow?
Well, recently I have been using it to actually edit my images using SnapSeed, an application from Nik Software. SnapSeed has some REALLY nice features, which I just wish were available for use in Photoshop itself. For instance, it’s B&W conversion is really nice and comes with the ability to tweak specific areas of an image using control points (very similar to Silver EfEx but at a tiny fraction of the price). Similarly some of it’s filters and effects like “Center Focus” and “Drama” are really effective if used sparingly.
So, the challenge was how to integrate the iPad and these editing features into my editing workflow. The main challenge was getting the images both on to and off the iPad, which can be achieved numerous different ways. Some people I know, using EyeFi cards attach wirelessly to the iPad and effectively shoot tethered to it. But this is less about integrating it into their editing flow as it is about their actual process of shooting.
A shot of Loch Lomond coverted to B&W using Snapseed
I approach it a different way. My workflow is still more or less the same in that I shoot RAW, use ACR to convert my RAW files and it is at this stage that the iPad comes into the frame. If am going to use SnapSeed for my B&W conversion, it will be the first step in my editing process. If I’m using the filters, it will most likely be the last (after retouching, contrast, sharpening etc). Using an application called PhotoSync, I can connect to the iPad through a web browser and upload files to it. Note, that SnapSeed and the iPad only supports JPG, so if you’re he’ll bent on editing in 16 bits, you’re a little screwed. So I save the RAW converted JPG, copy it to the iPad via PhotoSync and am now ready for editing.
A family snapshot of my niece Beth, edited using the filters & effects on Snapseed
I’ll then open the JPG in SnapSeed, do what ever magic is needed and then save the result (it gets saved as a new image). Whilst I could use PhotoSync to transfer the image back off the IPad to my PC, I actually use a different application: Adobe Nav. If you have CS5, Adobe Nav connects directly to it and can wirelessly transfer images from the IPad straight to the program.p It has a few ether nifty features as well (all gimmicks, but cool the first time you use them). So now, within Photoshop, I have the image which was edited within Snapseed, ready for saving/printing/additional editing – no syncing through iTunes, no image “optimisation”, no wires, just true full resolution JPG image editing.
So… How do you use yours?
Interesting post. I also feel the iPad is incredibly useful, and I’m not sure how I ever got by without it. I use it for web site editing, layout, note-taking, scheduling, databases and simple vector graphics, among other things. But not once have I usee it for real photo editing. I’ll have to check out Snapseed, and Photosync as well!
I’m glad to note that you linked these apps in your post. Might be worth noting, though, for those who simply remember a name and go search the App Store, that there are two apps called ‘PhotoSync’ ($2) and ‘Photo-Sync’ ($4). Looks like the less expensive one is more established, has better review, and is of course the one to which you linked. I almost bought the wrong one, though!
Hey, great post, I am wrestling with the same thing, workflow with an iPad 2.
Snapseed is a great tool, but as I am playing with it, I am not trusting the “save” to my photo library. I also use Photosync, but when I bring the “saved” file from Snapseed over to my Mac, the file size is much smaller, seemingly it has gone through that “optimization” that you mentioned.
How then are you getting FULL resolution jpegs as your final result? It seems that Snapseed is sizing the jpg down quite a bit for me. But your workflow is to save from Snapseed, then using Adobe Nav (which I am not using) you are saying that you see full res in CS5.
I have tested Photosync, this program is just passing the file back and forth, no image resampling to my knowledge there, it seems to be that the “save” in Snapseed is the culprit.
Have you noticed any issues like I am seeing?
Thanks!
Ken, I’m not seeing the same behaviour. If I edit a full resolution image in SnapSeed, when it saves, it saves an image with identical resolution (pixel dimensions). The actual file size (on disc), may or may not be reduced due to SnapSeed using a large amount of compression, but I never see or pay attention to this because I transfer directly through Nav into Photoshop. Certainly there’s no visible sign of any artefacts if the image is highly compressed in SnapSeed. Sorry I can’t be or more help
Thanks for looking into this on your side. For me, Snapseed does give me identical resolution as well, but its the compression that I am concerned with….or am I worrying too much?
I am not a jpg compression expert for sure, but it seems that bringing that highly compressed image to other apps, etc, there has to be a “give” somewhere. Maybe not.
I do not use Adobe Nav, but I am going to download it now, I like your workflow…and am considering the same after reading your post.
Thanks again!
Yeah, I think you’re worrying about what might not be nothing. The print, rather than the image size is what’s important (to me) and from the SnapSeed images I have printed, I haven’t seen any noticeable compression artefacts.
Hi all
I’m facing the same issue as Ken Z. When I save a full resolution picture (either raw or Jpeg) in Snapseed, the images size of the saved file gets reduced to 2312×1536 px, which is not nearly the 16 MP that the iPad2 as well as Snapseed are supposed to support. I’m biting my nails off here trying to find the answer to this issue…
Well, my problem seems to be fixed simply by installing PhotoSync and using it once. After that first use my pictures are saved in full resolution. Why it works this way, why the iPad didn’t save in full resolution for the first time is a mystery to me…
So Ken if you happen to read this and you still face the same problem, simply buy and install PhotoSync to fix this issue.
Best,
Michel
I’m completely ready to ditch the computer for good. As of now, I have stopped using CS5 alltogether. I’m taking a break from shooting raw, too. So now, I’m using Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras and transferring all those to an Iphone 5 64 GB device and use Snapseed, XNView and Photosync to get my photos on the web. The reason I picked Olympus M4/3 was that they have the best built-in jpeg conversion. I now edit all my photos on the fly while cutting photoshop out as the middle man. We all do our printing on the web anyways! lol
I’m still a real printer, with most of my images making their way to print, so I’m not ready to give up on the PC just yet
I am impressed that you still print, which is still the best way to preserve images for the future.
I still very much print (and love doing so). But I can’t agree that prints are the best way to preserve images. Prints are easily damaged and difficult/bulky to store and even if you go down the archival quality route, they still decay, where as a digitally stored image does not.