Photoshop: What is a Master File, and why do you need one? – WITH VIDEO

Updated: 08/22/22 – BONUS – – For even more information on Master File Creation & Workflow in Action, see this additional post – WITH YOUTUBE VIDEO: https://blog.main.wattsdigital.com/video-photoshop-master-file-creation-workflow-in-action/ 

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Notes for the above video can be found here: https://main.wattsdigital.com/images/WattsDigital_ContrastColor_Notes_08-21.pdf

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Question:

From Matthew S in San Diego, CA:  


“Once you capture an image in RAW (or a 16-bit scan), what is the best way to save the image for printing purposes?

Or should I convert the image to another format? I typically convert everything to a max quality JPG. 

Supposedly any “lossy” degradation will be unnoticed to the eye, or so I’ve been told. But, is this the best way? I’d love to have this clarified.”  

 

Answer:

Before I can fully answer your question, Matt, you might want to review this post on my blog –  mostly a wee bit technical, but well worth the time:

Why shoot in 16-bit (RAW), rather than 8 bit (JPG)?

Once you read through it, you’ll see why saving your important final images in JPG is not such a good idea, particularly from a technical standpoint …

 

So, what to do?

 Let me introduce you instead to the concept of a Master File the absolute best way to properly prepare your important images for a multitude of uses, including printing.

 

 

•  If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then the chart above is an overall “visual” representation of a proper Photoshop workflow for your important images – notice that everything is centered around the Master File (as an aside, you can download a free step-by-step “linear” Workflow Chart that matches the chart above here).

 

Creating a Master File is NOT for every image:

 It’s exclusively for those images that are your best – – those images that you need & want to spend time with, doing all that’s necessary to make your image “pretty”.

•  Here’s where you pour your artistic “blood, sweat and tears” into your image (for awesome results, use the methods shown in my  book,  “Not Just Another Photoshop Book”, available exclusively on Amazon)  …

 

What is a “Master File”?

•  Technically – It’s a 16-Bit, un-flattened, un-sharpened, un-cropped, un-resized file, designated as such in its file name, and saved as a TIFF or PSD.

 

Why create a Master File?

•  It’s Multi-purpose: Use it to create separate files for a specific print size or printer, for the Web, for magazine output, etc. and you’ll stay consistent between those files.

•  It’s easily correctable: for color, contrast, cropping, enhancements, etc. non-destructively (loss of digital information).

•  Sharpening is applied according to your print size: Let’s say that your Master File is created from a RAW file – It might be around 13″x20” at 300 ppi – If you sharpen for this size and reduce the file to prep for a 4×6 print, it will be over-sharpened.

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So, bottom line, Matt: I’d strongly suggest you NOT save your final important images as a JPG, and consider the concept of a Master File for your important images, saved instead as a TIFF or PSD – and thanks for the great question!

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PS – By the way: if you want a genuine, bonafide, certified “pro” (me!) to create a Master File for your best images (AND make it a “teachable moment”), that is a service I provide – more here:

https://wattsdigital.com/master-file-creation

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•  AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE – for more on my free live & online Photoshop Meetups, click here:

https://wattsdigital.com/free-live-meetups-online

•  More Photoshop videos at my YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/wattsdigitalvideos

•  Was this information helpful?

Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here …

•  By the way, this is all based on my Photoshop book designed for photographers, “Not just another Photoshop Book”, available exclusively on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNLS1Q2

Questions? Please contact me – also, feel free to comment and forward this to your photography friends!

Thx again, and cheers,

John Watts 🙂

john@wattsdigital.com

 

 

 

 

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