Fast RAW Photo Culling (Before Editing)

[@jordangrobe8698]

Absolutely love FastRawViewer! Here's my additional culling hack - use a video game controller. Free programs like JoyKeyMapper allow you to map any keyboard combinations to buttons on any bluetooth game controller (Xbox, Playstation, even Nintendo Switch) and it's just such a breeze to sit back and use the natural ergonomics of the controller to your advantage, between the triggers for next and previous, d-pad for ratings, letter-pad for things like highlight / shadow check / auto exposure / changing between the RAW and the built-in JPEG, etc. If your controller has two levels of triggers you can even map the big ones for next and previous and the smaller ones for exposure up and exposure down. Oh and the joysticks can be used to move the mouse, to zoom in and out on the image, and to control the scroll function.

[@josephsy]

That is such a good culling hack omg thank you lol

[@garrysutcliffe6254]

We need more details

[@Exercises10]

Thanks, Chris, today you put a big smile on my face adding my name to the Geariguana Hall of Fame! I am a proud member of Pal2Tech. Today's video was very interesting on Photo Culling something I never do but you showed how it has great value in a photographer's workflow. Thanks again for the amazing work you do for all of us photographers!!

[@pal2tech]

LuAnn!!!! 🙏 My pleasure!

[@msandersen]

I use both Photo Mechanic and Fast Raw Viewer, they each have their strengths, so it's not a matter of one being better than the other overall, though if I could only have one, it would be Photo Mechanic. My import starts there, as I use it to not just rename all the files and put them in a folder hierarchy based on the metadata, I add templates of info on import; I've got a collection of templates depending on what I'm shooting, and later when editing each, I can batch process series with specific EXIF fields and it's metadata variables. Very powerful. But if I've done a portrait shoot, after importing with Photo Mechanic to rename, sort and add metadata, I like to use Fast Raw Viewer as I can very quickly go through and check the RAW histogram that nothing is blown out and unrecoverable, something a JPG histogram can't, and to check critical focus on the face etc. I've customised the keymap to have the numbers set stars, and Cmd+number set colour labels, and the R key being the Adobe 'Reject' flag. Currently I have the Tilde key toggle Zoom because my hand is resting near the number keys already, it is quick to punch in to check focus. One thing I wish it had was face detect, so it could punch in on the face every time. After an initial run, I select all Rejects and delete outright, and then select the 4 and 5 star shots for colour labels, a Prospect and Definite labels (I use green and purple, just because I like them). I keep the 3 star shots too, though likely won't need them. 2 is basically reject, but go back and make sure once done selecting in case I don't have a good shot but need something. This way I can process hundreds of shots very quickly. Only then will I import into Capture One.

[@bmeclipse]

Bottle up your enthusiasm for Fast RAW and sell it. Great stuff and timely as I have been slowly making my way through hundreds of RAW files this week. Thank you!

[@gelbebond]

I love FastRAWviewer been using it for years now and don’t know why people rave on about photomechanic for just culling images. FRV does almost all of the same but misses the metadata which can be added in C1 or Lr. It is an absolute bargain and technically superior application without the bells-n-whistles. Thank you FRV!!!!

[@RandyPollock]

I purchased both and found I use Fast RAW 100% of the time as it's lightweight, easy to learn and it's program icons don't look like it's from 1990.

[@94slingshot]

I discovered FastRawVIewer when I made the mistake of 'trying' to cull and edit a weekend's worth of pictures from roller derby using super slow Lumianr 4. Now FastRawVIewere is my only way to cull even if I'm editing with Exposure X7 or Lightroom, it is so quick and doesn't load the rejects on my hard drives. Great Video !

[@PhotoBob]

You know what’s crazy. I shoot Xt4 professionally. I shoot raw/Jpeg and use the RAW as my backup! I know completely reversed from what I’ve ever done. Fuji Jpegs are phenomenal. I only need RAW files for occasional hot spots. This is for my portrait business. I still use RAW for landscape and very contrasty street photography. But for my high volume work it’s 99% Jpegs. This week I shot 725 athletes. Over 3k photos and I didn’t use a single RAW file. Fuji is the only system I am comfortable doing this with. Big bonus for me! So much faster moving files around. Great video BTW

[@keithesteban4180]

I've been using this software for almost a year and it's been so helpful in saving time and space. Lol, time and space... Anyway, I'm glad you did this! Ty!

[@KevinRusso]

I owe you one for this. I never heard of this program, now I've added it to my Lightroom workflow by using it to tether. It's super quick. Thanks. If you're ever in the Philly, PA area look me up.

[@carlosdias1940]

Appreciated Chris!! Another great Fast Friday! It is indeed faster culling!! Cheers

[@bobbyellis5006]

As a professional photographer, I always have to remind myself how niche PhotoMechanic is and stop myself from being surprised that more people don't use it. It's an absolutely essential part of my workflow. Once you discover hotkeys, it's even faster and more useful when you need to add captions and metadata.

[@techtt6213]

This is great! The only thing that would make Fujifilm absolutely perfect for me is being able to retain my 'fuji recipe' in raw. I know it against the whole concept of Raw but being able to keep the look and feel of the recipe but tweak minor things would be absolutely perfect

[@keesklapper]

You can use the Fuji x raw studio. Your able to change the settings and then run in through your camera to get the recipe

[@martinohesse]

That would be great but I think that's more a function that raw software should develop, because I understand that the information is in the raf given that is the way how Fuji X Studio reads the RAF files.

[@VintageInsightPhotography]

@TechTT - Capture One does this. When I import the RAF files into C1 it shows the image with the film simulation or “recipe” applied. You still have the option to change anything, as it’s still a raw file.

[@keesklapper]

@@VintageInsightPhotography True! I like Capture one most because of this. But hey the fuji software is free, so you can always try that

[@techtt6213]

@@VintageInsightPhotography that's only the film simulations unfortunately. Recipe is a lot of tweaked IQ settings

[@primal_aperture_photo]

Great review on this product! It would be so great for us newbies in photography if you could show us your workflow sometime. I know everyone does it different but some of us don't have a starting point and having an exemple from a well accomplished tutor like you would be a very helpful beginning. Thanks for the review! :)

[@jorgemoro5476]

This guy, tho very informative at times is NOT a photographer. Look here on KZbin for “workflows” and you may find what you seek.

[@primal_aperture_photo]

@@jorgemoro5476 I've been following Chris for a long time and trust his knowledge, and I DON'T appreciate your comment!

[@richardallan2330]

Thanks Chris I was looking for something to replace my Nikon View which does more or less the same job. Just returned from Africa with 3000 photos from my new Fujifilm XT4. This program works even better than the Nikon one and I do love that it saves the rejects. Thanks again for all your setting up hints as well.

[@MortAllachie]

Thank you. I have been looking at Photo Mechanic, but for a hobbyist like me it's a little to much. I usually just import all to LR, then wait for the import to be done, but even on the M1 this is taking it's time. Will download and test Fast RAW... Think this will speed up the selection of files 😊👍

[@SergiuSalcau00]

unbelievable, you haven t said HOW to delete, just that you delete. this is mindblowing

[@johnvienna3422]

Great recommendation, Chris. Fast Raw Viewer lets your brain stay in the "culling zone" instead of wandering off while the computer laboriously renders the next image.

[@cokeandtwirl]

I don’t really need a raw file culling/rating tool (well, not yet anyway!) but I watched this all the way through as you make finding out about things so entertaining - and who knows when I might need that knowledge!

[@benjorb]

Totally agree- I’ve had this software for a while and it’s awesome!

[@vianilism2893]

Man love your content! I wish fujifilm community was bigger

[@alanplatt888]

I brought it, I've culled a few photo's and directories...............amazing Mac program, thanks for the heads up. It's very similar to a PC program I used. Although this is lighting fast. Thank again.

[@HikerFromVA]

Thanks so much for this. Just purchased the XT-4 and this will help my work flow so much.

[@VintageInsightPhotography]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing this!

[@TheDeathCrafter]

WOW! You sound EXACTLY like KZbin TheJWittz! :D

[@AlexJon14]

Culling is my least favorite part of post-processing. This will be life changing! Thank you!

[@stevechan5569]

Thanks for the introduction and the affordable one time lower fee makes more attractive as I am not a professional often having difficulties to justify my hobby expanses. I will look into it for sure assuming it works with Capture One. Have a great day.

[@origamicaptain5664]

This seems like a cool product specifically for the fast import. I personal don’t have the patience to consider whether a photo is a 3 or a 4. I currently import every darned photo into Lightroom Cc and into a new album. I make a very fast pass through all the photos in the album rejecting, press the x key, every stinky out of focus shot. Then I filter out all the rejected photos and place the ones that where not rejected into a new album. Then I’ll start performing light editing just to see what I can do with some of the questionable photos. After that I cull again, this time by pick(pressing z) and I’m very selective. Even if a photo has some merit, if I wouldn’t put it on my website I don’t pick it, then I add all the picked photos into a new final album. This sounds like a lot, and it can be if you are undisciplined and goof about editing. Lighting is the most flexible place in post, there is some flexibility in composition with cropping but that only goes so far until the photos are too soft to make the picked list. Focus is non-negotiable. If it is out of focus it is out of my album. This program will save me serious time with that first cull. Thank you sharing.

[@utekopka7920]

Great video Chris! This software is exactly was I have been looking for. Thank you so much for introducing it!

[@pal2tech]

You bet!

[@jinksbaker]

Great app for culling RAWs, I’ve been using it for a couple of years.

[@bilbo81]

Wow! that program was CRAZY fast compared to viewing them in Adobe Bridge. Thank you for another great video! :))

[@carlosdias1940]

Hi! Wondering myself if comparing to Adobe Bridge is so significantly faster that would be worth to have another step into your workflow. Is it really worth it? Thank You ahead. Cheers

[@armisgameblog]

Do stars/colors also get picked up by C1?

[@davebenson1504]

You do look a little like Lee Majors, so a good lead in... what an amazing piece of software...

[@patrickblot9928]

It would be a great idea to have a short tutorial about this app or photo mechanics 🙂

[@dazsly]

Will try this for my Nikon Z5. Thanks looks great. I tried photoshop but it’s so buggy on Mac M1.

[@HokkeeKun]

I use Faststone Image Viewer...it's FREE!

[@nerodivenere]

I'm sorry but THIS time I actually disagree. I mean, using Lightroom [in my case] is quick enough.. I don't see a huge difference .. I can't see the point to buy another app, transfer my files between 2 apps, to get, at the end, Lightroom editing... just for a few seconds difference ? I don't think it worth the price to do exactly the same thing I do in LR ...like go to the library, mark the good pics, and then select attribute and edit only those files.. by the way, just let you know in general I like a lot all of your videos ;)

[@scottgray4877]

Great video, i just dowloaded it, and damn….it works nice. Went right back and purchased it. I love your videos. Thanks.

[@BoxingTunes]

Hey man thanks for this. I keep coming back to your page ever since I became the owner of an xt-4 Keep up the great content!

[@pal2tech]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Martin-nu6ym]

I love using Fast Raw Viewer and watch out if you start playing with another software tool they have: Raw Digger. :)

[@TheoDahlemPickups]

I've been using Fast RAW viewer for about a year or more. Unfortunately it does not present the orig. sharpness of your photos, so in the beginning I kept deleting quite a few photos until I had to realize that it's the program that renders your photos unsharp.

[@kbqvist]

I notice that the manual for fastrawviewer runs to 240 pages, so I imagine that there could be more to cover in another video?

[@MusicJunky3]

Hi Chris, I first tried and soon afterwards bought FRV. A fraction of a second after I clicked 'Enter' they are on the screen !! Now how do I put my lower jaw back !! Thank you !!

[@davebanham9729]

This is probably the last straw for me and Fuji X Raw Studio. I'm definitely going to take a look at Fast Raw Viewer now.

[@DennisMoncla]

I liked your video. First time viewer. I had just downloaded FRV after a free trial of PM (which I loved!) PM worked right out of the box. FRV however did not! I was so frustrated I just imported them into LR and used the old cull method as I was waisting time in FRV. The only thing on my keyboard that worked was the arrow keys. Delete didn't send them to a rejected folder. I couldn't rate anything etc... Did I miss some important set up step that frankly it should have asked me to do? I'd rather save money and get it but PM for $100 more that just works is looking good.

[@chasemagnitude2578]

Awesome find. I just subscribed and instantly you've provided help I've been trying to figure out for the past few days. How to cull borked images quickly before heading into lightroom ;) Thanks.

[@rafbass]

That’s interesting, I will add that to my workflow. Currently, I only load to Lightroom photos that are 3star+, because I sync with Adobe Creative Cloud and I don’t want to pay for cloud storage. I have a NAS and every single RAW is there, and I think this software will help me filtering things before loading to Lr. Currently, I am loading everything to Lr and removing it, not very efficient.

[@chadaztig07]

In body, sony has a way to preview raw and also highlights in green box which part was focused. this happens if you use the autofocus system. Is there any app that previews that greenbox as well?

[@longboardfella5306]

Thanks - I really enjoy your vids and have learned heaps. One question for the Fuji system. Is there any disadvantage in shooting RAW Compressed if your Fuji and RAW processing SW supports it? My understanding is that it's a lossless compression that then speeds up camera transfer to SD card in high speed shooting and reduces storage requirements. Would be curious as to why you don't use by default?

[@ilhamrj]

Please make content of fuji X-10 to review classical prosume in nowadays

[@sclogse1]

Always good to know what minimum ram and system version on my computer is necessary for this. (I still just look at the jpegs)

[@REMY.C.]

😂 I truly think your channel should be renamed "HAVE A LOOK AT THAT!!!!"

[@thomassandfield835]

WOW!! this is such a helpful tool!

[@ZuzanaJirankova_Sussie]

Hi, thanks for all you videos. Based on those, I picked up Fujifilm xs-10. :) Hopefully I will be able to learn photography by time! Have a nice weekend

[@pal2tech]

That's awesome!!! You'll get some amazing shots for sure!! Welcome to the CRAZY Fuji fam!!

[@ZuzanaJirankova_Sussie]

@@pal2tech Thank yooou! :D Hopefully I wont disappoint Fuji family! :D

[@eroldiener]

Great video. I have already tried it out as well. The only thing I would like to see is video file format support. This is the reason I bought my mirrorless camera. I take raw's and videos and would love to be able to review both in Fast RAW Viewer. But I guess that's why the program is called Fast RAW Viewer ;)

[@chrisxglass]

Going to have to see how quickly it loads GFX100S RAWs

[@robertmartin2898]

The software use Windows preview for what I could see. It uses its codec. It's like a big file manager that's all.

[@iliahborg7079]

No, we don't use Windows preview.

[@TheRealArjay]

Thank you for this highly interesting video - brilliantly presented as always! I wonder if you could comment how to set up FRV so that it can carry over rating data into Capture One Pro - maybe in a future video?

[@zalle1]

Hi, have you tried Rawpower? Is it a substitute for lightroom?

[@brentmiller3250]

I wasn't even aware there was another option -- that being FastRAWViewer.

[@Ron6116]

Well, I just got the answer. I went into Fast RAW’s web site and found that Kev BaHam is right. So I’m going to give it a try. I shoot a lot of sports and my snail method of culling is about to kill me. Thanks Again 👏

[@fergusbuchanan5615]

Many thanks, Chris - just what I need.

[@SergevanNeck]

OMG yes! I still can't believe Lightroom doesn't even let you zoom on images before import, so you have to import them all (even the clunkers) and only THEN can you go through and reject them. Capture One at least lets you show a full size but my whole workflow is built around Lightroom so I had to abandon it. I use Apple Image Capture to load everything into a Dropbox folder (I have 3TB) from where I import into Lr CC (because that's the only way to keep images in the Adobe Cloud), after which it syncs to Lr Classic. So for every bad image I'm storing 4 copies of both RAW+JPEG (unless I manually delete the JPEG): 1. Dropbox, 2. Lr CC cache, 3. Adobe Cloud, 4. Lr Classic cache. And yes, I periodically go through everything and reject+delete the bad images, but it's so much better to do it up front! Once again, THANK YOU! P.S. Thanks for the Six Million Dollar Man clip -- this was my absolute favorite show when I was 11 years old. And a few years ago I got to meet Lee Majors and have a photo op with him at Phoenix Comicon!

[@WendyLeyden]

Thanks for the great video. I had not heard of FastRAWViewer. I wish it (and Photo Mechanic) worked on iOS devices, especially iPads. I am still in search of a workflow that would allow me to ingest, view and cull RAW files on my iPad (other than importing into Camera Roll), then import into Lightroom (mobile) on iPad, then sync with my Lightroom Classic catalogue on my MAC. Any suggestions, Chris? Thanks!

[@billwhite2818]

Can FastRawViewer be used on more than one computer? Thanks!

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Thanks for the tip

[@Paul_Rohde]

Can I suggest Irfanview (PC) for a 100% free solution for speedy thumbnail viewing, deleting, and folder sorting too. Works with compressed .RAF files too. (Not for ratings, histograms, peaking, other camera items etc). Install Irfanview along with the free full plugin package. To setup (once only required) press P for Properties, then Extensions (in top left box list), then select Load Custom File Types. To be sure, you could add |RAF| to the shown list. (If you want to show just RAF files, remove JPG from the list.) When a [compressed] .RAF file is opened (or any image) from a folder, just press T for the Thumbnails interface to come up. It works on my system, I don't remember installing other packages. If it doesn't on yours leave a comment.

[@mamofoto]

Hi Chris, thanks for this great information. Will save me a lot of time :)

[@snippephotography1913]

after a shoot you need a cold beer or warm coffee how slow it the card reading in lightroom I have no problem to wait 2 minutes. its directly in lightroom with this program you need to put them after viewing in lightroom thats time to.

[@divyangkundaliya3584]

I just bought Fuji xt3. Recommend me a affordable memory card on which I can shoot 400mbps

[@miguelangelromero2130]

Intersante app Pal2Tech! Gracias por el video Saludos!

[@dandanu2526]

Glad to be 1k

[@NJintheImagination]

just to be clear, these program only work outside of Apple Photos? I.E. Do not download to Apple Photos?

[@gregpantelides1355]

Love your channel! Would you mind reviewing the Fuji 14mm prime? I absolutely love mine and feel it doesn’t get enough love! For someone who primarily shoots film I truly appreciate both the hard stop at infinity and the focus scale! I wish all Fuji lenses had both :-)

[@BEC7OR]

So after i have imported my "Photos folder" and i have marked the ones i wanted, when i open lightroom should i just import the whole folder of photos and then it will automatically know which ones i marked or is there a specific folder of these "fixed" photos i need to import to Lightroom?

[@Ron6116]

Thanks Chris, In comments Kev BaHam says this will process JPEG. Is that right? Since switching to Fuji I shoot everything in JPEG. Seldom need RAW. If this doesn’t work for JPEG, is there software that does? Many Thanks Chris, You Are King of Fuji Info. No one comes close!

[@kimw994]

Is it possible to zoom 100% in FastRAWViewer without jpg? I got PhotoMechanic as a pro, but always need my extra jpg to zoom for sharpness... For using Leica DNG : it's a paint- because of speed to shoot both....DNG+jpg need double time to buffer...

[@kevinburke6446]

Great video. I like your reviews because they are to the point and not a tutorial, as you say. I downloaded FastRawReviewer to try it out! Great tool, so I bought it. Only wish you had included a code so you could benefit too. I suspect that they will sell A LOT of software off your efforts.

[@pal2tech]

I actually cut out a bit in editing where I publicly ask the company to consider putting a code I could add to the download link. However... AND THIS IS A MESSAGE TO FAST RAW VIEWER FOLKS... If you'd like to offer a coupon code to my viewers, let me know and it would be much appreciated. If not, no big deal as some checkouts are not set up for that.

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Waw that was easy. Thanks for sharing.

[@t.michaelkeza7205]

Will this software also read Tiff and Jpg files?

[@martinohesse]

Hi Chris! Is there a way to delete simultaneously the RAW and the JPEG without me selecting both of them?

[@Hugmir]

I second this motion, that functionality would be most desired.

[@ltgustavsen]

Yes you can. Another nice feature is to switch between jpg and raw with the j button.

[@martinohesse]

@@ltgustavsen so I can just filter all the raws and when I delete one of them also de jpeg will be deleted? If that's true, I'm buying it right now!

[@ltgustavsen]

@@martinohesse You can, but you don't have to filter out the raw file if you are in RAW+jpeg mode (the default)

[@martinohesse]

@@ltgustavsen i will five a try. I intended to filter in order just to see 300 and no 600 photos... Thanks!

[@jamescraig3345]

If shooting raw +jpg, can it be set to move both the raw plus the jpg to the rejected folder? Raw Power, I find useless for most, is what I've bee using because it shows both and I can select and delete both right there and they go to trash. Fast raw viewer sounds better if it will manage this.

[@JensUhlmannOfficial]

0:54 Guessing by your joy of catching it it sure must have taken you a few tries 😅

[@pal2tech]

Hahaha, about 8!

[@steverosenblum823]

How does this work with Capture One?

[@arniet1]

Off topic slightly, but as a beginner photographer, what windows based laptop on a small budget say £300 might I want to go for which can work fast with Raw files and using Lighteoom etc. ? When it comes to laptop tech...I'm just lost in a sea of qwerty nothingness 🤣

[@peterjackhandy]

Can anyone tell me, in what ways this is better than Selecting for Import from the sd card directly into a New Session in Capture one? Or is it only beneficial when using Catalogues?

[@duanefurlong5560]

Can you tether to it, I tether for all my shoots?

[@yicao4039]

Is this App free? And can I edit a raw image with this app?

[@pettersjursen]

Great video Chris! I'm new to mac, and therefore also the Fuji/Mac workflow. When I got my mac I was suprised that I couldn't preview my .RAF files in Finder, and when I googled it looked like Apple just didn't support .RAF files and their preview in Finder. It looks here like you actually get previews of your .RAF files in Finder. How do you do it? Appreciate any feedback on this!

[@KenWangpiano]

Hi, I'm on a Mac and I can preview RAF files. Try doing a force click on the file icon in finder, that should pull up a preview

[@dazsly]

Thanks

[@pal2tech]

Thank you so much!! I'm sorry for the delay as I'm just seeing this now. I really appreciate your support of the channel. Cheers!

[@alastairhenniker-heaton552]

Hey Chris, thanks for the interesting video. I don't understand why you'd use this over say Bridge which from what you demonstrated does all the things FastRAWViewer does yet is free / included with the LR / PS subscription. Am I missing something obvious?

[@pal2tech]

Bridge is an option. But I just find this and PM much faster to render, as well as the zoom in feature/focus peaking. Also, a number of the viewers don't use Adobe CC at all and instead use Capture One, so wouldn't have access to Bridge.

[@robin14441]

I use Bridge and find it quite slow to render the files if you skip quickly through them, despite having a powerful PC and NVME storage. I'll sure give FastRAWViewer a try :)

[@melmak2222]

Is there anything like photo mechanic or fast raw viewer for ipad?

[@pal2tech]

Good question, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe someone else can chime in here?

[@josecolon8143]

OMG The Six Million Dollar Man!!!!! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 Memory lane!!! Today it could very well be over 6 billions lol. Am I too old?

[@pal2tech]

Inflation.

[@tomwd.2825]

Is fast raw viewer able to monitor a folser for theatherd shooting? If so, i ll buy it next minute

[@iliahborg7079]

Folder monitoring is described in updates.fastrawviewer.com/data/FastRawViewer2-Manual-ENG.pdf#page=96

[@tomwd.2825]

@@iliahborg7079 thanx a lot, I am gonna buy it now

[@sfinnera1]

I need this 🤓

[@mamofoto]

Danke!

[@pal2tech]

Thank you so much!! I'm sorry for the delay as I'm just seeing this now. I really appreciate your support of the channel. Cheers!

[@javierperea8967]

I almost skipped this video because of the name. This is not for Fujifilm, this is for everybody!

[@pal2tech]

Damn, good point. Ok, changing it now. Thank you! 👍

[@djmuller6755]

Hi Chris. I started using Narrative Select for culling. Have you tried it? It is next level! You will love it! (I think!) It uses AI to rate your photo's according to focus and eyes open for example and groups them in scenes. Please check it out?

[@salserodoscientosseis1028]

just go to minute 2:50 it literally takes 2 minutes for him to finally start the review

[@MarkHolloway]

I am not a pro photographer, so I don't see how this is faster than just rejecting images in Capture 1. Right now I load my SD card & start a C1 session, what I dont like goes to trash & I edit the rest. Is using one of these culling programs any better? Also, have you tried Narrative Select? I see it is free for the basic program.