Automator script for running NX2 from LR2

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Halfje-Bruin

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I use Capture NX2 on a regular basis and would like to automate the workflow I have now:

- select a NEF file in the library
- show in Finder
- edit the NEF file with NX2 and save the NEF and a new TIFF file with the adjustments
- import the TIFF file in LR2

I've made a simple shell script that automates this but I cannot run it as an external editor and was told to use Automator for this. But I'm a total newbie in this area.

What should the script do?

- act as an external editor
- extract the NEF file from the generated TIFF one (strip -Edit, replace extension)
- call NX2 with the NEF file
- copy any metadata from the LR2 generated TIFF file to the new NX2 generated TIFF file
- move the new TIFF to the LR2 generated TIFF

Is this possible?
 
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Halfje-Bruin said:
- extract the NEF file from the generated TIFF one (strip -Edit, replace extension)
Click to expand...

Does NX2 do ok with that? Sounds a little weird to me. Surely that's then passing output-referred data (i.e. tiff, no longer the sensor raw data) to NX2. Or have I misunderstood?
 
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Ohhhh,

I will follow this thread forever ......
I mean it: Kees has the best of all solution.
 
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Victoria Bampton said:
Does NX2 do ok with that? Sounds a little weird to me. Surely that's then passing output-referred data (i.e. tiff, no longer the sensor raw data) to NX2. Or have I misunderstood?
Click to expand...

Victoria,

What I mean is that LR will call NX2 with a file like <basename>-Edit.tif and I want the script to determine what <basename> is, append .NEF (or .nef, whatever is available) and pass that to NX2 instead.
 
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Why don't you want to select the NEF and send that directly to NX2?

John
 
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Oh, I think I'm with you. Haven't got a clue how to get it to work though!
 
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johnbeardy;4766' said:
Why don't you want to select the NEF and send that directly to NX2?

John
Click to expand...

How can I do this from within LR? I can only invoke NX2 as an external editor as far as I know and this results in LR creating a TIFF file.
 
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How about setting up an Export preset, set to Original format, with NX2 as the program to open into. Only bit that would miss would be adding the resulting tiff back into the catalog.
 
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Victoria,

I will try this when I get home. The generated TIFF I can import with synchronise folder as I'm doing now but I have to check the metadata on the TIFF. I don't think this will come through with the NEF file.
 
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Halfje-Bruin said:
How can I do this from within LR? I can only invoke NX2 as an external editor as far as I know and this results in LR creating a TIFF file.
Click to expand...
There's Victoria's suggestion, and you could save the TIF to a watched folder.

My question though was prompted by the idea that it should be possible to write a plug-in which sends the NEF's path to NX2. I was puzzled why you'd start with a TIF and then open up the NEF.

Update - can definitely do it on PC where NX2 is the default app and I send the NEF's path to the OS. Probably have to adopt a slightly different approach on the Mac but should be achievable.

John
 
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johnbeardy;4766' said:
Why don't you want to select the NEF and send that directly to NX2?
Click to expand...

For me (knowledge) you are all going a bit far and fast (my problem, not yours).

When you work an a NEF in NX2 that NEF has to stay in NX2 or exported as a TIFF for LR2.
When you work on a NEF in LR NX2 won't know about the changes you made.
When you work on a NEF in NX2 LR won't notice the changes.

Result is: use LR JUST for catalog and metadata work and do all other things in NX2 OR work in NX2 and convert to TIFF and import (synchronise Kees said, have to look into that) in LR.

Anything wrong in what I wrote above?
 
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wblink said:
For me (knowledge) you are all going a bit far and fast (my problem, not yours).

When you work an a NEF in NX2 that NEF has to stay in NX2 or exported as a TIFF for LR2.
When you work on a NEF in LR NX2 won't know about the changes you made.
When you work on a NEF in NX2 LR won't notice the changes.

Result is: use LR JUST for catalog and metadata work and do all other things in NX2 OR work in NX2 and convert to TIFF and import (synchronise Kees said, have to look into that) in LR.

Anything wrong in what I wrote above?
Click to expand...

Willem,

You observations are correct but your conclusion degrades the value of Lightroom. In general the results I get with Lightroom are very good but in some situations I know that NX2 will offer a much better result. Only for those situations I would like to use NX2.

I will be looking into the suggestion of Victoria tonight and get back on the issue. I might take a look at plugins for Lightroom (see what the SDK has to offer) or write a simple application to do my stuff (just as DxO used with version 4).

To be continued!
 
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OK, I now have a plug-in which adds a menu item to Library > Plug-In Extras. Select one or more raw files, run the menu, and the selected NEF files are opened directly in NX2 as NEFs.

On PC, it uses the OS default for NEF files. On Mac, in the Plug-in Manager is a button to set where NX2 is located.

Got a bit of polishing up to do, but it's almost there.

John
 
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And I should have mentioned - it will work for any type of raw file. So Canon users might open files in CaptureOne or whatever.

John
 
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If DxO is set as Windows' default for NEFs, then yes.
 
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John,

I'm very interested in this. Could I test it or is it too soon for that?
 
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Also, I tried the "export as original" suggestion but this still creates a new NEF file as I cannot use the original file (LR refuses this).
 
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It won't be long - after the weekend.

John
 
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OK, here it is.

There's a PDF with it. PC users have no special setup requirements. On PC, it opens the file(s) in the operating system’s default for that file type. On Mac, you have to set the name of the other program in the Plug In Manager. Nikon Capture is mentioned as an example. It should be OK with other raw converters too.

Lastly, this demo expires on 7th July.

John
 
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John, the plugin works as advertised! I can edit my NEF files in NX2 and just need to import the saved TIFF files. Thanks.

Do you have an idea on the price of the plugin?
 
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You could save the TIF files to a watched folder so LR will import them automatically.

I'm thinking of $1'. It's going to be a bit better than you see now because of the great feedback I've already had. I originally limited it to raw files, but some people wanted to open DNGs in Capture One, so now you can send any type of file. Secondly people asked about setting up one converter for NEF, another for CR2 etc, so it now lets you set up 6 converters. It will mean that each time you run it you will see a dialog box like this:

2''9'63'_idea.jpg


You click ">>>" to launch a converter that's already set up, or "..." to set up a new one.

John
 
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The revised version is now online. Same as before - will stop working on 7/7/2''9.

John
 
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