Let’s Talk FujiFilm And DxORaw Workflow.

Ok, so, I’m out somewhere, had a full day shooting, then what? Usually, it’s eat something. When that’s done, it’s back to work to see my day’s images.

I am a geek, nerd, dork…all the things. I travel with My MacBook Pro (M5) with DxOPureRaw and Lightroom loaded in, a Back Up 4tb SSD, High Speed Card Reader, 100W convertor, all sorts of adaptors and cables as well a headphones. I think I prove my point.

So, here’s the set up, left to right, Cards from the days shooting, Card Reader, Laptop, SSD, Used Card Storage Case (UCSC).

1) Create 2 folders on my desk top (YYYY-MO-SomethingCleverSoIKnowWhereIWasRAW) and (YYYY-MO-SomethingCleverSoIKnowWhereIWasDNG). I shoot with the Fuji X-H2s, so it’s a type B card. There is also an SD card, but I leave that alone. More on that in another blog.

2) I insert the type B card into the card reader and wait impatiently for the card’s files to show up. Then I drag the files into the newly created folder labeled NEF. The card continues its journey all the way to the right and gets stored, upside down, in the USCS. These fly in my luggage on the way home and are not re-formated til much later in my process.

3) These files are backed up to the 4tb SSD. Easy so far.

4) I run DxOPureRaw through the files and export the processed images to the second folder. The one labeled DNG.

Why DxOPureRaw? Excellent question. The X-Trans pattern is that complex, randomized mosaic that's hard for software to decode. I’ll write a long, drawn out blog on that soon. Lightroom has never been great at it. For years, we Fuji shooters noticed that detailed areas — grass, hair, fabric — would come out looking weirdly smeared, almost like watercolor paint. We call it the "worm" artifact, and once you see it you can't unsee it.

DxOPureRAW uses magic that was specifically trained on the X-Trans pattern. It learned how to untangle that complex color grid the way a human expert would — not just following a formula, but recognizing what the actual scene probably looked like. The result is sharper detail and way better noise reduction than Lightroom produces from the same file.

DxO takes the Fuji NEF (raw) files and processes them into clean DNG files.

5) I then import the DNG files into Lightroom. I have the catalog set to store on my laptop. I have the files set to duplicate to the 4tb SSD, which is where I backup my catalog as well. If I have better than mediocre internet, I back the catalog up to my Dropbox, strong internet and I’ll upload my NEF files too.

6) I had read somewhere that you should have seven keywords for every image, so off I go.  I start with something like this: US, Montana, Yellowstone, Bison…and then I make up 3 more keys, maybe weather, or something interesting to make the animal stand out or…sometimes its a real struggle.

7) I’ll go through the images and use the “P” in Lightroom to pick out a few. I’ll make virtual copies and edit them slightly. These I’ll export as a jpg, long side 2500px, to yet another folder on my desk top with the same clever label, but with JPEG. These I’ll use for social media posts or to send to family and friends.

*) Just side notes, in no real order; Nothing is deleted ’til I get home. The laptop travels in my GuraGear bag, the SSD in my Think Tank shoulder bag, the original cards are in my luggage. I have trackers in all my bags and luggage. Life has to be really, really bad for me to lose all three copies.