Quote Originally Posted by Liz
I've been doing the following: with images still on the card since I edit before I have them printed:
I edit them on the card. I then save the edit "save as" and the title/name. This way it automatically makes the "save as" a copy - and I still have the original. I keep it on the card that way or move it to the hard drive without another "save."

Since I still have the original - I would assume until I edit it - and save the original - that nothing is lost. Right? Where in this process would I save as TIF? Or would I save as TIF when I move it to the hd?

Glad this came up.

Liz
If you are trying to get the best image possible set the camera to save at highest resolution and a lossless format (if available). If the camera only saves as jpegs, use the least compression available.
Saving your original as it comes off the card is good - copying it from the card to a HD or CD will not degrade the shot. I like keeping these unedited originals since they have the exposure data with them.

Any edits (done on copies of the original) that you want to save should be saved as tifs (lossless compression) if you don't want to have to repeat your work from the original. Saving work as jpgs introduces errors and opening and resaving as jpegs again compounds them.

Since I am not generally making exhibition prints and am just shooting for my own enjoyment, I usually have my camera set to save as high resolution , minimally compressed jpegs rather than raw because I like the convenience of having room for more pics on my cards.

I don't do a whole lot of printing of my stuff so I usually make a fresh copy from the original when I want to print one.