Thanks for the replies. A few things:
- I'd rather not have to buy (and learn) LightRoom. I am of the understanding that the RAW file handler in CS6 ("Camera Raw 7.0") is equivalent to that used in LR. If not, I'm all ears, but I'd like to keep my upcoming RAW workflow as simple as possible. I don't mind noodling with each file one at a time, and at this point in time I really don't understand the concept of "batch processing" as it seems to me that each image requires a different and specific treatment. Feel free to fill me in on "batch" if I've got the wrong idea on that. My JPG workflow in the past (which works well for me) is to edit the image to the point where I'm happy with it, making all changes that I want to be permanent (like taking out that piece of litter on the ground, fixing the crooked horizon, slight tonal/color adjustments, etc etc, then saving that file ONCE as a master, never to be edited again. Any further mods to that file (which usually amounts to a B&W version, or a special treatment in NIK) then gets "Saved As" a separate file. Then, that file will be cropped specifically for proper display on my Plazma TV (1920x1080), Digital Picture Frame (800x480), Smartphone (1280x720), and those too are "Saved As" separate files in separate folders, minimizing the lossy factor.
- I understand how RAW and TIF are superior to JPGs, and I will at times use those TIFs as I have a 54" Roland printer, but it seems to me that the vast majority of the time, the ultimate destination for our images is the ubiquitous JPG so that others can view them via web or email. So I'd like to have a clear workflow nailed down for me and the particular software I have. It seems that the CS6's "Camera Raw" doesn't have the editing tools like clone-stamp found within PS, and when I apply those tool effects to the RAW file in PS, it doesn't get saved in the xmp sidecar, rather, I'm forced to Save it as one of the numerous file-types that we're familiar with (PSD/BMP/JPG/TIF etc). So it appears that all of the edits/mods/effects I make in PS or NIK, does not get applied to the RAW file.
See how in the dark I am? LOL