Hopskotch

Thanks for the explanation!  I do think this makes sense, but I look forward to learning more about Levels so I understand it in more depth.

I apologize in advance is this is covered elsewhere (I did try to look for it) but it's a very broad processing flow question. As general background, I'm in your RAW class now, and I do not yet know how to use Photoshop (just basic things like cropping and the healing tool). I've never used Lightroom. I have seen professional photographers (I stress photographers, not professional editors) use the Lightroom sliders that correspond to the sliders in ACR to make artistic adjustments to their photos. For example, they wanted a strong light/shadow contrast, or they wanted to emphasize certain colors using the saturation sliders.  My impression from what I've seen you teach is that you would recommend making artistic adjustments in Photoshop, after a clean edit is completed in ACR.  Is that impression correct?  Is it ever okay to make artistic choices within the sliders of ACR instead of waiting until Photoshop?  For example, if I know in advance that want very strong contrast between light and shadows (even if it means losing detail in the shadows), would it be okay to make this happen in RAW or do you still recommend making the clean edit in ACR first and then artistic adjustments in Photoshop?

Ah, then I guess I need to learn how to sharpen in PS.... another one of your courses perhaps Thanks for clarifying that!

OK, thank so much!

Don't I have to create jpegs to post them online and print them (the as needed part)?  My question wasn't about long-term saving/archiving, just the "save as" function. Do I still need to save it as a PSD file in ACR, and then open the PSD file in photoshop to then save as jpeg so I can post them online, even if I don't do any editing in PS?

Primarily for posting online to share with family and friends.  Sometimes I'll print one or two of them to hang in my office or give to my mother, but I don't print these larger than 4x6 or 5x7 at most.  Is the quality of the jpeg saved directly from ACR different than if saved as jpeg from PS?

P.S. I do realize you talk about making masterpieces in PS on the next slide, but I'm talking about making nice, basic (but not 'eye popping') everyday type of photos capturing my family life, especially when I take a lot of them. 

If I am only doing basic adjustments in ACR (nothing in PS), is there any reason why I can't just 'save as' jpeg directly from ACR? Waiting for the files to open into PS takes more time and increases workflow time, so I am wondering if its necessary to do - and if it is necessary or advisable, can you explain why? Thanks!