Benefits of using process recipes
As Capture One works non-destructively, the application never alters the original image files in any way. When images are required in the various sizes, formats and color spaces to send to a client, or to publish on the web or send to a printing service, Capture One creates new files from the originals and applies all the saved settings and adjustments during processing, that you can use time and time again.
You can specify JPEG, TIFF, PNG, DNG or PSD file formats, set new image dimensions, convert color spaces and embed profiles, add output sharpening, and include metadata, such as EXIF data, Keywords and IPTC data. Capture One can also rename and group images into a sub folder hierarchy within the parent or root folder using the semi-automated dynamic locations feature.
Although you can use the Export Variant command to process image variants, available from the main menu or contextual menu (Ctrl/right-click), this option is limited to a single recipe. This is fine when all of the variants selected for export are to be processed, for example, into the same file format, or you want them to have the same color space, or group of keywords, but if you require different settings, you have to alter the recipe each time. Not only is this time-consuming when working with a high volume of image variants, it is also error-prone.
When adopting Capture One Pro’s Output tools instead, you have the option to use Process Recipes. These are groups of pre-configured output settings, or presets, that you can select for various requirements. Process Recipes not only allow you to customize and save your most frequently used settings, but by selecting one or more of these recipes from the list, you can simultaneously process multiple copies of the same image or selection of images, according to your needs. For example, the same image or group of images can be simultaneously processed in different formats, sizes or color spaces. It is as simple as adding checkmarks to the appropriate recipes, and clicking Process.
The Recipes in the Output inspector also have a few extra features over the Recipe option in the Export panel. As well as watermarking using graphics files or the built-in text editor, when selecting the PSD file format there is the ability to share images with watermarks, annotations and transparency overlays as individual layers, while any cropping applied can also be saved as a path.
Note you can export or process managed image files directly but, with referenced files, Capture One must have access to the originals.