New to RAW

[kpiela]

I am trying to shoot in RAW b/c I have come up against some post processing issues that I know wouldn't be a problem with RAW files.

My problem is that I cannot for the life of me, with all the threads here, understand how to convert so that I can edit them.

I have PS elements 2.0 and I downloaded the free version of RawShooter essentials to get started. When I try to open a RAW photo in RSE, it is claiming there are no photos. I tried to save the photos in a file then open them in RSE but they "aren't there". I KNOW this has been discussed before but I am just not "getting" something! :(

Any advice?

[Huckaback Photo]

Kristine
are the files on your machine or not ?
if so right clic one and choose the raw shooter prog to open with.
can you view the thumbnails of the raw shots ?
if not there is a free program from web called DP magic, it will enable viewing of thumbs without taking them into a specific raw conversion program, this can be useful at times.

Martin

[Huckaback Photo]

One other point
start raw shooter essentials, along the top the second icon allows you to toggle between screens / thumbnails etc clic this and you will see the explorer section bottom left, find your folder here that has the raw files in and clic it, the raw files then appear as thumbnails on screen.
make sure it's raw you have shot.

Martin

[kpiela]

Thanks Martin. I shot them in raw, that I am sure of. I then tried to save them in a folder just to test out the rse. But when I tried to save them, they weren't accessible in the "100 Canon" folder. The folder seems empty, but when I view the photos w/my camera's lcd screen, they are there. I am a bit confused!

[Timm]

On the left side of the screen is a directory tree - can you use that to navigate to the folder on your hard drive where the images are stored?

btw - I just drag the image off the card to a directory on my hard drive using windows explorer & then fire up RSE/P

[kpiela]

When I connect the camera to the computer via USB cord, I then try to open the folder with the photos in it. There are none showing. That is where I am stuck. When I try to just copy the folder onto my hard drive, then open RSE, no files show under the directory tree.

Any more thoughts? :(

[Maureen Souza]

Yikes, I can't help you Kristine... mine open in PSCS2 so I am not familar with Raw SE.

Good luck...hope someone here can help you.

[kpiela]

Thanks Maureen. *sigh*

Guess I'll just have to stick to jpeg for a while! (maybe that will get someone's attention)!:lol:

[rfreschner]

When I connect the camera to the computer via USB cord, I then try to open the folder with the photos in it. There are none showing. That is where I am stuck.

I'm guessing that you are running Windows, correct? Your computer will not recognize the RAW images when your camera is connected to your computer via the USB port. If you buy a card reader (cheap) you will be able to access them.

[Ricko of Fla]

I have had the same problems . some times it says no raw files and again I tried and they are there. I have no answer. Try other files they may be in there. Raw shooter is great once you can us it. I love mine
Good luck

[EOSAddict]

Do you have the .thm files there too? This makes a difference...

[rfreschner]

Do you have the .thm files there too? This makes a difference...

There are no .thm files with a 20D.

[EOSAddict]

Oh right, of course! Sorry, this is what stumped me with my 300D when starting with RSE!

[kpiela]

I'm guessing that you are running Windows, correct? Your computer will not recognize the RAW images when your camera is connected to your computer via the USB port. If you buy a card reader (cheap) you will be able to access them.

So the only answer is to get a card reader then, huh? Well, at least that's an answer! Thanks Rick and everyone else. Until then... :D

[rfreschner]

So the only answer is to get a card reader then, huh?

Yes, one of those quirks of Windows; it only recognizes files that it thinks are image files when the camera is hooked directly to the PC and it doesn't consider RAW files images. Supposedly, the upcoming version of Windows will resolve this issue. I've found that the card reader is more versatile anyway and probably wouldn't go back to direct connection even if they do fix it.

[kpiela]

Thanks Rick. I've never used a card reader, but I am sure it will all work out! I understand a bit better why the photos aren't even showing up!

[siteman]

Im not sure if this is your problem but this happened to me.

I started with a rebel that came packaged with ps elements. I started using raw and the files opened in the zoom browser utility fine.
I upgraded to the 20d and the previously installed elements would open the jpegs but not the raw files. I think I saw somewhere that the raw files are a bit different now because the camera companies along with the computer mfgs. are trying to get some sort od uniformity. Anyhow the fix was to install the Digital Photo Professional that came with the 20d and view raw files there.
I have since went to cs2 with bridge and have no problems with the raw files.

The card reader is a great investment, 20 bucks at wal mart, makes downloading much faster.

It may not be your problem, but it worked for me. Hope this helps.

[StealthLude]

Are you sure your shooting in RAW?

[kpiela]

Yes, I shot 4 or 5 shots in RAW but b/c I don't have the card reader, I switched back to jpeg. I am going to keep at it when I get the card reader. Thanks.

[delinian]

I use ACR Adobe Camera Raw, in CS2, and PSE3.
It's been too long since I've "played" with PSE2, but since it came with my 10D,
it might be capable of veiwing, editing, 20D raw's. You may have to upgrade
ARC @ Adobe.com, if so it's easy to do. Windows XP has a new downloadable raw
viewer, that I think it is in their "Power Toy's" section.
Your best bet is to use a card reader to get those photos onto your hard drive.
I use a Lexar firewire, and a Belkin USB2.0 card reader to transfer my shots from 10D + 20D. Firewire is a little faster, and you can find them, or USB, just about anywhere for around $20-45.

[kpiela]

Thanks for the info Dennis! :)

[bobscape]

Hi Kristine,
I had a very similar problem with my 350D and spent some considerable time pulling my hair out! Now I am not sure if the 20D comes with the same software as the 350D but I will assume you would have received some sort of camera/PC interface software with the camera. My 350 came with Canon ZoomBrowzer which facilitates downloads direct from the camera via the USB. This software also contains a RAW image converter which is accessed within the EDIT tab. When I download images from my camera through ZoomBrowzer, I follow up by converting them from RAW to TIFF. I do all of this within ZoomBrowzer and once this process is complete I can then access the pics through photoshop. I am sure you will have something similar with your camera software. Good luck

[kpiela]

Hi bobscape. Thanks for the info. I didn't realize ZoomBrowzer converted raw files. I had already downloaded the free Raw Shooters Essentials and recently picked up a card reader. I have already begun to work w/some raw photos to get used to it all! I then open the files in Photoshop and convert to tiff. Thanks again :)

[mrcoons]

Your Canon CD should have a program called Canon CameraWindow on it. Install it and run it to download your RAW images (plugging the camera into your USB port). Works great for me.

[BearLeeAlive]

Your Canon CD should have a program called Canon CameraWindow on it. Install it and run it to download your RAW images (plugging the camera into your USB port). Works great for me.Kristine, I had the same problem as you and came up with this same solution. I would still highly recommend getting a card reader, it is way faster and does not tie up your camera.

[kpiela]

Funny, I have CameraWindow installed already! There were so many programs to install when I got the camera that I never got a chance to figure them all out! The card reader and RSE seem to be doing the job, although I haven't been shooting much lately :(