Tiffs from raw confuse PS7

[John Diehl]

Can anyone help out (Canon support useless)? I use ZoomBrowser 4.1 to convert my raw files from my G5 to tiffs, and then open them for editing in Photoshop 7. But when I SAVE AS from PS, I am only given 3 choices: raw, tiff or psd. With other tiff files that I put into PS there are many more choices. I can use SAVE FOR WEB and make a jpeg, but I'm confused over why these tiffs are different.
Also, I get 2 THM files along with each tiff when I convert. I don't need separately saved thumbnails, so is it OK to delete these, or is there a way to stop them from being added in the first place? I'm using XP.
Thanks everyone. This is a great forum. -John

[NickSI]

I know the answer only for the first part of your question:

After Zoombrowser you got 16-bit TIFF image (your RAW files has 12-bits of data per pixel so in order to keep all infromation Zoombrowser chooses 16-bit TIFF instead 8-bit TIFF format).

There are limited amount of file formats capable to keep 16-bit data (and even less fromats supported by PS7). That why you got such a limited choice.

Make your Levels/Curves adjustments to the image in 16-bit mode, convert it to 8-bit and you will have your regular format choices back in the Save menu option.

[John Diehl]

Thank You very much.
I was mistaken re the other part of my question. ZB gives me a THM & a raw file along with the tiff, not 2 THMs. Sorry about that. I assume this raw file is an exact copy of the one from the camera, and I should save it for backup. The THM, if it is just a thumnail image and nothing else, seems unnecessary.
I am surprised that a ~5MB raw file becomes a ~29MB tiff. Sure glad I have a 100 GB hard drive. Thanks again all.

[NickSI]

When you shoot raw, camera generates both .RAW and .THM files. The .THM is actually a small JPEG file which you could safely delete but it probably worth to keep it because:
1. Many image browsers cannot understand raw format but can be configured to understand .thm - could be usefull when browsing CD/hard disk with archived images
2. the "canon raw format aware" software (ZB, Breezebrowser, etc.) can show previews faster using .THM instead of processing RAW file each time

Personally, I save both .CRW and .THM files.

[John Diehl]

Thanks. You are right. I was thinking I already have thumbnail generators, but they are not going to read the raw files, and I have learned that storing images as tiffs will take up too much room.