RAW picture for desktop

[clkgtr37]

can some one give me some suggestions on how I should go about making a RAW picture my computer screen background. so far the only way I have found is to make my RAW images into 8-bit and then save them as a JPEG file. Is there any way to keep my picture in 16-bit and still have it on my desktop? And one more question, what is the difference between 8 and 16 bit? and what do I loose when I save a RAW image as a JPEG rather than a TIFF. I know this is a lot of questions, Pekka, you might have to help me on this one.
Thank You very much for your time

[Dick]

>what is the difference between 8 and 16 bit?

A pixel has three color values associated with it; an R,G & B. Each color can have a range of intensity associated with it from 0 to the maximum value. In 8 bit the color intensity in each channel can range from 0 to 255 in equal steps; in 16 bit it ranges from 0 to 65535. This means that there is many more individual intensities possible in 16 bit than in 8 bit.

The human eye can discriminate something on the order of 10bits. The D30 produces 12 bits of color information. In truth it is difficult but not impossible to see the difference between 8 bit color and 16 bit color but it is not that dramatic for most uses.

[Dick]

>what do I loose when I save a RAW image as a JPEG rather than a TIFF

JPG is a "lossy" file format and TIFF is a "non lossy" file format. JPG compresses the photograph by not storing information to perfectly reproduce each pixel in the photo while TIFF recovers each pixel perfectly. JPG files are smaller than TIFF files because of this compression.

Once having stored an image in JPG the original information can never be recovered. The problem is even more severe if you open and save files in JPG because each time you do it the file looses more of the original information and degrades. One should never edit and store in JPG format.

Original D30 JPG files are of excellent quality but they contain significantly less information than the CRW or converted TIFF files contain. For high quality work one should work in TIFF and use JPG only for output to the web.

IMO the quality difference in TIFF vs JPG is greater than 8 bit vs 16 bit color. My work flow includes the use of CRW to 16 bit TIFF for color adjustmen, then to 8 bit for PS editing and then to output which is either PSD or TIFF for print and JPG for the web.

[clkgtr37]

I can not say "Thank You" enough for all the information. I am grateful. One real quick question again, what would you use for a desktop background?
Thank You again

[gerry]

everything i read says use a neutral gray

[Robo]

Put neat images up on your desktop when your playing around with your computer. jpgs work for desktop images.

When doing color adjustments, you should ideally use a neutral gray background. Your eye can be tricked very easily if it's being distracted.

--T

[darrell]

windows uses bitmaps for backgrounds. all you have to do is save the picture somewhere where the computer can find it and you won't forget and move/erase it. then go into the video properties (or right click on the desk top, select properties and desktop)and select the picture for your background. you can use jpgs, etc but you have to have the active desktop running, and that's only for newer windows o/s.