What Size File Should I Shoot?

[dennykyser]

For taking Portraits that you will enlarge to 8X10 or maybe 11X13 what size format should I shoot. If I shoot raw how do I convert it to JPEG and be able to see the picture. I took a few today in raw and couldnt open them?? Still on this digital learning curve here...LOL

[Jim Larson]

Always shoot RAW.

You need to learn the Canon Image converter software.

Use it to convert RAW to TIFF. Then use Photoshop Elements (came with Camera) to tweak the image.

You have some reading ahead of you! :shock:

It will be worth it!

Enjoy!

[Mikesht]

For taking Portraits that you will enlarge to 8X10 or maybe 11X13 what size format should I shoot. If I shoot raw how do I convert it to JPEG and be able to see the picture. I took a few today in raw and couldnt open them?? Still on this digital learning curve here...LOL


http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23019

[robertwgross]

I must say... I've shot my D60 for over a year now, and I've never shot anything except for RAW files. For everything I do, it's the way to go. I can convert everything RAW to TIF and go from there. In some cases, at the end I can convert from TIF to JPEG as necessary.

In all honesty, I can think of a few places that some users will want to shoot JPEG, but there aren't that many.

If or when you've mastered your photo editing program, you can do things to fix up a problem image, and you have a lot more room to fix things up if you have a RAW image or 16-bit/color channel TIF.

---Bob Gross---

[dennykyser]

You have some reading to do.

You are sooo right, and I am reading and playing every day, thank goodness I am not having to wait for the film to get developed. I know this will be something that will never end, will be learning as long as I want to improve.

Sometimes I just have to stop and take pics...

[FotoPhreak]

Always shoot RAW.

You need to learn the Canon Image converter software.

Use it to convert RAW to TIFF. Then use Photoshop Elements (came with Camera) to tweak the image.

You have some reading ahead of you! :shock:

Any recommendations as to where to do this "reading"?

[morenoar]

HMM, you left yourself open to this statement "where to do the reading?"
I usually do my reading in an area where I AM KING and no one can disturb me :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Oh I am BAD, REALY BAD

[Longwatcher]

For taking Portraits that you will enlarge to 8X10 or maybe 11X13 what size format should I shoot. If I shoot raw how do I convert it to JPEG and be able to see the picture. I took a few today in raw and couldnt open them?? Still on this digital learning curve here...LOL

Assuming a D60/10D:
Although I always recommend shooting in RAW as the standard, the minimum jpeg I would shoot would be medium-fine to get an 8x10 that looked good and large-fine for the larger 11x13.

However, RAW will get you to 16x24 with no noticeable artifacts

For me I use the Canon software to extract the jpeg into a separate folder to which which shots I want to spend effort on and then I bring the RAW shots into photoshop to work with and save as TIF for print copies and jpeg for web/customer digital copies.

That's what works for me.

[scottbergerphoto]

Here's an interesting point of view from Noel Carboni about Raw vs. JPEG: http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=202436&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=2#Post202702

[maderito]

Shooting and processing RAW images requires a major commitment. To support a 16 bit workflow requires a major investment in reasonably fast computer hardware and good software - combined with a willingness to acquire and apply the knowledge needed to edit images competently.

Some concentrate on getting the shot; others focus on getting the most out of the shot; still others do both. I have a mix of 10D images shot in JPEG and RAW. Without question, any “good” shot I’ve taken as a JPEG I wish I had originally shot in RAW.

The 16 bit workflow creates so much flexibility – all well described in the Noel Carboni link given by Scott. But I’m not willing (yet) to commit the time and effort to process all my shots using a RAW workflow – from initial shot to final archiving of the Tiff and RAW images - until the time and cost invested in supporting the workflow can be reduced. The bottlenecks for me are CPU speed and file storage requirements.

Currently, the software tools of RAW processing overtax the hardware, unless you have the latest, fastest computer and peripherals – or you have a lot of time to devote to image processing. However, this problem is definitely moving in the right direction - fast, cheap CPU platforms and affordable/manageable file storage media solutions.

I realize I expose myself to the comment: how can you invest in expensive photography equipment without an equal commitment to image processing? I'm guilty and I should know better :(

[dennykyser]

When I replaced my PC this fall I kept in mind that I may go to digital so I have a P4/80g hd I only have 256 ram now but will upgrade that this week so I should be set.

[Jim_T]

Always shoot RAW.

A while back, I took a shot of our first snowfall. I used JPEG. I shrunk it to 800x533 and sent it to my sister who lives where there is no snow. It was just for simple interest.. I deleted the picture. I didn't really need it, I have a whole winter to shoot snow...

Should I have shot that in RAW ? If so, why ?

[ricell]

Always shoot RAW.

A while back, I took a shot of our first snowfall. I used JPEG. I shrunk it to 800x533 and sent it to my sister who lives where there is no snow. It was just for simple interest.. I deleted the picture. I didn't really need it, I have a whole winter to shoot snow...

Should I have shot that in RAW ? If so, why ?

The real beauty of digital is flexability. No advantage with RAW for the image that has a limited purpose. I often shoot 'snapshots' as jpeg. Quick and easy and in the email with no effort. If I have any sense that I need more no question that RAW will require more effort (personal and computer) but also more control.

[Jim_T]

The real beauty of digital is flexability. No advantage with RAW for the image that has a limited purpose. I often shoot 'snapshots' as jpeg. Quick and easy and in the email with no effort. If I have any sense that I need more no question that RAW will require more effort (personal and computer) but also more control.

Exactly.. I shoot RAW on occasion because it has definite advantages. I couldn't live without it.. I just wonder why some people ONLY shoot RAW ?

[Jesper]

The real beauty of digital is flexability. No advantage with RAW for the image that has a limited purpose. I often shoot 'snapshots' as jpeg. Quick and easy and in the email with no effort. If I have any sense that I need more no question that RAW will require more effort (personal and computer) but also more control.

Exactly.. I shoot RAW on occasion because it has definite advantages. I couldn't live without it.. I just wonder why some people ONLY shoot RAW ?
I have never shot anything but RAW with my 10D. I want maximum quality, control and flexibility. I would hate it if I would have a beautiful photo which I couldn't print really large with maximum quality, because I shot it in JPEG instead of RAW. Why not get the most out of the camera? A RAW image contains exactly the information that the sensor recorded when you pressed the shutter button. It contains the full 12 bits per pixel. If you shoot JPEG, the camera has already reduced it to 8 bits per pixel (per colour channel). Those 4 extra bits give you a little more dynamic range, which can be important, for example if you want to get details out of the darker areas of the photo.

Ofcourse shooting RAW means you're going to have to do some work on the computer, but you don't have to work for hours on one image.

Probably it also depends on what you shoot and what you want with your photos. If you would only put them on the web and you're sure you'll never want to make nice, large prints of them, or you just hate to work behind the computer and you want instant results, you'd probably not want to shoot RAW.

[dennykyser]

What about shooting Raw + Large JPEG? that would give you the best of both worlds, if space was not a concern.

[Jim Larson]

Should I have shot that in RAW ? If so, why ?

I can never predict which pictures are throwaways and which are worthy of effort until back at my PC. This is why I always shot raw.

I have enough to worry about with the camera in my hand. I don't want to make *any* post processing decisions (like, am I doing post processing?) until I get home.

[Jim Larson]

Here's an interesting point of view from Noel Carboni about Raw vs. JPEG: http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=202436&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=2#Post202702

Note that Noel is quite the image tweaker. He is no stranger from exacting the most out of images. Taking a layer, doing stuff to it, and merging down are second nature to him. I don't have that kind of ability. . .

[Longwatcher]

Exactly.. I shoot RAW on occasion because it has definite advantages. I couldn't live without it.. I just wonder why some people ONLY shoot RAW ?

I basically only shoot RAW, with jpeg by exception only, because....
Two of my favorite pictures were shot in jpeg mode and they will not blow-up beyond 13x19, despite the fact I would love to enlarge them to 16x24 or larger. had I taken them in RAW I could have gone even farther then that to 32x40 and still had a good print, but no I had to save memory and shoot in jpeg :cry:

So to prevent that from happening to me again, I leave my camera in RAW mode and only change it by default. Same with ISO (it stays on ISO 100 by default). I only change it when I have to for what I doing and RAW or ISO 100 won't work.

But then I am a retired Imagery Analyst and I can nvere have enough detail in my images to make me happy. 8)

[CyberDyneSystems]

I too put off "the RAW thing" for quite some time as i had quite a learning curve with tyhe Camera etc. to tackle.

I shot thousands of images before embracing RAW completely,. and dabbled in it slightly before that.

As it turns out,. I have images I took on my first day out with the 10D that I really wish I had shot raw!

Hindsite is a bitch,. but I really wish I had shot RAW from the get go.

[dennykyser]

Thanks cyber,

something to consider, I think I will download the free trial of C1 and check that out.