16 bit photo - how to capture?

[Gman123]

Hello,

I wanted to try capturing a 16 bit pic with my Rebel XTi. I have tried shooting in Raw, with Adobe color space, and saving the file as a TIFF as well as just opening in PS. Each time the PS Image>Mode says its an 8 bit file. What am I missing?

Thanks

[PixelMagic]

What software are you using to convert your RAW files to TIFF?

[rammy]

ACR in Adobe will say at the bottom left of the screen if you want to open the file in 8-bit or 16-bit. What does yours say?

223651

[52k]

You can also specify 16bit in Canon DPP software when you convert to TIFF format.

Out of interest why do you need to go to 16bit.

The only time I convert to 16bit is when I'm shooting in very low light at very high ISO speeds. I find the noise reduction algorithms work best on a 16bit image. I then convert back to 8bit afterwards for the final image.

[CyberDyneSystems]

FYI, with a Canon Camera you can not "capture" a 16 bit file.

Most Canon's create a 12 bit color RAW file, with the exception of the latest models which create a 14 bit color RAW file.

A 16 bit file is created when you convert from RAW to tiff.
(The method to do so has been pointed out above so no need to repeat it.)

[CyberDyneSystems]

....

Out of interest why do you need to go to 16bit.
...

If you have any interest in maintaining 100% of the cameras image quality ability, shooting RAW and converting to 16 bit is the only way currently available.

Yes, you can always argue that 8 bit or even jpeg is "good enough" but again, if you don't want good enough but instead want "the best the camera can offer" then it's back to RAW and 16 bit.

In addition, editing an 8 bit tiff file in PS is very limiting. Staying with a 16 bit file during editing is has a significant advantages.

[52k]

If you have any interest in maintaining 100% of the cameras image quality ability, shooting RAW and converting to 16 bit is the only way currently available.

Yes, you can always argue that 8 bit or even jpeg is "good enough" but again, if you don't want good enough but instead want "the best the camera can offer" then it's back to RAW and 16 bit.

In addition, editing an 8 bit tiff file in PS is very limiting. Staying with a 16 bit file during editing is has a significant advantages.

I know why 'I' do it and I also know 'when' to produce 8 or 16 bit output for the client but I do it for a living.

For some client's JPG is what they want. For others 16bit TIFF is requested and often at very large size sometimes with and sometimes without processing.

This week I'm doing a 4 day shoot for one of the largest supermarket chains in the UK. They have asked me specifically for JPG straight from the camera! By choice I only ever usually shoot in RAW but this is their spec.

I was wondering if the original poster 'needed' the same quality as it's heavy on resources if the images are to simply be stored in 'My Pictures' on his PC.

The needs of the aspiring amateur are usually different from the working pro.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I did not mean to sound as if I was speaking down in any way.
Sorry if I gave that impression.

From what I can gather reading the OP's post, he simply wanted to give it a try.

[52k]

I did not mean to sound as if I was speaking down in any way.
Sorry if I gave that impression.

From what I can gather reading the OP's post, he simply wanted to give it a try.

No offence taken.

Yes that's what I gather too. It's good to experiment and all useful knowledge to build.