File Format

[Pete Gl]

Have recently converted to shooting totally in raw. I'm fairly computer literate, but, I do get confused with all the different file types. What the best format to keep post-processed shots in? I mainly keep my photos for viewing on the computer, very occasionally get some printed via an on-line printing house.

I use Elements 5 for my processing.

Thanks in anticipation

Pete

[airfrogusmc]

I like Tiffs.

[PeteJaffa]

Good question.

I usually chop and change between TIFF, PNG, JPEG and have never noticed much difference with online printers.

This week I have mostly been saving in.....PNG.

[KarlMarsh]

I use lightroom which means until I export an image out of lightroom I have not really saved it as anything. Lightroom makes non destructive edits to your Raw files which allows you to view them with your changes without actually changing them.

That being said my favorite file format is DNG.

[jnev]

I convert all my CR2 files to DNG, and then save all the files I work on in Photoshop as a PSD. I'm not sure what (if any) the benefit is of TIFF over PSD though...

[kevin_c]

Like Karl ^^ I use Lightroom so there is no need to convert all images to anything else, I only 'export' from LR for a particular reason, i.e. to print or put on the web etc. in which case I just export as a max quality jpeg. I did save as 16bit tif's but in all honesty couldn't see any difference and the 16 bit tif's were huge!.

[joayne]

.TIFF is a non-compressed file. To keep the quality of your images save to .tiff. For use on the web save to .png or .jpeg. These are compressed files and do degrade each time you open them. During the "save" of the file a lot of information is "thrown away" by the compression and each time the file is opened and saved more information is "thrown away". Compressed files are called lossy files, .tiff files are lossless files, or non-compressed, all of the information in the file is saved. I am not sure if .psd is offered in Elements, but that is also a lossless type of file, non-compressed. It is a native PhotoShop file type.

[Naturalist]

While I have Photoshop CS2 I usually do all my viewing and editing in the Canon Digital Photo Professional software that came with the camera.

I like the fact the DPP does not actually alter the RAW image, just the commands to place over it (Recipe) so the original RAW image is not lost.

I'll keep everything saved as a RAW image unless I want to adjust, trim then convert and save as a JPG for e-mailing or putting into Flickr account.

[PeteJaffa]

These are compressed files and do degrade each time you open them.

Only if you open>edit>save.

[Pete Gl]

Thanks very much for all the advice, but maybe you can see my confusion, out of 7 repliers, 5 different formats: - tif, jpeg, dng, png, psd, (joayne, yes elements does offer psd) have been suggested.

But, as naturalist suggests, you always keep the raw image anyway. If you're happy with the raw image don't do anything, it's only images that you edit that need to be saved in a different format. I think i'll just use the most popular format of jpg (is there any difference between jpeg and jpg?).

I'd love somebody to tell me I'm wrong, but more importantly, why.

Thanks again folks.

Pete

[tzalman]

Maybe I can make some order out of all the confusion:
1. If you are only going to view the image on your own computer and if the editing that you've done with the RAW converter is adequate, save the edits but without converting. Any time you view that RAW in the same converter the edits will be applied. Should you want to change them, you can.
2. If you want to do more editing in another application, and if that application supports 16 bit files, either convert to 16 bit tif (or a psd for PS) or send the image directly to PSCS (if you have it) which can be done from ACR, LR and DPP. When you are sure that all the editing is done, save as a slightly compressed jpg. The tif can then be deleted.
3. If you want to do further editing in an application that does not support 16 bit, convert to 8 bit tif and at the end save a jpg and delete the tif.
4. If you want to post to a web site, attach the image to an email or send it to a print lab, you will need a jpg in sRGB color space.
5. If you are printing with a home inkjet, most converters will let you print from them without actually saving a conversion, as in condition 1. If you choose either 2 or 3 you can print from either the tif, the psd (before deleting them) or the jpg.

[ChasP505]

Think of your RAW files as your negatives. Once you edit and convert your image, you certainly will want to archive your RAW files. Some people like to convert their RAW files to DNG in anticipation that the photo industry might someday move to a more universal RAW format. In any case, save your RAW files, whether they are CR2, NEF, DNG or whatever.

I prefer to convert to TIF rather than PSD because while both formats support layers, allowing you to do non-destructive editing, TIF is not a proprietary format as PSD is. When Adobe drops the use of the PSD format, you'll have to convert your files once again.

A large 16 bit TIF file with several layers can be huge. If hard drive space is a concern and you are certain you will not need to edit any further, than you can either flatten your TIFs and apply a compression algorithm to them or save them as high quality JPGs.

The PNG format is rarely used and I would not even waste time on it.

As for me, I save all my "keepers" as RAW (CR2) and TIFs, only converting to JPGs to post to the web or to email.

[Pete Gl]

Thats great,

Thanks Elie and Chas

Pete

[Pete]

Think of your RAW files as your negatives. Once you edit and convert your image, you certainly will want to archive your RAW files. Some people like to convert their RAW files to DNG in anticipation that the photo industry might someday move to a more universal RAW format. In any case, save your RAW files, whether they are CR2, NEF, DNG or whatever.

I prefer to convert to TIF rather than PSD because while both formats support layers, allowing you to do non-destructive editing, TIF is not a proprietary format as PSD is. When Adobe drops the use of the PSD format, you'll have to convert your files once again.

A large 16 bit TIF file with several layers can be huge. If hard drive space is a concern and you are certain you will not need to edit any further, than you can either flatten your TIFs and apply a compression algorithm to them or save them as high quality JPGs.

As for me, I save all my "keepers" as RAW (CR2) and TIFs, only converting to JPGs to post to the web or to email.

Entirely true. LR is able (and by default) compresses TIF files using a ZIP algorythm (but they're still large).

It really depends on how much you want to keep your "in work" images. Personally, I retain the RAW files and the associated XMP files and the output jpg files. I rarely perform complex PP work that requires me to keep the TIF or PSD stage (or if I do, I'm usually happy enough with the results that I don't need to go back to it again).

[davidcrebelxt]

Basically...

if I plan on doing MORE editing to an image either soon or down the road, I save as .tiff.

If I'm pleased with my final result of editing, I'll save as .jpg and let that be it.

If I were a pro or had clients, I'd probably keep the .tiffs around too so I could re-create those edits down the road, but 99% of my pics aren't that critical.

[Pete Gl]

Thanks Pete and David

Pete