RAW auto adjust in Elements 3.0

[markubig]

Hi all -

I just started using PS Elements 3.0. I have been viewing my RAW photos in the file browser. I noticed that the program is automatically adjusting the exposure, contrast, brightness, shadows, etc., but it is overexposing some pictures and adjusting pictures that looked fine. Does anyone know to turn that off?

There are a few pictures that I took black & white that the auto adjust turned back into color. I would really just prefer to do the adjustments myself and keep my RAW photos as pure digital negatives. Anybody know how?

Thanks, in advance!

~mark

[Jesper]

I don't think it automatically adjusts the images - it works like this:

First, the file browser shows you the embedded JPEG thumbnail file (all Canon RAW files have a small embedded JPEG thumbnail). Then it looks at the CRW or CR2 files in the directory again and generates a preview out of the RAW image data itself. I don't know if you can turn that way of working off in PS.

The black and white images become colour again because the actual RAW image is in colour. When you shoot in RAW, the camera doesn't process the image, so it also doesn't apply effects like making the image B&W. The camera does however apply the effects to the JPEG thumbnail image, that's why you see it in B&W first.

What happens if you open an image, does it look wrong in Adobe Camera Raw too, or does ACR apply the processing?

[markubig]

Hi Jesper -

Thanks for your reply.

To answer your question, let me give you an example. I took pictures in RAW format on my G3 and they came out underexposed. When I look at the thumbnail in the Adobe File Browser, I initially see my underexposed pic, but then I watch it automatically brighten up. When I open the RAW pic, I see it is automatically corrected (sometimes, a little too much) and the "auto" buttons on top of each slider is checked off. So in essence, I have been correcting the correction. If I have to correct it anyway, can I just have it not automatically correct for me?

Did i confuse u? I might have confused myself. . . :wink:

Thanks,

~mark

[ejwebb]

Unfortunately, you cannot turn of this auto-correct function in PSE 3.0 camera RAW. However, it does not do anything to your RAW file - only your current view of the file. All you have to do is uncheck the auto buttons and reset the parameters to zero to get back to the unadjusted RAW file. You can do this and save the settings as your camera default. That way, when you open a new file you just switch to your camera default and process them the way you like. The auto correct has never been correct since I have been using PSE 3.0 - I think they are WAY to aggressive so I ignore them and start from scratch.

Hope this helps!