Understanding Raw

[JKD]

Well, santy just left me a 300D for christmas and I've been taking many pictures. I shot them all in RAW but I don't know what to do with them. Am I supposed to convert the raw and then do my editing or am I supposed to edit the raw and convert it?

To convert should I choose 16bit/ch TIFF 8 bit TIFF or jpeg?

Thanks

[robertwgross]

How you deal with your RAW images depends on what program you have available.

Some users will convert all RAW files directly to 16-bit-per-channel TIF first. Well, that gets excellent results, but the file sizes can get gnarly. Some will do the same, but convert to 8-bit-per-channel TIF. That is a little more practical. Some will open the RAW file, edit, and save as TIF or JPEG.

---Bob Gross-

[JKD]

So if space is not an issue, converting to 16bit TIFF then editing will yield results as good as taking the RAW, editing then converting?

[enilm]

What's a good program to open up RAW images. I tried opening it with photoshop 7 but it won't open it? I can only open it with the program that came with the camera

[robertwgross]

There are several good programs for RAW conversion and processing, and we have discussed those just within the last 24 hours.

A 16-bit-per-channel TIF image takes up twice space as its 8-bit brother. If your shot is "right the first time," then you won't have to manipulate the image much or any, so the 8-bit file is fine. If you do have to do lots of tone curve and shadow repair, then the 16-bit file might do better for intermediate steps, and then end up with 8 bits.

Personally, I did the 16-bit route for a year, and then I could not see much difference with the 8-bit versions. I hate to have both 16-bit and 8-bit versions of the same file floating around, and I hate to have some of this and some of that. What you end up with will likely be 8-bits.

---Bob Gross---

[JKD]

Is there a difference between editing a RAW image and editing the 16bit TIFF image?

Will they both be the same quality?

[CyberDyneSystems]

The RAW image file iteself is never "edited".. it is not changed on the disk. What is chenged is only saved in the resulting "conversion file" (usually a tiff)

As for the differnece.. there are aspects of the RAW info that a RAW converter can alter far beeter than trying to do so in an image editor like Photoshop. These aspects include White balance, exposure compensation, and color saturation. (some of these aspects can't be altered in PS,.. things like color saturation just can't be pushed as far in PS without very noticeable detrimental side effects)

Run an adavanced search on the {ost Processing forum for "raw" "canversion" "workflow" and you'll most likely find a lot of good info.

[tim]

I suggest getting yourself "camera raw for adobe photoshop": it's a great book and has helped me no end.

[tumb]

The photoshop camera raw only works in CS. I tried with PS6 and no luck, so finally I through in the towel and bought CS. By the way, there are cheaper legal ways to get it than paying full price. Now that I've had CS for awhile it's about the only app I use. Paint Shop Pro 9 will open raws if price is your biggest concern, it's a pretty good program too.

I usually open my raw's in PSCS, convert them to 8 bit then save as .psd. Then I occasionally burn all my raw's to CD and keep the psd's on my machine. The only time I go back to the raw is if I really foul up an image and want to start again from scratch. Working with tif's is fine if you don't mind working with 48+ MB files.

[enilm]

Does everyone here buy Photoshop CS or do they get it a different way. I have PS 7 but I don't have money right now to upgrade.

[ejwebb]

Does everyone here buy Photoshop CS or do they get it a different way. I have PS 7 but I don't have money right now to upgrade. Try Digital Photo Professional version 1.5 from the Canon website download page. It was recently upgraded to work with 300D files and is a great program.

Also, Photoshop Elements 3 has the same RAW converter as CS and you can get it for around $50 with the upgrade from Elements 2 and other promotions (check Amazon). A few of the functions are disabled in the Elements ACR but most of them are there.

Have fun!!

[enilm]

another question
I got photoshop 7 from a friend, so I know it's not an original and it's probably pirated. If I buy the upgrade CS, would that work for me or did I have to have the real version of photoshop 7.

[Scottes]

You have to have the real version. I think you can still upgrade Photoshop Elements to PS CS for $299.

[enilm]

I guess I'll be sticky with photoshop 7 for a while and I'll just buy elements. 3.0. One more question, I hear a lot of people talking about sRGB. How exactly do you do that. If I go to Mode I only see RGB and the others like grayscale and all that. thanks

[ejwebb]

I guess I'll be sticky with photoshop 7 for a while and I'll just buy elements. 3.0. You don't need to buy Elements to convert RAW files. Canon's software - Digital Photo Professional - is very good for adjusting and converting RAW files and it is free for download from the Canon website.

[subq]

I thought DPP was for the 1Dx cameras (I know it asks for a serial number of one if you try to download it).

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/sdl/dpp-e.html

I still have a 10D so I don't think DPP will help there.

I am looking at either Bibble or upgrading to PS CS (most likely upgrading).

[JX]

Hi JDK



Tim mention the book (full title) "Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS" by Bruce Fraser. It is an excellent book. It explains about processing raw files with the Camera Raw plug-in in Photoshop CS. The ISBN # is 0-321-27878-x. If you are not using Photoshop, then don't purchase it. Go to your local library and see if they have and read the first chapter.


also check out http://luminous-landscape.com/techniques/process.shtml

Jim

[Jesper]

I thought DPP was for the 1Dx cameras (I know it asks for a serial number of one if you try to download it).

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/sdl/dpp-e.html

I still have a 10D so I don't think DPP will help there.

I am looking at either Bibble or upgrading to PS CS (most likely upgrading).
Digital Photo Professional 1.5 also works for the 300D / Digital Rebel, 10D, 20D, etc.

Go to the EOS 10D Download Library (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=8772#New%20Window), click on the link below "Software Applications and Updates" and follow the instructions in the popup window to download the DPP 1.5 update. Note, you'll need to have the previous Canon software installed on your computer, as the download is an update version.