How to open RAW produced by CHDK?

[Yogesh Sarkar]

I just tried the RAW feature of CHDK to produce .crw files, however when I try to open it using CS 2’s camera raw feature, it says unrecognized document.

Those who use CHDK’s RAW feature, which software do you use to open and process the RAW files?

[abuseddog]

I use googles picasa to open it presently. I have the chdk with an a570. I believe it's not reconized because of the .crw file extension. I seem to recall hearing about a plug in for photoshop? Maybe somebody will chime in.

[Aweitzel]

IrfanView works with RAW aswell.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Google Picasa and Irfanview won't provide the same level of ability to process RAW as Photoshop would, which would frankly defeat the purpose of using RAW feature!

I have the plugin which is needed by photoshop to open RAW file and can open RAWs from 350D, but not the one produced by CHDK!

[abuseddog]

Dont know if it's possible, but maybe just change the file extension in the chdk menu frow crw to cr2. I think cr2 is the canon extension? Go to chdk menu > raw parameters> raw file prefix. Might be worth a try.

[Jon]

IIRC the CHDK RAW format isn't quite the same as Canon's CR2 format. You need to get a decoder that recognizes the CHDK RAW formats. See the CHDK Wiki (http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#Q._I.27ve_shot_some_RAW_pictures._How_do_I_pro cess_them.3F)

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Dont know if it's possible, but maybe just change the file extension in the chdk menu frow crw to cr2. I think cr2 is the canon extension? Go to chdk menu > raw parameters> raw file prefix. Might be worth a try.
Done that, didn't work.
IIRC the CHDK RAW format isn't quite the same as Canon's CR2 format. You need to get a decoder that recognizes the CHDK RAW formats. See the CHDK Wiki (http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#Q._I.27ve_shot_some_RAW_pictures._How_do_I_pro cess_them.3F)
Thanks Jon, had checked it after seeing the replies here. Right now DNG converter site is down (second one in the list) so can't download the software and don't really know how much RAW benefit I would loose after converting it to DNG format.

This is about the first time since I got my A720 that I am kicking cursing myself for not buying FZ18 :(

[Jon]

Well, Adobe's touting the DNG as a "universal RAW", so you shouldn't lose any functionality that way. If you do, you'd likely lose a similar amount with anything else converted to that format, and we'd have heard about it long since.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Finally was able to download the software and convert it to DNG which opened in CS2.

Jon I was worried about loosing some of the details in the conversion process, but I don't think there is any major loss so yes while it adds another step in post processing, it isn't so bad.

Will try and click a few photographs in RAW in next couple of days, want to see what kind of details I can salvage by using it. Got a big trip coming, so need to make sure I know how every thing works.

[SkedAddled]

Raw Therapee will open the RAW files without conversion, and is freeware. A very nice program with lots of features, and a small download.

http://www.rawtherapee.com/