Digital Photo Professional - RAW edit questions

[Tom Camilleri]

I am starting to use Canon's Digital Photo Professional program to post-process RAW files from my 300D. There are two tabs in the edit image tool pane, one for RAW and one for RGB. Am I correct in thinking that with RAW files I should use only the RAW pane, or can the RGB adjustments be appropriately used with RAW files as well?

In the RAW pane, the dynamic range goes from 0 to 4095. 0 is also labeled (-9.0) and 4095 is likewise labeled (3.4). Can someone explain explain these labels? Are they stops? If so, what is the zero point reference?

What should one use as a guide when adjusting dynamic range? Bringing the lower slider up to the lowest pixel in the histogram and the high slider down to the highest pixel often yields a garish contrast. Should I be adjusting by appearance?

I'm a newbie and am wondering if there is a better option than Digital Photo Professional. I don't mind springing for a program if it's going to save me time and render better quality, as long as it doesn't take a seasoned expert to use.

Thanks for any insights.

[Boudreaux]

Here's a link to a tutorial on DPP.

http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/dpp/index.html

It will give you a great overview of the tools in the program as well how a professional uses it to correct /enhance images. Hope this helps.

[Tom Camilleri]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[KennyG]

I don't like DPP, it has a horrible interface and workflow, plus I am simply not impressed with the available control over the conversion. I am not that enamoured with Photoshop CS either for the quality of its conversion. One is free with the camera and the other comes with PS and that's why they get used, even though they are not the best.

Capture One is by far the best tool for final results IMHO and the easiest to use with the most control. If you are processing reasonable volumes of RAW images and often, then C1 has the best workflow of any of the conversion tools.

[LesE]

I'll second KennyG. Capture One is far superior to all others I have tried which includes Canon's, Photoshop CS and Breeze Browzer. The colours from the RAW file are different in each but Capture One has by far the most control and the best colour representation. I use the LE which does everything you need and is affordable unlike the PRO edition. Go download the trial, I did and paid the money which is not something I do often!

[Jesper]

I disagree with KennyG and LesE! I have DPP v1.5 and Capture One LE v3.6. I prefer DPP. In my opinion, Capture One is not much easier or more intuitive to use than DPP.

Which of the RAW conversion programs works best for you is a personal decision, and you can download tryout versions of all of the non-free ones (Capture One, Breeze Browser, Bibble) and find out which one you like most.

p.s.: Boudreaux, thanks for the link, that's a cool DPP tutorial!

[scottbergerphoto]

The new version of Adobe Camera Raw v2.4 has gotten many people to switch from C1 and BreezeBrowser to PSCS for an integrared workflow. I believe the color issues have been resolved. I now use PSCS exclusively. It helped to read Real World Adobe Camera Raw br Bruce Frasier.
Scott

[PacAce]

The new version of Adobe Camera Raw v2.4 has gotten many people to switch from C1 and BreezeBrowser to PSCS for an integrared workflow. I believe the color issues have been resolved. I now use PSCS exclusively. It helped to read Real World Adobe Camera Raw br Bruce Frasier.
Scott

Scott, do you know if the raw conversion logic was redone for the previously supported raw file (i.e. 10D, 1D2, etc.) or does the 2.4 update only add support for the newer cameras such as the 20D and the 1Ds2?

[Nabil-A]

Im currently investigating the canon 2.4 raw plugin.. and im finding that the colours arent the same as those in zoombrowser. I compared a raw image photo taken with zoombrowser that had been taken with vivid setting to that in canon raw and there is no resemblence .. (canon raw-- 2.4 doesnt even support vivid, you have to tweak saturation, shadows etc to get anything close) and the photos look even softer

not really happy.

[kb244]

I disagree with KennyG and LesE! I have DPP v1.5 and Capture One LE v3.6. I prefer DPP. In my opinion, Capture One is not much easier or more intuitive to use than DPP.

Which of the RAW conversion programs works best for you is a personal decision, and you can download tryout versions of all of the non-free ones (Capture One, Breeze Browser, Bibble) and find out which one you like most.

p.s.: Boudreaux, thanks for the link, that's a cool DPP tutorial!

Depends how you setup your workflow, and if you deal with multiple raws at once.

[Tom Camilleri]

Thanks to all who commented. I'm on a Mac so Breeze Browser is out. DPP is seeming a bit limited but Capture one is pricey. If there was a program that offered significant perceptible advantage in result quality right out of the gate, it would be a no brainer for me even if pricey. The comments seem to indicate that this isn't the case. I'm on PS 7 and planning on upgrading, so perhaps CS will prove to be adequate.

[w10d]

I'm on PS 7 and planning on upgrading, so perhaps CS will prove to be adequate.

More than adequate - I use CS & ACR for my Canon RAW conversion & have used it for Leaf RAW as well, (though LeafCapture is sometimes better). ACR fits into the PS workflow & the much improved file browser really helps too. Also, check out Russel Brown's web site & get his Image Processor Script (now v2.2), this is a must for batch processing into multiple formats, with different sizes/profiles/USM options for PSD/TIFF/JPEG.

The upgrade will be worth the price just for ACR...

[mbze430]

Thanks to all who commented. I'm on a Mac so Breeze Browser is out. DPP is seeming a bit limited but Capture one is pricey. If there was a program that offered significant perceptible advantage in result quality right out of the gate, it would be a no brainer for me even if pricey. The comments seem to indicate that this isn't the case. I'm on PS 7 and planning on upgrading, so perhaps CS will prove to be adequate.

Have you looked in to Bibble. It has a MAC OSX version, and its alot cheaper than C1. Lot more control over your raw than ACR.

[Tom Camilleri]

Have you looked in to Bibble. It has a MAC OSX version, and its alot cheaper than C1. Lot more control over your raw than ACR.

I was on their site earlier. Some users posted problem reports that leave me a little cold. Beta software behavior kinds of things. What's your experience been?