Rebel XT's RAW files - questions about processing

[reemas]

currently i use canons software DPP 1.6.1 to work with RAW files. recently i tried RAW Developer 1.2.3 and that works great - but it's only a demo.

my questions are about working with the XT's RAW files:
1.) can i use photoshop cs or cs2 when working with raw files?
2.) what are plugin convertors for? does it have the same effect as working directly on the RAW file?

thanks!

[BrandonSi]

currently i use canons software DPP 1.6.1 to work with RAW files. recently i tried RAW Developer 1.2.3 and that works great - but it's only a demo.

my questions are about working with the XT's RAW files:
1.) can i use photoshop cs or cs2 when working with raw files?
2.) what are plugin convertors for? does it have the same effect as working directly on the RAW file?

thanks!

I can open my 300D raw files in CS, although I use CaptureOne for all my raw post processing. I don't have any experience with the XT but from Adobe's site you can get the updated Raw plugin wich does support the XT in CS2. I'm sure if you download the latest Raw plugin for CS it would support the XT as well.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2931

I'm not sure what other plugin converters there are, but the one that is in CS allows you to adjust a few things before processing the file from RAW to TIFF or whatever format, such as exposure level, contrast, and I would assume white balance.. I don't have too much experience with it, just accidentally opening raw files in CS instead of CaptureOne.

[Kentish]

I use Photoshop Elements v3 with the latest plug-in for working on my 350D RAW files.

[lost]

For converting Raw I use Pixmantec's RawShooter essentials 2005 ver. 1.1.2 I am pretty sure that it supports the XT. I am positive that it is free but dont let it fool you. I preferred it over using CS for my DRebel. I havent tried CS for my 20d because I love RSE so much.

[jimsolt]

. . . I don't have any experience with the XT but from Adobe's site you can get the updated Raw plugin wich does support the XT in CS2. I'm sure if you download the latest Raw plugin for CS it would support the XT as well.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2931

As they will inform you on the adobe site the newest plugin ACR3.1, will indeed open the XT RAW files in CS2 and Elements 3, but it WILL NOT work with CS or Elements 2. I can't say for sure, but I think it ONLY works on CS2 and PSE3.

Jim

[reemas]

what are plug ins and covertors for? do they reduce image quality?

[jimsolt]

what are plug ins and covertors for? do they reduce image quality?

I can't supply a very technical answer but I'll give a try with a simple one.
A plugin is a small program that wasn't included with the original one. It works with the program(s) it was written to work with and it gives you some more things you can do with that program. It does not reduce image quality by itself, though some plugins may lead you to steps that will reduce the quality. Most people who want to do what the program does accept the quality loss.

A converter (in this case, a RAW converter) simply changes the file from one type to another. A RAW file is nothing but data. To use the data, you must "convert" it to a photographic file. At that point you may choose formats that will or will not reduce the image quality. TIFF and PSD do not. JPEG does. You might find you need JPEG for many uses, but if you use it wisely, you minimize the degradation.

As I said . . . not technical, but I think not a bad answer.

Jim

[mapollo]

You can open 350XT RAW photos in CS but there is an extra step.


Download Adobe Camera Raw 3.1 from the Adobe site.

Unzip the file and bundled with the ACR 3.1 plugin is a standalone "Digital Negative Converter". Convert your 350XT raw files to the DNG format. These should open in PSCS ACR 2.4.

Ok it's an extra step but it's a free option for the moment.

I do not have PSCS myself to check this but I have read that it works.

David....

[jimsolt]

You can open 350XT RAW photos in CS but there is an extra step.


Download Adobe Camera Raw 3.1 from the Adobe site.

Unzip the file and bundled with the ACR 3.1 plugin is a standalone "Digital Negative Converter". Convert your 350XT raw files to the DNG format. These should open in PSCS ACR 2.4.

Ok it's an extra step but it's a free option for the moment.

I do not have PSCS myself to check this but I have read that it works.

David....

Absolutely correct, but I think that is a completely different process from converting as in ACR 3.1, DPP, Rawshooter, etc. I understand if you use DNG you don't need a further RAW conversion at all, but I confess knowing nothing about it beyond it's what Adobe is pushing as a universal RAW standard and that Canon and Nikon are for whatever reasons resisting adopting it. They may be entirely proprietary reasons or they may have other compelling reasons for not embracing it.

I have asked in several forums for opinions about it and gotten pretty much a non-answer.

Jim

[tomynate]

Kentish said "I use Photoshop Elements v3 with the latest plug-in for working on my 350D RAW files."

I just bought a XT and am just getting to know it. This is my first dslr. I have only worked with tiff and jpeg till this time. I have PE3.0 and the reason I bought it was it can handle raw. Am wondering how it performs. Have you found any reasons to step up to CS2?