Maximizing RAW images

[bigsexy]

Hello all,
OK, here's a question from the dumb guy.... I recently got my D60 and I LOOOOVE it! However, I am a little confused. According to the technical stats, it ways RAW images should be something like 5 MBs. However, after I convert them they're like 2 MBs. So, what am I missing? Also, is there a way to view the RAW images in photoshop without converting them? Thank you all for any help you can give me. I look forward to hearing from you. Take care, David

[chris maddock]

Sounds like you're converting them to JPEGs. If you convert as TIFFs, they'll be 18Mb (or 36Mb for 16bit Linear TIFFs)

As to viewing in PS, there is a RAW converter from Adobe. Have a look around here and you'll find discussions about it, haven't used it myself.

HTH
Chris

[AJSJones]

You cannot view a raw data file without converting into an image file - either use the Canon software (or others that use the Canon SDK) or the Photoshop plug-in. If you convert it with the plug-in you can choose what size it generates. The default is the original 6 MP image and it's 36 MB in 16 bit or 18 MB in 8 bit. (Adobe's converter allows up or downsizing during the conversion). Most folks will do all they can in 16 bit (levels, curves, some USM etc before converting to 8 bit). If you're using Photoshop, the bottom left of the image indicates its size in MB of the image (not the size of the saved jpeg).

If you turn it into a jpeg it will obviously go down in size depending on the quality setting. If you're referring to the size of the file after conversion from raw and then saved as jpeg, what you're getting sounds reasonable. When you convert it and view it in Photoshop before saving, it should be full-size (3072x2048ish). If it's not, your converter settings are doing something they shouldn't. With the Canon converter you have the option of pulling out an embedded jpeg which might be around 2MB but this is not the raw data - it's a separate lower res version that's saved IN ADDITION to the raw file.

Hope this helps

Andy

[robertwgross]

chris maddock wrote:
Sounds like you're converting them to JPEGs. If you convert as TIFFs, they'll be 18Mb (or 36Mb for 16bit Linear TIFFs)
...


I agree completely.

The D60 RAW files stored in the camera vary between about 5.8MB and 8MB, depending on light and dark content and noise. When each of those is converted to 16-bit-per-channel TIF, then you get 36MB each.

If you end up with a small file, then you are not capturing what you think you are capturing.

---Bob Gross---