New to Post Processing/Raw/more....

Cliff Notes: Difficulty understanding workflow and file types. Too much information and am getting confused out of sequence. More isnt always better for this beginner.


Hello all, I have read several articles in the sticky/faq and i think i'm experiencing sensory overload. I have an idea of what to do, but i'm having a hard time organising a workflow. Its a bit hard for me as i have absolutely no photoshop experience and have little experience beyond playing with brightness/contrast in some microsoft image viewer program. Any time taken to further clarify my viewpoints would be greatly appreciated.

As i understand it, It is generally a good idea to shoot in Adobe RGB because more colors are available which can then be converted (and or degraded?) into srgb,tiff,jpeg formats? Keeping a RAW in A.RGB makes for a good digital negative, which can always be reviewed and reused.

Now after taking several pictures in raw, they must be converted into something that you can manipulate and edit. Like a tif or jpeg (of which you will be able to set to srgb? or keep it adobe rgb)

I bought my first dslr, but am only shooting JPEG because i dont know any better. But i am trying to unconfuse myself from all the information i'm reading which i'm probably taking out of sequence. I have an idea of what ~needs~ to be done, i just dont know how to do any of it. (or rather where to start first). I've tried to my hearts content at understanding the FAQ and Stickies, but i fear i'm doing worse than when i started.

I am starting to shoot in RAW more in hopes of at least keeping some images that i can work on once i start understanding the "How-to" better. i dont want to be limited by my own capabilities and want to justify my purchase of an dslr with using it to its max capacity (even when i am sub-par as an amature photographer). Books, links, workflow clarification is greatly appreciated.

I think my hardest time is with what to do with a raw file and how to do the conversion and start processing. (what file type? what are these settings? when to edit with other programs for noise reduction etc and when to wait?)

First thing to do:

Start shooting RAW+Jpeg... you'll can switch to shootin ONLY RAW when you're finally comftorable.

Then, just start playing around with some RAW files in DPP (comes with Canon cameras) its a VERY good RAW processor... don't belive the adage that 'all bundled software is crap'.

In DPP, for starters, adjust exposure to get brightness how you want it then play with saturation and contrast. Play with the picture styles (they're basically presets for certain effects.) Play with BW conversion, in DPP you can simulate colored filters on BW to affect the results.

Once you get the image how you want, export it as .tif or .jpg, and do further editing in PS if desired.

AdobeRGB is only suitable for viewing in color-managed applications (DPP if set properly, Photoshop, Windows Vista Picture viewer, Safari Web browser, and for home printing from one of these types of applications.) In non-colormanaged apps, these images will appear washed out and "flat."

sRGB is good for posting on web, taking to drug-store for prints (most don't know what to do with AdobeRGB), sharing with friends who may not view images in PS, and viewing in non-colormanged apps (Firefox, Internet Explorer, XP picture viewer, etc.)


(Side note: RAW files are always AdobeRgb no matter what you set camera at (its ALL the information the sensor records)...

Best tip though, is just experiment, you're not going to ruin anything as RAW processing in DPP is non-destructive, even if you save your changes you can revert back to original at any time.

Thanks, i think i was getting a little ahead of myself and it seemed a bit overwhelming. i'll try experementing but basically the RAW is used only as a template to use and you save images based on the raw+adjustments?

can one just back raw's up on a dvd/cd and save final images on hd? or are there associated files that are used that need to stay with the raw

Ater I've uploaded/printed processed files, tiff/jpegs, I delete them and just archive the RAWs. Click "save all" when you leave DPP and it keeps the settings so you can always go back if you need to. I delete the RAW files that I dont use/print and back up on two 350gb hardrives. Works for me.

psyber_0ptix wrote in post #4190098
can one just back raw's up on a dvd/cd and save final images on hd? or are there associated files that are used that need to stay with the raw

depends on processing tool you use.

DPP, the adjustments are stored within the RAW when you save. (It's only metadata instructions... no pixels are changed, thats why you can go back and revert to pristine original at any time.)

For Lightroom, it is stored in a database, so the database needs to be backed.

For Photoshop ACR, it uses sidecar files (.xmp, LR can also write out to .xmp).

I use LR now, myself... and I have a large enough HD to hold my entire collection (but I also back up to external regularly, and to fresgh DVD's every year or so.)

But to be able to do other edits outside of DPP like using layers, photoshop plugins, filters, add text, etc, you will need to output to .jpg or .tif so other image editors can open them... also if you are printing at a photolab, they don't take RAW files.

So....

i have photoshop CS3, but most the image processing can be done in DPP (for my level anyways)

Before i can use it in photoshop, i need to save/convert the raw to a tif before photoshop can do all this editing using layers and plug-ins? I was semi-interested in this noise ninja program (as i would like to take a lot of low light potentially photos.)

Yes you need to convert first. The RAW file isn't exactly an "image", its the RAW sensor data... its the processing done in DPP and other RAW converters that 'converts' or 'exports' it to an actual image file.

Although, since you already have CS3, you also have the option of using ACR/Bridge... its got some great RAW processing tools in it (although, for me, the inital color you see out of ACR is yuck until you calibrate it (it shifts my reds to orange, and loses tonality... but your mileage may vary.)

I believe with CS3 you also can do a little bit more using the RAW image than you can in just DPP (but I'll let an actual CS3 user take it from here to describe exactly WHAT you can and cannot do there...)

IMHO you need to get an excellent text on RAW workflow. One of the best on the market today (if you are using PSCS3) is Tim Grey's Photoshop CS3 Workflow. It is well written and easy to understand. You can buy it on Amazon.com

CS3 is a great photo processing software and many think its new features make it much better than any of the camera makers software.

Jim

thanks so much! i'll definately look into it. and in the time being, i'll familiarize myself with the basics in dpp.

thanks all for your input

davidcrebelxt wrote in post #4189814
(Side note: RAW files are always AdobeRgb no matter what you set camera at (its ALL the information the sensor records)...

Raw files aren't 'in' a color space. It's just sensor Data.

The camera's gamut is bigger then AdobeRGB

René Damkot wrote in post #4193808
Raw files aren't 'in' a color space. It's just sensor Data.

The camera's gamut is bigger then AdobeRGB

Thanks for the clarification:

(I knew better, but in trying to make the point camera setting didn't matter I gave out bad information... thanks for the backup! )

BTW, psyber... you may want to take a look at the links in Rene's signature, and maybe search for some of his other posts. They've helped me numerous times on RAW and color issues.