Can I upload RAW files straight into CS3? And how to set my 40D to RAW...

I've never shot in RAW before, but i REALLY want to after seeing the end product people get.

Im using a Canon 40D. Ive tried googling it, but I cant figure out how to set my camera to capture images in RAW. Would anyone know, or have suggestions, or even a good guess?

Also, what can I use to get the RAW files off of my 40D? All i have is CS3 and Bridge (which I'm not too familiar with).

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys!

To set our camera in to "RAW" mode, go to page 56 on you user manual, it is quite clear their.

You need camera 4.6 update for CS3 to read 40D files, click here for that.

To get files off your camera and in to Bridge/Photoshop, the best bet by far is to buy a card reader, if not, try reading your manual from page 147 onwards.

If you have lost your manual - click here.

To set RAW there are several ways but go to menu and it should be the first option "Image/Picture Quality"

With CS3 and Bridge you should already have ACR (Abobe Camera RAW) installed.
You would upload the RAW files to your computer just as you would a JPEG.

You need to look at RAW files as a role of exposed film that needs to be developed. ACR is where you develope the RAW files to image files and then any fine edits in PhotoShop.

I have CS3 Extended (my iMac was purchased from a professional photographer and came with CS3 Bridge, PhotoShop, and Illustrator. CS3 came with a TON of plug-ins).

Since i really dont understand Bridge from never using it really I couldn't figure out if I have ACR and if i did then where I would find it. I just upload photos into iPhoto typically and then just drag them inton a Pre-Process folder I keep on my desktop. Can i open Bridge and upload my photos there instaed of uploading them into iPhoto?

And if i do have ACR somewhere, where would I look to find it?

And thank you for the link to the Manual. I purchased my 40D secondhand, and I did not get the manual with it.

To open a RAW file from bridge all you should need to do is double click on it. While you're in Bridge click on Help on the top menu bar, it'll have answers to most all of your questions. Also while in the Help drop down check for updates.

Mindless, it sounds like you need to do some searching on "Digital Asset Mangement" (DAM). This is an organization system/structure for your image files. Otherwise, you'll soon have files scattered all over your computer.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11479316
Mindless, it sounds like you need to do some searching on "Digital Asset Mangement" (DAM). This is an organization system/structure for your image files. Otherwise, you'll soon have files scattered all over your computer.

Hahaha. I just spent a few hours last week cleaning my insanely disorganized desktop. i had 8 different floders full of images and even just loose pictures saved to my desktop. It was a hot mess!!

So bridge is a place to organize everything?

Oh, and can i use Bridge to upload my images off of my camera the way Ive been doing in iPhoto? If so, how do I do it? Do i just plug in my camera and open Bridge?

MindlessConsumer wrote in post #11479402
So bridge is a place to organize everything?

Bridge is not a "place". It's a file viewing and file management application. You need to designate a place on your drive where you store your image files in some kind of orderly fashion for searching. Bridge can help you in file searching by way of assigning keywords to your image files.

It's always best and safest to use a card reader to transfer/copy your image files from memory card to the computer. Bridge has a "Photo Downloader" function which is what I use. You can use it with a card reader or by connecting your camera to the computer by cable. Open Bridge, then File > Get Photos from Camera.

The downloader has several options for where to download the files, file renaming, file conversion, and automatic backup.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11479526
Bridge has a "Photo Downloader" function which is what I use. You can use it with a card reader or by connecting your camera to the computer by cable. Open Bridge, then File >Get Photos from Camera.

The downloader has several options for where to download the files, file renaming, file conversion, and automatic backup.

Thank you for your reply!

Another question: Can I download RAW files right off of my camera?

Also, how do I find out if I have ACR or not?

Is ACR a Bridge application?

You can't shoot RAW in dummy modes. P, Av, Tv, and M only. No-one knows what A-dep is.

MindlessConsumer wrote in post #11481641
Thank you for your reply!

Another question: Can I download RAW files right off of my camera?

Also, how do I find out if I have ACR or not?

Is ACR a Bridge application?

You can try the Bridge downloader and see if it works with downloading from the 40D. Assuming it does, you are good to go. Otherwise you are well-served by using a card reader -- not only simple and glitch-free but the 40D uses the older USB technology which is painfully slow whereas a new card reader and reasonably non-dinosaur computer will operate at a much faster USB 2.0 (or Firewire) speed. Or, if you still want to use the camera connection you can install the Canon software EOS Utilities.

You can also install the Canon Raw processing software, Digital Photo Professional, for a quick, nice alternative converter.

Now, as for Camera Raw, Camera Raw is the Raw processing "plug-in" that comes with Photoshop CSx and with Elements -- it is installed with Photoshop. You can open Camera Raw from Bridge by double-clicking a Raw file, of by right-clicking a file in Bridge and choosing Edit in Camera Raw.

As to how to set your 40D to shoot Raw, well, I don't have a 40D and the "Best Practice" for finding something like that out is to read your manual! I believe the 40D has a similar menu layout to my 1D3, which has, a couple menus from the left, a couple items for jpeg quality and Image size. It's the Image Size part, if you are set to a Creative Zone mode, that will give you the Raw options. Like was mentioned earlier, the Auto and Scene modes will only allow you to shoot jpegs.

But, to be sure, here's a little clue: look in the index of your manual for Raw and you should get the specific info!

Downloading RAW images straight from the 40D to the computer is quite fast. If the Computer used is a Mac, there are a lot of applications the OP can use to download such images, including the Canon software that comes with the camera. I don't use a card reader because Bridge is real fast downloading images straight from the camera (I used CS5 and Bridge, and set the latter to erase the images from the card right after downloading. Graphic Converter can also be used to download images from the camera into the computer. This one is just as fast, too.

Rafromak, the only thing I disagree with is erasing the files from the memory card as you download them. I think it's too risky. I erase nothing until I safely have a main file transfer and a backup made.

Take a look here, I know it Bridge CS5, but it will give up an idea.
Go here and do a search for Bridge.
Also here.

If all else fails, try Google.

MindlessConsumer wrote in post #11481641
Is ACR a Bridge application?

Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) can be accessed from Bridge or from Photoshop. Either application can "host" ACR. Many people set the ACR preferences to have Bridge as the default ACR host so Photoshop will run faster.