raw canon software 101

[jann1033]

decided to take the plunge and see how raw would work out but can't figure out which software is for raw processing...i know the rebel came with it but it's no longer on my desktop...i tried the canon photo professional but that didn't have much to it...is that the only raw processing software that comes with the rebel xt and do i have to do something before i use it ( ie does it do any conversion needed or is it just to tweak it). or to use photoshop e 5 what do i have to do with raw photos first, anything?

 

[Anewman]

I am pretty sure Elements 5 should open XT raw files, but I dont own that software.

In Photoshop CS2 you just use BRIDGE, it is like a file explorer. just click on the picture(s) you want to convert and it goes to the ACR(adobe camera RAW) converter where you make adjustments(or use auto) click done and the image opens up in PHotoshop.

In ACR you also set the bit depth, it then opens up at that depth in photoshop.

 

[jann1033]

I am pretty sure Elements 5 should open XT raw files, but I dont own that software.

In Photoshop CS2 you just use BRIDGE, it is like a file explorer. just click on the picture(s) you want to convert and it goes to the ACR(adobe camera RAW) converter where you make adjustments(or use auto) click done and the image opens up in PHotoshop.

In ACR you also set the bit depth, it then opens up at that depth in photoshop.

yeah it was really difficult ...it automatically opened it on another page for raw...and the colors are perfect. don't think i realized the difference before, and it allowed for 8 or 16 bit depth

thanks

 

[Anewman]

yeah it was really difficult ...it automatically opened it on another page for raw...and the colors are perfect. don't think i realized the difference before, and it allowed for 8 or 16 bit depth

thanks

Also
Just so you know, if you want to save to jpeg for sending to lab or web posting... You need to change it back to 8bit, you can keep it as PSD or tiff at 16 bit but JPEGS are only 8bit.

And remember it is not writing over the original RAW file, you will always have that to go back to if needed. So saving it as a JPEG is not that big a deal.

 

[JR6ooo4]

here is a link to a windows program that will let you view thumbnails of raw files. Very convenient for searching.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...8E-B10D-4CE4-A141-5866FD4A3286&displaylang=en

MIkeeee

 

[ndelaware]

here is a link to a windows program that will let you view thumbnails of raw files. Very convenient for searching.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...8E-B10D-4CE4-A141-5866FD4A3286&displaylang=en

MIkeeee

With this you can view your RAW files in "My Pictures" instead of opening them within photo program. It is a must have for me.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

You should try the Adobe Lightroom beta. It's free for now.

 

[Magix]

Probably your camera came with Canon File Viewer Utility. That's the one to use for RAW files. I'd also recommend downloading the trial of ACDSee Pro - if you like it, it's totally worth the price of buying the software (I just did). It's much, much faster to work with than the Canon program. But, if you're just doing RAW files once in a while, the Canon utility should work well for you.

 

[jann1033]

i didn't have any problem with downloading etc and am really happy with the way the raw turned out( went to the zoo to see how it would work)
BUT
not sure if it is photobucket or software or what but i am having a hard time saving them into jpg...elements 5 only comes up jpf in the l scroll list when i try to to save it ...which photobucket doesn't use and so far, when i duplicated it and changed the name to jpg it didn't work...not sure how else i can save it with out the jpg2000( jpf) , just plain jpg

that plus the inital reason i started thinking in terms of raw was so i could use 16 bit for b&w...now both alienskin and virtual photography make me convert to 8 bit before i can use them...downloaded the light??? but haven't really figured it out yet. so if i shoot raw, edit it in 16 bit then convet to 8 bit before i convert to b&w it's not really doing anything different is it? other wise i guess i could desaturate and mess around with the channels...maybe no other way around the 8 bit business?

i do love the color clarity and they even seem sharper so i guess i'll be picking up some more memory cards so i can shoot more in raw . i was trying to post one but photoshop/jpg/jpf isn't letting me

 

[Anewman]

Also
Just so you know, if you want to save to jpeg for sending to lab or web posting... You need to change it back to 8bit, you can keep it as PSD or tiff at 16 bit but JPEGS are only 8bit.

BUT
not sure if it is photobucket or software or what but i am having a hard time saving them into jpg...elements 5 only comes up jpf in the l scroll list when i try to to save it ...which photobucket doesn't use and so far, when i duplicated it and changed the name to jpg it didn't work...not sure how else i can save it with out the jpg2000( jpf) , just plain jpg

If you convert to 8 bit, the save as jpg option will appear.

I do all my editing in 16bit and ProPhoto RGB b4 converting for printing or display. The conversion is part of actions that I created for RESIZING to the correct printing dimensions, so 1 click does it all for me.

 

[jann1033]

i understood i could only save jpg in 8 bit but evidently the only way to do that( that i can find at least) is to change the bit depth before you leave the raw editor? so anything i want to save in 16 bit i'd have to go back to the original raw photo and open in the raw editor and edit again to change to 8 if i want to put it on photobucket or something? i read the help but it didn't help at least that's the only way i can get the raw editior to open to get to the depth

ok i was able to change this one to jpg by going to edit, place and it would only use 8 bit so i could change it then cancel out of place and save the photo as jpg..don't know if there is a better/easier way or not

newman, not sure what the second thing you do in your conversion is.. the prophoto rbg 4b part... i am still foggy on resizing/cropping period( not getting when to do it, how to keep a big size so my print options are open etc)..but guess that is another topic

 

[Groucho]

Irfanview will work with RAW files seamlessly as long as you have the optional Irfanview Plug-ins installed. Both free, of course.

It's not really designed for serious RAW processing but great for browsing through folders, looking at doing thumbnails (I don't use "my pictures" or any folder view except "details", heck, I don't even use Windows Explorer). Naturally RAW files are much slower to view/thumbnail than JPGs, that's the price you pay.

For Canon's software, I would assume that you can go to their site and download the latest version of their RAW processing software. You will probably need your original, though, for it to upgrade to the latest. There are a couple other free options... can't think of the exact names off the top of my head... rawshooter? And another one... sigh, my brain hurts!

It's worth trying a couple different ones. If you look at the camera reviews that include information about the RAW format, they'll often show how the same picture looks after being processed with 2-3 different converters - often the colors are a bit different from one to the other.

 

[Anewman]

i understood i could only save jpg in 8 bit but evidently the only way to do that( that i can find at least) is to change the bit depth before you leave the raw editor?

I cant say for sure because I dont use ELEMENTS, but in CS2 that is not accurate. You can(and do) edit 16 bit images in photoshop after the raw conversion. Sure many of the plugins dont work, but most of the other adjustments that one does to images are fully functional in 16 bit mode. And then b4 saving as a jpeg one can change depth.

What you see in the ACR(raw converter) window is only a preview, you dont edit there just decide what adjustments/attributes you want applied to the converted image. The same way changing parameter settings in the camera are not considered "editing"

In CS2 you change the bit depth: IMAGE\adjustment\select desired depth

 

[jann1033]

I cant say for sure because I dont use ELEMENTS, but in CS2 that is not accurate. You can(and do) edit 16 bit images in photoshop after the raw conversion. Sure many of the plugins dont work, but most of the other adjustments that one does to images are fully functional in 16 bit mode. And then b4 saving as a jpeg one can change depth.

What you see in the ACR(raw converter) window is only a preview, you dont edit there just decide what adjustments/attributes you want applied to the converted image. The same way changing parameter settings in the camera are not considered "editing"

In CS2 you change the bit depth: IMAGE\adjustment\select desired depth

ok i found it!..in e 5 it's under image-mode- 8 bit...thanks for all the help
. i think in elements it seems like most of the plug in filters don't work in 16 but i can crop, sharpen adjust a few of the color and lighting choices but i'll have to play more to see what all i can do.

 

[Master Mason]

here is a link to a windows program that will let you view thumbnails of raw files. Very convenient for searching.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...8E-B10D-4CE4-A141-5866FD4A3286&displaylang=en

MIkeeee

I downloaded this and installed it and it messed up my settings in Adobe, I had to remove it and then reinstall the adobe plug in. Any idea on what options I selected wrong?

thanks