RAW file format

[boBQuincy]

just want to add that some features of some software programs will only use 8 bit so usually you need to convert to that anyway when you are processing ( so you don't get to keep all the bits in the end)

A good point! Each new version of Photoshop includes more features that work in 16 bit (or more) but some features still require the switch to 8 bit. Other image editing programs probably do the same but I don't know because I only use PS. In any event, it is best to stay in 16 bit mode as long as possible to keep the quality up. Even some printers are using 16 bits now.

 

[chirurgeon]

If I do, can I process the photos in Photoshop Elements or should I go for another photo processing program. I was thinking about Aperture since I have a Mac. My current version of Photoshop is 6, so I would want to upgrade. So, do I spend the cash on an upgrade or a new program?

Kim

 

[AndrewWG]

You can process them in Photoshop just fine. However, I like Lightroom a lot more as you can do multiple actions on multiple photos REALLY easily. I use Photoshop Elements and have not found an easy way of doing this. I'm sure there is a way, but I doubt it is as easy as Lightroom.

I am unfamiliar with Aperture as I have not made the leap to a Mac yet.

 

[ukcatfan]

Give Bibble a look as well. I just like it more than Lightroom for some reason.

 

[pjacobi]

Process your Raw images with the software provided my your camera manufacture. This software will get the most out of raw image because the camera manufacture is best at understanding propriety format. All other software vendor must reverse-engineer the raw format.

Expert the image to TIFF or JPG and then use photo software of your choice.


-Paul

 

[ukcatfan]

Process your Raw images with the software provided my your camera manufacture. This software will get the most out of raw image because the camera manufacture is best at understanding propriety format. All other software vendor must reverse-engineer the raw format.

Expert the image to TIFF or JPG and then use photo software of your choice.


-Paul

I agree and disagree. It is true that they know the best how to interpret the data, but it is not like the engineers at places like Adobe are slackers. Given the limited functionality of many of the supplied programs, I believe that you can definitely do better with a third party program. The way I understand it, the supplied Nikon program is practically crippled but the upgraded program is very nice. So, if you have a Nikon, that might be a really good choice. The supplied program from Pentax is very nice, but it does not have any of the little extras like layers and built in Noise Ninja that Bibble Pro has.

 

[boBQuincy]

Process your Raw images with the software provided my your camera manufacture. This software will get the most out of raw image because the camera manufacture is best at understanding propriety format. All other software vendor must reverse-engineer the raw format.

Expert the image to TIFF or JPG and then use photo software of your choice.


-Paul

Not really. Canon (and others) provide software development kits (SDK) containing information on their RAW format so reverse-engineering is not required. The various RAW converters look different but it is mainly up to our personal taste as to which is "better".
Exporting the RAW to JPG before editing it is a big mistake, throwing away a lot of data early in the process.

 

[pjacobi]

Not really. Canon (and others) provide software development kits (SDK) containing information on their RAW format so reverse-engineering is not required.

Yes, they give away the basic code to display a Raw image.

But, I'm also sure they don't give away everything! For example, Canon DPP can apply corrections for specific lenses.


-Paul

 

[TinksDH]

Process your Raw images with the software provided my your camera manufacture. This software will get the most out of raw image because the camera manufacture is best at understanding propriety format. All other software vendor must reverse-engineer the raw format.

Expert the image to TIFF or JPG and then use photo software of your choice.


-Paul

Not really. Canon (and others) provide software development kits (SDK) containing information on their RAW format so reverse-engineering is not required. The various RAW converters look different but it is mainly up to our personal taste as to which is "better".
Exporting the RAW to JPG before editing it is a big mistake, throwing away a lot of data early in the process.

The RAW converters supplied by the camera manufacturers are the only ones that can read all of the proprietary formats that the RAW image is tagged with. The only thing ACR and other RAW converters can read is the white balance setting - all other attributes (tone curve, sharpening, saturation, etc.) are not readable. In addition, the camera manufacturers' noise reduction and capture sharpening (defeating the effect of the anti-aliasing filter) algorithms are optimized for the specific sensor of that camera. Although the camera manufacturers may supply an SDK, that is primarily to allow the 3rd party software guys the ability to read the jpegs inside the RAW container.

By using the camera manufacturers' software, you can use the "as shot" settings as a starting point to your RAW post-processing. If that is NOT of value you to, then you really aren't giving up much by using 3rd party software. However, if you've spent a lot of time optimizing your camera settings for the various scenes you are shooting, it makes sense to keep as much as that data in the beginning of your workflow.

The downside is that the camera manufacturers' software usually lacks in other areas. They may be the best at RAW conversion, but not so good in other areas. Take it as far as you can in the OEM software, then if you have to go to Photoshop, save it as a 16 bit TIFF from the RAW converter and go from there.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

... what a pain in the butt trying to edit them with the Program that came with the camera! Its the Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4.

To crop you have to save the file and then reopen it! ARRGGHH

Is there another program that will be cheap (free is better) that can edit the RAW files? I love how I can brighten a photo so easily but am disappointed with how difficult the program seems. Its been a long time since I tried to do any computer editing, I used to do some typesetting but this is nothing like that.

Any help and advise here is appreciated!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I usually use my wifes account to post and I've had an account since 2006, but I need to have 10 posts to upload pics and links... Lol

 

[annnewjerz]

On iPhone so this will be brief. Try Picasa for free since they support pentax RAW files. For cheap try Adobe Photoshop Elements with Adobe Camera Raw for RAW editing.

 

[JoeDif]

If you want free you can try RawTherapee. Another option is the Lightroom 3 beta which is free to use until sometime in April.

 

[klmall]

Picasa, free from Google, is extremely easy to use, although a bit simplistic and will open Raw format pictures from the following according to its documentation:

Version 3.5, Build 79.81 - November 3, 2009

* Improved stability during import.
* Fixed a crash related to Quicktime.
* Added RAW support for the following cameras:
Canon EOS 7D Olympus E-620
Canon EOS 500D Olympus E-P1
Canon PowerShot A530 Pentax K-7
Canon PowerShot G11 Panasonic DMC-FZ35
Canon PowerShot A470 Sony DSLR-A230
Kodak EasyShare Z980 Sony DSLR-A330
Kodak EasyShare Z1015 Sony DSLR-A380
Nikon D3000 Sony DSLR-A8
Nikon D5000

Although I use Photoshop Elements for almost all my editing I use Picasa for my photo tagging, straightening and organizing. It's a no-brainer and very user-friendly!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Are these programs beginner freindly? Do they include any bloatware?

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I'll try out Picassa first! My DW used to use it all the time, maybe she can help me!

 

[klmall]

Are these programs beginner freindly? Do they include any bloatware?

Picasa is extremely user-friendly from the moment you download it and get started and has no "bloatware" that I am aware of. I have been using it for more than 5 years and I couldn't imagine not having it around.

 

[ukcatfan]

... what a pain in the butt trying to edit them with the Program that came with the camera! Its the Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4.

To crop you have to save the file and then reopen it! ARRGGHH

I have not used this version, but that does not make sense. I just opened it up real quick to take a look. Make sure you are on the "Laboratory: section (top left button). Also, from the Window menu, make sure that Cropping is checked. It was not on mine. Then you will see the cropping in bottom left tool box. Make the crop settings and that should apply to the RAW image and the processed image will be cropped.

IMO, the included program is not too bad. It is every bit as powerful as Picasa from what I have seen of it. I use Bibble Pro. Lightroom is probably the most popular program for RAW, but there is just something about Bibble that makes me like it more.

 

[Groucho]

I'm with Kevin on this one. The included Raw converter is actually pretty good (and the output from it is outstanding, often better than Lightroom. It uses the Silkypix engine FWIW.) There are two programs, one for managing the photos (which gives you an "album" style view) and the actual program for editing the photos. You can send several photos at once to the Laboratory as I recall. Maybe check the help files to see if you're doing something wrong.

A trial of Lightroom is not a bad idea, either - that's probably the best overall IMHO (and in most other people's opinion too!) I tried the 3 beta for a brief time but didn't use it because there was no guarantee that the database from it will carry over to the final version - I didn't want to start putting photos in there and then have to redo them. (You may be able to save the settings with XMP sidecar files but ultimately I would rather stick with 2 for now.)

 

[pjacobi]

For best results, use the manufacturer's program to open the Raw file and perform basic adjustments for exposure, white balance, noise and lens corrections, then export the file to TIFF format. Then use Elements/Photoshop/etc for cropping and other artistic changes.

3rd party programs will do the basic Raw conversion, but the manufacturer's program will always perform the best Raw conversion because the Raw format is prioritary and specific to each camera model.


-Paul