Another RAW question..

[robb01]

I was told by one of my professors that a good way to handle RAW files is to convert them to .tif before post processing. I've been doing this because I can't just open my raw files (.nef) in CS2. Is this an acceptable method of handling raw files?

 

[Overread36]

Tiff is a lossless save format so you should have no problems opening - editing the RAW and then saving it as a Tiff before opening it in a different editing program. I assume that you can't use the RAWprocessor bundled with CS2 because CS2 no longer supports newer RAW codecs?

 

[robb01]

Yeah, for some reason I can't open my Nikon Raw files in CS2. My prof said I would get the same results just converting the .nef to .tif then editing that in CS2

 

[Trever1t]

Although I can open NEF in CS5 I use ViewNx2 (free) to make fine adjustments before converting to tiff for processing in PS.

 

[KmH]

I was told by one of my professors that a good way to handle RAW files is to convert them to .tif before post processing. I've been doing this because I can't just open my raw files (.nef) in CS2. Is this an acceptable method of handling raw files?

Each camera model has a unique proprietary Raw file structure. A few dSLR cameras use an open source Raw file type, notably Adobe® DNG.

The D90 is supported by ACR begining with ACR 4.6. You would need at least CS3 to use ACR 4.6 and open your Raw files directly in Photoshop.

You can also convert your .NEF Raw files to Adobe's .DNG Raw format, rather than converting them to .TIF.

 

[pgriz]

Keith, what is the benefit converting to the .DNG format rather than .TIF?

 

[amoncur]

.DNG is adobe's attempt at creating an archival digital format. Current formast are not necessarily of "archival" quality because there's no guarantee they'll be around 20 years from now. Adobe created .dng (digital negative graphics) as a solution to the digital archiving dilemma. I wouldn't say it's totally caught on, though. Not many people I know bother converting go dng.

As far as processing goes, there's no real difference between .tif and .dng. You can use either just as effectively.

 

[KmH]

Keith, what is the benefit converting to the .DNG format rather than .TIF?

DNG is a Raw format. TIFF isn't.

 

[Jim Steevns]

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } [FONT=Geneva, sans-serif]I have always uploaded the images from my Nikon D-40 onto my Mac G4 laptop's iPhoto '09 program. I then edit the image in photoshop (CS4), then save it twice in two different formats – a TIFF to use as an archive and a JPG to view, print, email, put on facebook, etc. I just started shooting RAW format after reading about all its advantages. My plan was to keep the RAW photo as an archive, then use a JPG as my “working” photo. After more reading, I am finding this is not as simple as it first sounded. Even though I changed my advanced iPhoto prefs to “use RAW when using external editor”, photoshop still opens the image as a JPG. If I understand correctly, once a file is converted to JPG, you lose all the archival advantages of the RAW image. I see that I can save the image as a photoshop RAW, but is it still really the same RAW photo that was in my camera since it went through that JPG phase? I saw the comments earlier in the thread about TIFFs, but I still have the same question on my mind. Since Photoshop originally opens the image as a JPG, do I still lose a lot of my original RAW data even if I save as a TIFF in Photoshop? Could someone please give me a step-by-step work sequence that will allow me to upload my camera RAW image to iPhoto, then Photoshop and end up with both a “working” JPG and an archival RAW (of TIFF if is really “as good as” a RAW)? To save space on my computer's hard drive, I do not want to save the RAW (or TIFF) in iPhoto, but rather on an external hard drive.[/FONT]

 

[ronda]

Could someone please give me a step-by-step work sequence that will allow me to upload my camera RAW image to iPhoto, then Photoshop and end up with both a “working” JPG and an archival RAW (of TIFF if is really “as good as” a RAW)? To save space on my computer's hard drive, I do not want to save the RAW (or TIFF) in iPhoto, but rather on an external hard drive.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]

Try this:

1. Import RAW into iPhoto
2. Select the file/files you want to export. Go to File > Export
3. From "KIND" choose RAW or TIFF, click EXPORT
a. When the browser window appears, you can create a new folder called RAW or TIFFs (or whatever you want)
b. If you then want to export the same files as JPEGs repeat step 2, then select JPEG. When the browser window appears, create a JPEG folder.
4. Open image in Photoshop

You now have your RAWs in one folder, JPEGs in another.

(iPhoto 09, CS5)

BTW, if by "working" you also mean that this is the image you edit and save, and perhaps edit again and save again, you don't want to do that with JPEGs. Each time you edit/save, notice the JPEG Option window prompts you to choose a "Quality". That quality is a compression algorithm - in other words, color data is being thrown out. This is not to say that JPEGs are bad - they are awesome for what they are intended for. Ideally, it is not the format you want to perform multiple edits on.

Hope this helps.

 

[clanthar]

I was told by one of my professors that a good way to handle RAW files is to convert them to .tif before post processing. I've been doing this because I can't just open my raw files (.nef) in CS2. Is this an acceptable method of handling raw files?

Download Adobe's free DNG converter. Convert your RAW NEF files to DNG files and then open the DNG files in CS2 as step one of post processing. Step 2: fire your professor.

Joe

 

[clanthar]

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } [FONT=Geneva, sans-serif]...My plan was to keep the RAW photo as an archive, then use a JPG as my “working” photo. After more reading, I am finding this is not as simple as it first sounded. Even though I changed my advanced iPhoto prefs to “use RAW when using external editor”, photoshop still opens the image as a JPG. If I understand correctly, once a file is converted to JPG, you lose all the archival advantages of the RAW image. I see that I can save the image as a photoshop RAW, but is it still really the same RAW photo that was in my camera since it went through that JPG phase? I saw the comments earlier in the thread about TIFFs, but I still have the same question on my mind. Since Photoshop originally opens the image as a JPG, do I still lose a lot of my original RAW data even if I save as a TIFF in Photoshop?[/FONT]

YEEEEESSSSSS!

One of the most important reasons we shoot RAW in the first place is to keep our original camera data away from bad software. Bad software is any software that would convert our RAW data into any other format (JPEG, TIFF, whatever) without our direct, hands-on control. iPhoto doesn't provide a RAW file converter that is under the direct control of the user. It imports RAW files but then processes those files with computer algorithms similar to the ones already in the camera that could have produced an original JPEG anyway. Why let iPhoto make another "completely sucks" JPEG when the camera could have done that up front? iPhoto will always get it wrong just like the image processor in the camera always get's it wrong. It is statistically possible for iPhoto to convert a RAW file into a JPEG or TIFF and do a good job, but the odds are incredible. You'll win powerball twice before that happens.

If you're going to shoot RAW at all, then you want to be certain to process your RAW files by hand using a good RAW file converter. I guess you could take the approach that you just want to have them "in case," but, hey, why not learn then how to use them now. Bottom line: When your file opens in Photoshop it should open in ACR as RAW data. If it's coming out of iPhoto in any other form, then iPhoto has already destroyed your image.

Joe

 

[fokker]

Just get lightroom and be done with further hassles.

 

[ronda]

Just get lightroom and be done with further hassles.

Strongly agree!

 

[KmH]

Unfortunately, Lightroom is an incomplete image editing solution and lacks most of the precision editing tools, features, and functions something like Photoshop CS(x) has.