Camera Raw

[Caffler]

can anyone tell me if there are any great differences between using Camera Raw with CS4 and PSE8, or does it have the same functionality with both programs?

 

[Garbz]

Actually it's the same program as far as I am aware.

 

[KmH]

can anyone tell me if there are any great differences between using Camera Raw with CS4 and PSE8, or does it have the same functionality with both programs?

Raw files are 16 bit files, one of the big advantages of RAW.

For editing in the Photoshop workspace, PSE8 has to reduce RAW files to 8 bits.

If you want to edit in 16-bit, you'll need CS4.

 

[Dwig]

Raw files are 16 bit files...

Actually, most RAW files are 12 bit and a few are 14 bit.

Photoshop, like most image editors, only handle the more common 8, 16, & 32bit increments. PSE has generally handled 8 & 16bit. ACR either converts the RAW files into either 16bit or 8bit data depending on the preference setting in ACR.

16bit editing is extremely limited in PSE so PSE users will generally want to have ACR create 8 bit images.. PS users, on the other hand, will more likely have ACR set to create 16bit images.

 

[Caffler]

thank you all for your replies.
they have been of great help.
i've since found out that the options in acr with pse are more limited under windows than on a mac.
again thanks to ye all.

 

[KmH]

Raw files are 16 bit files...

Actually, most RAW files are 12 bit and a few are 14 bit.

.

Yes at capture, but at conversion they become 16 bit files.

 

[KmH]

thank you all for your replies.
they have been of great help.
i've since found out that the options in acr with pse are more limited under windows than on a mac.
again thanks to ye all.

They are much more limited in PSE than in CS4. I could be wrong but I don't think mac or pc has anything to do with it.

 

[Dwig]

Raw files are 16 bit files...

Actually, most RAW files are 12 bit and a few are 14 bit.

.

Yes at capture, but at conversion they become 16 bit files.

At conversion they become whatever the converter wants to make of them and they are not RAW files any longer. ACR can create 16 bit or 8 bit images when converting. It does NOT always create 16 bit images.

 

[Garbz]

It doesn't matter what it always does. All that matters is what it can't do. If it can't create a 16bit file in one instance, then that's a limiting factor, regardless if the original sensor data is 14, 12 or even 10bit.