Editing from RAW

CarolF

CarolF

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,370
Name
They call me Carol
Edit My Images
Yes
I've recently made the transition from shooting jpg to RAW (although I've now had to go out and buy additional storage for the PC as a result).

Generally I edit my RAW files and save as jpg's, then don't save the changes I've made in RAW just in case I want to revist at a later date and amend diferently (or for when my PP skills get half way decent!).

I was just wondering what other people do with their RAW files?
 
I use CS3, and when you open the image from the RAW file it saves what you've done automatically, either embedding the data in the Raw file, or saving the data as a 'sidecar' .xmp file. Even then it's easy enough to set the raw back to as it was shot afterwards.
 
I use Lightroom, which doesnt make any changes to the actual RAW file, but saves the changes separately like explained above. I then don't bother with saving them as jpegs or tiffs etc, as Lightoom saves the changes you have made automatically, so when you next visit you can continue processing a shot, or hit reset and start from the un-edited RAW again, it also saves a history of changes you have made, so you can go back and just remove/change an alteration you did previously. I upload to my blog or flickr straight from Lightroom, so there are no jpegs or tiffs or anything else cluttering up my hard drive. Just Lightroom doing all the work :)
 
Only problem with Jimmy L's approach is when your family want to be able to view them on their own computers across the home network.

I export all my raws from lightroom to a sub folder of each raw folder called 'export'. I export as high quality jpegs. They can be viewed easily and also uploaded for printing if required.
 
I use Nikon Capture NX to edit my RAW files. If you save the changes you make on the RAW file you can (with Capture NX) see all of the changes you have made as a list and 'undo' them or change them further or make other changes. All alterations to RAW files are done without image quality losses, not like when you keep re-saving JPEGS. When you make changes to RAW files the software holds 2 separate pieces of information (whether you can see it or not), the RAW data captured off the camera's sensor, and any changes you make to that data. I always save as a JPEG for easy viewing and sharing afterwards.
 
Slapo said:
CarolF: What do you use to convert your RAW files?
Click to expand...

Currently either freebie Canon DPP or Picasa depending on what I feel the image needs. I did have Elements 2 which isn't compatible with Vista. I know I really need to consider getting some other editing software at some point in the future (probably sooner than later!)
 
I copy all my raw files from the card into my Mac. I then do whatever is needed for each image and after a while i will copy the raw files to my 2nd HDD and finally copy onto a DVD. This method ensured i always have a copy of the orig raw file.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top