RAW Questions -Can you help?

Mentalblock

Mentalblock

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Name
Neil
Edit My Images
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I'm starting to play about more with PP and Photo Shop and have decided to take the plunge into shooting and editing in RAW. I understand what RAW is (I think), but I don't understand if I have what I need or what I need if I don't have it!

So a few questions......
1) If I convert an image from .NEF to .JPEG in the ViewNX software that came my Nikon D90, am I simply doing what my camera would do when creating a .JPEG file? I suspect I am as I'm offered no options to change the image.

2) If the above process is a simple JPEG conversion, what software would be the better choice for an armature togger, and is there a free version anyone knows about that I can download?

Thanks for any comments
 
Have a look at Lightroom - the best for picture editing - you can download a free 30 day trial.
 
There is one, at least, in-camera settings that will not show-up on 3rd party applications. Active D Lighting to "on" on your camera, you will not be able to see the effect this has, when using LightRoom (LR). Only by using one of the Nikon propriety applications would you be able to see the effect this setting has on the end result.

So, let's say you've taken your shot with Active D Lighting on, imported your shot into LR as an NEF, and then exported it as a JPEG file. Basically, you will lose the effect of that feature.

I am not sure if this is the only feature that's "lost" in translation; but I think it's worth to keep in mind.
 
1. No it's not the same, you have a number of options including 16bit which isn't available in camera jpeg.
2. I think Faststone and Picassa will do a raw conversion, but I don't know what options you have.
 
- At £200+, lightroom is out for the time being.
- I've not got my head around Active D lighting yet and don't really know what it is!
- Tried Scarab, my PC didn't like it as it's on the edge of being compatible!
- I'll give Faststone and Picassa a look today

Thanks for the comments everyone.
It' confirmed one thing though, my PC needs updating/ replacing!
 
Have a look at the sticky thread at the top of this section for a list of software - free and paid for.
 
tried free ''Gimp''......too complex for me though there are MANY on-line tutorials

bought PS Elements 7 from a member here [£20 IIRC..?]

works well for me
 
Mentalblock said:
I'm starting to play about more with PP and Photo Shop and have decided to take the plunge into shooting and editing in RAW. I understand what RAW is (I think), but I don't understand if I have what I need or what I need if I don't have it!

So a few questions......
1) If I convert an image from .NEF to .JPEG in the ViewNX software that came my Nikon D90, am I simply doing what my camera would do when creating a .JPEG file? I suspect I am as I'm offered no options to change the image.

Thanks for any comments
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you mean when you say that you are offered no options to change the image.
Are you using ViewNX2? If so there are lots of options.

It has
Exp comp
WB
Picture Control
Sharpness
Contrast
Brightness
Highlight Protection
Shadow Protection
D Lighting
Colour booster
Crop
Straighten
Auto Red Eye
Axial CA
Auto Lateral CA

You can also edit metadata, batch process etc.
 
awp said:
which is also free and way better! :)
Click to expand...

:agree:
and it uses the same algorithms as Capture NX2 but as it does not do so much it is actually faster then Capture NX2.:)
 
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