RAW

-Paul-

-Paul-

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Paul.
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I'am always hearing talk about Raw processing. But I'am not sure how to use it?
Is it similar to post processing in photoshop but it gives you more options to work with? I've also heard that it gives you more detail to work with, but how do you manipulate it? again is it similar to photoshop? if I'am not making much sense thats because I dont really know what I'am talking about! Any pointers that you could offer would be great Thanks.
 
You shoot RAW in camera. go to the settings and you will see it.

It gives you alot more chance of working with the pic once PP has begun in Photoshop or light room.

I always shoot RAW
 
With a jpeg shot in camera, the camera will process the file and throw a lot of the information away. :nono:

With a raw file the camera will take the picture as a raw file and give you a preview. None of the information will be thrown away, giving you a lot more control when in photoshop or Lightroom eg.

You do have to edit raw files though as they will look like sh$t until you edit them.
 
You manipulate the raw file in photoshop, or whatever PP program you have. The raw file does give you a few more options that you can change such as Exposure compensation and White Balance but basically you just treat it as a jpeg, although you have more information (bits) to play with.
There is a good explanation Here by Ron Bigelow. The raw articles are at the bottom R.H. but there may be more information than you require!
Have fun :)
 
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Thanks for your help guys. So it will appear in photoshop as jpeg would as a picture? (Not sure what I expected it to appear as!) I did have a go at taking some pictures using the RAW setting in my camera but I ended up with several pictures of the subject I was shooting and several pictures of grey and white noise(!) I have no idea what the gray and white noise pictures were all about? (Anyone).
 
To open a RAW file in photoshop, you will need Adobe Camera Raw, make sure you have the right version, I think the latest is 7.03.
It is ACR that opens the data file (raw is data, NOT an image) and translates all that data into something that we see as a photo, which you can edit with exposure, temperature and many other sliders.
 
-Paul- said:
Thanks for your help guys. So it will appear in photoshop as jpeg would as a picture? (Not sure what I expected it to appear as!) I did have a go at taking some pictures using the RAW setting in my camera but I ended up with several pictures of the subject I was shooting and several pictures of grey and white noise(!) I have no idea what the gray and white noise pictures were all about? (Anyone).
Click to expand...

Yes - in short - you can manipulate the images as you would a jpeg, but you then export as a jpeg which keeps the IQ. Unlike taking in jpg, then manipulating which compresses and alters the IQ of the photo.

make sure you have the correct version of Photoshop too - the latest nikon NEF files aren't read by CS2 or earlier. If youre using elements or lightroom, then you will need elements 8/ lightroom 4 or later. (

If you have a nikon, many of the cameras have the nikon software in the box that reads and can manipulate the files.

hth
 
OK thanks guys but now i have more questions.
1, Wayne mentioned ACR is this a type of file?
2. Geoge mentioned 'IQ' ? :help:

Please bear with me guys/gals it may be a long hard road but i'll do my best with your help to get there!

Thanks again.
 
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I've read advice that camera software tends to be a bit buggy, so better to use something like LR4.
IQ Image Quality
ACR Adobe Camera Raw.
Cheers
 
When you have managed to get a copy of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), learn how to open it in photoshop as a Smart Object, the beauty of this means you can change the size of the image, with no loss of quality, if you change the size of a jpeg, data is thrown away, so, if you make it small then large, you will see loss of quality, with a Smart Object, that does not happen.

Try here for ACR for elements 8.0.....

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4626
 
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As you are starting off using Raw Paul, I would suggest that you use any software that came with your camera to convert the images, if you do have such software it will have more than like come with a few easy to understand help topics. Once you have grasped the basics of converting a RAW file then you will find it a little more easy imo to move over to photoshop or whichever you decide to use. Only my opinion though ;)
 
No problem, that's what we are here for.
 
Post up a picture that you've taken and when you've processed show us a before and after! It'll put it into perspective!
 
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