[skibum1941]

Does anyone have an explanation of "RAW" and how to use it. I can view my Pics shot in raw without doing anything with them. I know it makes a difference when they are printed, but how do I get there. Element 3 is supposed to handle RAW. How well does it do with it. Is there a clear online source for this information which is easily understood?

[linskyjack]

Raw is essentially virgin data----before compression occurs. It gives you the best quality and allows you to make changes with the least amount of artifacting. Your final format will be tif, jpeg etc, but if possible it is always nice to start in RAW. Since RAW is not compressing, the files are very large, and take up lots of room on your memory card. I assume that Elements has a similar Raw convertor as does Photo Shop--and Photo shop's is very good. There are a bunch of third party browsers out there that support Raw---Breeze Browser is nice, but PS Elements should do a good job for you.

[buck52]

here's a little reading...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...aw-files.shtml

buck

[skibum1941]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Raw is essentially virgin data----before compression occurs. It gives you the best quality and allows you to make changes with the least amount of artifacting. Your final format will be tif, jpeg etc, but if possible it is always nice to start in RAW. Since RAW is not compressing, the files are very large, and take up lots of room on your memory card. I assume that Elements has a similar Raw convertor as does Photo Shop--and Photo shop's is very good. There are a bunch of third party browsers out there that support Raw---Breeze Browser is nice, but PS Elements should do a good job for you.

I know all of what you are saying. What I don't know is how to use RAW. I can clean up a .jpg or .tif easily. I don't know how to work with RAW. Any suggestions where to find the information to learn this?

[linskyjack]

Okay, I can't speak for Elements, but this is what I do in the raw format before converting over to tiff, png or jpeg.

I begin by making sure my exposure is correct. Raw gives you an amazing ability to open up---in the case of PSC 2, about 2 full stops without visible degradation. I also check my color balance--again, you can tweak it in the Raw module of PSC2--You can also tweak the color curve, tint, saturation etc-----Once I have converted the image to its format, I do my sharpening, resizing etc. Thats just a basic answer.

[deepdiver01]

What brand of camera are you using.

Normally the camera will come with software that you can adjust your raw image in and then convert to either jpeg or tiff.

As linskyjack suggests, you should be able to adjust colour, tint, white balance, exposure (to a certain extent) and sharpness.

It would depend on the software that came with the camera.

In raw, even after those adjustments, the image will look a bit flat and need tarting up in an image editor once you have converted it.

Don't give up. As previously stated, it is the way to take the best quality image from your camera.

[linskyjack]

I wasn't sure what he was using and whether or not PhotoShop Elements gave you the full array of power that PSC2 does in their raw convertor, so I recommended a third party convertor. Anyway, I never shoot anything but Raw anymore, unless of course I need some quick and dirty and quality isn't important.

[jgjulio]

Photoshop Elements 3 will process RAW files. Photoshop CS2 does as well. Previous versions of these programs do not.

I use CS2 and really like the control and versatility of shooting RAW. I am a new convert to that format. The files are actually smaller than Tiff (fine) on the camera card.

[linskyjack]

Nope---Photo Shop has supported raw processing since before Photoshop CS! I would like to know the difference between Photo Shop Elements raw processing module and the on in PS2 (new and improved) The files are Raw on the camera card (I assume you mean CF card) that means uncompressed. They are processed and converted to TIFF.

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by skibum1941

I know all of what you are saying. What I don't know is how to use RAW. I can clean up a .jpg or .tif easily. I don't know how to work with RAW. Any suggestions where to find the information to learn this?

buck gave you a great site to learn about RAW in post #3. You should check it out.

[jgjulio]

With the new PSCS2 and Elements 3 the Raw files open in the program. They do not need to be converted first. You manipulate them directly using PS Bridge or the equivalent in Elements and then save them to any usual format or open them in PS for further editing.

Adobe is promoting DNG or Digital Negative format;
http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html

This is their attempt and offer to the industry for a standard raw format. the problem with RAW is that most editors do not open all the available RAW files for different camera makers.

Adobe's support for Raw has significantly increased with the new versions of Elements (3) and PSCS2. I have owned both software titles for the last 3 versions. Up to now I have not been able to directly open the raw files in either.

Once open there are initial tweaks and changes you make to the file before you save it as a tiff or jpg or whatever file. I am impressed with the results. In effect the tweaks and pre programmed changes that your camera automatically makes when shooting Jpg are not made and left for you to decide how you want to enhance each picture.

[NightLord]

In my experience the RAW format is not that big of a deal when you're not into serious (and probably professional) photographing.
You should set your camera to the highest possible JPG quality (size) and take care of the white-balance and so on and you'll be just fine shooting JPG's. Most adjustments are very well done with Photoshop and the print quality will be very nice if you have some skills in PS.

The only thing that I find an advantage of RAW (so far that is, maybe I still have to learn to work better with RAW) is the correction of shadows. With JPG you can get good detail out of too-dark areas, but with RAW you can do even better. For too-light areas it's hard to correct those with JPG, maybe that will be better when RAW is used too.

Anyway, if you don't have the skills or patience to work with RAW, in my opinion JPG (set to highest quality) will do just fine too.

Cheers

/NL

[two1361]

i have a nikon d70... and i hardly ever use raw... all depends on what im doing. but shooting in jpg, most of my good shots turn out great.... one time i shot in raw that it came in handy was taking pics in philly at sun set and i under-exposed all my shots so i could use faster shutter speed to eliminate blurriness... then took the raw pic have brightened it up a lot... turned out great

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by NightLord

In my experience the RAW format is not that big of a deal when you're not into serious (and probably professional) photographing.
You should set your camera to the highest possible JPG quality (size) and take care of the white-balance and so on and you'll be just fine shooting JPG's. Most adjustments are very well done with Photoshop and the print quality will be very nice if you have some skills in PS.

The only thing that I find an advantage of RAW (so far that is, maybe I still have to learn to work better with RAW) is the correction of shadows. With JPG you can get good detail out of too-dark areas, but with RAW you can do even better. For too-light areas it's hard to correct those with JPG, maybe that will be better when RAW is used too.

Anyway, if you don't have the skills or patience to work with RAW, in my opinion JPG (set to highest quality) will do just fine too.

Cheers

/NL

jpeg is fine for amateur point and shooters---if you aspire to anything more---raw is the way to go.

[NightLord]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

jpeg is fine for amateur point and shooters---if you aspire to anything more---raw is the way to go.

What can I do with RAW that is totally impossible with JPEG? I do aspire somthing more but RAW is not yet my way to go...
Am I missing something here? What makes it so great? I have been reading the info about RAW but it just doesn't seem to make such a huge difference to me... Why don't you enlighten me?

/NL