JBA

I would like to try shooting photos in raw mode. I process my photos on an Apple computer using Apple Photos.

As best I can tell, to pre process raw files requires a two step process: first pre process the raw file using the ColorSync Utility in Photos, then finishing with the JPEG produced by the utility.

When traveling, I and my wife take a large number of photos. The above process would be very time consuming. Am I missing something? Is there an easier way to handle RAW files in Apple Photos?

FWIW, I am committed to using Apple Photos so please don't suggest a different editor. I have tried all the most popular ones and prefer the one I'm using.

Any suggestions will be most appreciated.

cmc65

What camera do you use?

JBA

Sorry, I got my terms wrong. I believe that I am seeking to POST PROCESS my RAW files.

JBA

Does the camera matter? The files are raw.

cmc65

Nikon and canon have their own software that comes with the camera or can be downloaded for free. Both are very good. That being said I have an iMac. I just imported files from the camera to photos, click on the raw file to open and process from menus that appear. It’s not convoluted, but is limited,much prefer my canon software which handles 75% of what I want to do. When finished, just save as jpeg.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Fuji compressed RAW files are not openable with the Photos app.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I’m not familiar with the ColorSync Utility step you describe. Why is that step necessary? I can import a Raw image from my camera to my iPad and then edit it directly in Photos. If it matters, I am doing this with Fuji gear (X-T2, X100F).

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Yes, the camera matters. Raw files are proprietary formats.

Mike

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Hi JBA,

I am not sure what you mean by edit with ColorSync? I just opened Photos, imported two raw files, from two different cameras, then opened them for retouching. All from within Photos.

As for exporting I selected multiple files, and exported the entire group with one mouse click all from within Photos.

It was no more or less time consuming than using any other raw processing software.

All raw photos have to be "developed", then exported as an image format file such as jpeg, tiff, png.
If you shoot jpeg then you don't have to "develop" them. It saves a lot of time.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Not true if you are working with Canon's raw files and Canon's digital image program. There is no more work than there would be with JPEG files. Working with raw files actually saves time for me.

Mike

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I stand corrected (and embarrassed), rgrenaderphoto is absolutely right. I did try, but was unable to import a test Raw image directly to Photos. Apologies for my prior erroneous belief. /Ralph

blackest Loc: Ireland

https://www.kirkville.com/batch-processing-in-apple-photos/

There is not really batch editing as such but you can copy all adjustments from 1 photo to another, this might speed things up for photos under similar conditions. If you edit a raw file it is non destructive and you can edit a photo multiple ways e.g a black & white jpeg and a color jpeg from a single raw file, different crops ect. You can kinda think of these as recipes to be applied to a raw file.

When you create a jpeg in camera it's developed using a default recipe, with a color balance applied, a saturation curve (darker shades tend to be more saturated than light) a contrast curve... The linear data recorded by the camera has been transformed and color values simplified.

This is a problem for further post processing as you then apply say a contrast curve to a photo , because of the existing curve it will be distorted.
This is why you can get a better edit from a raw file rather than editing on top of a preprocessed jpeg. Bit like a mug of tea thats had milk and sugar added you can add more sugar and milk maybe brew it a little longer but you can't take the milk or sugar back...

Most camera brand specific raw editors will offer to make you the default cup of tea but you don't have to have the sugar and milk if its not your cup of tea.

It is also worth considering that the light recorded in each pixel is split into red blue and green and these filters are not perfect. The signal recorded will be contaminated by signal from the other two colors and if the light is biased to particular colors the effect is worse. Use of a calibrated target can adjust these channels for a more natural color. No in camera jpeg will be as close, to be fair color has always been an approximation e.g a fuji film render different colors to kodak, even that varied batch to batch.

I hope this helps explain why its worth spending that time processing raw files, just remember you can over do it and not every photo is worth it.

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

Read this and as I have enjoy processing raw images using Photos on a Mac. The most recent OS ( 10.14.2 ) is what I'm using so I'm not sure how far back in OS history this may be valid.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/technology/personaltech/put-os-x-photos-in-the-raw-format.html

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

This should help..... https://www.kirkville.com/how-to-work-with-raw-and-jpeg-photos-in-apples-photos-app/ I created a folder in Pictures to export raw files too as jpegs once I was done working on them. I use Elements for my raw efforts but Photos works OK, same as a jpeg but with less functions than Adobe Camera Raw.