RedBaron4730

Objective: What software to use in Post Editing RAW and/or JPEG images. For an example; I would like to adjust just the sky a bit and not everything that may be an off color blue in the picture. I have a Nikon D7000 SLR and using View NX 2 software that came with the camera does not allow one to pin point selected items of the picture.

I have been ‘playing’ around with free software downloaded from the Internet with limited success. Primarily I have been using Adobe Photoshop Element #10. The problem I am having is that I do not see that much of a difference in adjusting a RAW Image (*.NEF) to adjusting a JPEG image. And it does not allow me to ‘pin point’ a selected area of the picture to adjust either. It too functions similar to View NX2. What steps should I be doing to get a better image in RAW? And the only reason I am looking at Adobe Photoshop Element #10 is because I have been using Photoshop Element #6 for the past few years and am familiar with its functions. The problem with Photoshop Element #6 is that is does not recognize RAW images.

Nikon produces a product called CAPTURE NX2 and from the demo; it appears it will allow one to adjust a selected area of an image; but I do not know anyone personally that has used it or will recommend this product.

So, I am open to suggestions of a reasonable software product that allows one to adjust a specific area of a picture and will be able to take a RAW image as well as JPEG images.

Thanks for any suggestions;

notnoBuddha

May start a fight but - RAW is vastly over rated for most, most of time. To me the biggest advantage is in saving the entire file that I than make a copy of to edit. As to the difference in editing the two I, of very little experience have never noticed any real difference when using Elements 8.

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

Corel Paintshop pro x4 does a nice job for me. check out a free trial at corel.com. it'll do RAW and JPEG and will convert formats.
A few friends really like Google's Picasa. and it's free. I particularly didn't care for it though. Give it a shot. Either way you have nothing to loose. Good Luck

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Capture NX2 is a wonderful program for adjusting skies, I use it exclusively for that, nothing else compares. Use the demo, you get 60 days free, once you get used to the way it corrects things for you, it will be your go to program.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

Can you do layers and masking in Elements? If so you can always create a new layer, make the adjustments for the sky and then mask back the areas that you do not want the corrects on.

rheat56 Loc: Maine

ACDSEE Pro is a good progie

heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

Just started shooting some Raw,i can see a big differences
in quality, and having the options for adjustments is great,
I will still shoot jeg for the most part,but switch to raw
if i am going for "the shot" p.s. i use Elements 10,still learning,a lot harder then i thought it would be,

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

Redbarron, Nik has software that will do exactly what your describing. However, it is a plug in not a stand along program. Viveza would be a good place to start.

Capture NX2 for Nikon in conjunction with Nik has the same control point functions, and that would be a stand alone program and in the long run, perhaps cheaper.

Shooting in both gives you a lot of options. If your happy with the jpeg and only want to tweak a bit, fine, if you want to do serious enhancing then raw would be better as it allows for more "heavy lifting"

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Redbaron, if you have PSE 6, you might be able to update Camera Raw, from Adobe. I'd check on their website.

mrosenberg

I had always used jpeg and made adjustments with picasso and thought it was great. Based on advice from this site I tried raw and at first didn't notice much difference. Then I had a couple of way underexposed shots. After making the jpegs visible with increased fill light, things became all grainy but with raw it looked like a real picture and you can hardly tell it started out so poorly.

Since space is not yet an issue I now take everything in raw just in case (I really mean when) I screw up again.

As an aside, also based on advice from this site, I got lightroom and took some tutorials referenced on this site. I learned some about histograms and will not ever edit another photo in picasso!

Thank you all for your great help!!

Herbnapa Loc: Napa, California

Lightroom is very good. Be aware that they have issued a Beta 4 edition, so you can download it, and try it for a few weeks for free.

Speaking of training (were we?) do any of you subscribe to LYNDA.com. I'm not in any way affilitated, but for 25 bucks a month you can take turorials is just about everything photographic, with extensive instruction in Lightroom and various iterations of PhotoShop.

steveo52 Loc: Rhode Island and Ocala Florida

I've been a subsciber for a few years. My employer pays the cost yearly. It's intended purpose for me was to get up to speed on non-photo related software releases. But as it turns out since getting involved with photography it has proven to be a great tool for learning about photography. I really like the site lynda.com I think it's worth every bit of $25 per month.

spphoto Loc: Long Island,N.Y.

Are you adjusting your raw picture using bridge and camera raw plug-in?It does make difference . I use Elements 8 and can make many adjustments in exposure ,white balance and fill light and many more

ksgcslater

You can install Adobe camera RAW 4.3.1 which is a plug in for Elements 6. Make sure it will support your type of camera. Get it on the Adobe website. I had to do that for PSE7 when I upgraded my camera to Canon 7D.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Elements will handle RAW just fine. Explore Adobe web site for RAW upgrades for you camera. I shoot D7000 and use Elements 2 all the time.

As suggested previously suggest shooting Fine Large JPG until you get used to camera and processing work flow. There is no reason to shoot RAW with this camera unless you intend to make huge prints or intend to do extensive enhancement on each file.