Picture Control and RAW Files
Jun 16, 2013 21:20:38 #
gorgehiker
Loc: Lexington, Ky
Does it matter if I shoot with a picture control such as "Vivid" or if I shoot with a white balance setting such as "Cloudy" if I am shooting a RAW file? I am a beginner and really appreciate all the wonderful information in this forum.
Jun 16, 2013 21:24:07 #
Rob O'
Loc: Freakin' Hot Arizona
Raw means just that. The raw file will be without any camera adjustments at all. White balance, picture effects, saturation settings . . . none will be recorded in your raw file. You will need to do any adjustments in post processing. All those other things only affect the shot if you shoot in jpeg mode.
Jun 16, 2013 22:02:14 #
A RAW file is not a "picture". It is a data file full of zeros and ones. To "see" a picture it has to be processed by something, including the camera itself. If your camera can be set to interpret it "Vividly" you may be able to "see" it that way on the preview screen. Software, like Lightroom, can be configured to have user definable default presets. If you want "Vivid" as your first glance at a photo, create a preset and make it your default. Then every photo thereafter will look "Vivid" to start with and you can make it "Normal" with sliders.
Jun 16, 2013 22:31:12 #
gorgehiker
Loc: Lexington, Ky
Thanks again for all your help - it's great to know I can always count on this forum!
Jun 17, 2013 07:45:21 #
bsprague wrote:
A RAW file is not a "picture". It is a d... (show quote)
In a digital environment, a "picture" or image file, whether jpg, tiff, gif, RAW, etc., is a data file and as such, composed of 'ones' and 'zeros'. It is up to the various processing software programs to interpret them and make them "visible" and manageable.
Jun 17, 2013 10:28:09 #
JBTaylor
Loc: In hiding again
Rob O' wrote:
Raw means just that. The raw file will be without any camera adjustments at all. White balance, picture effects, saturation settings . . . none will be recorded in your raw file. You will need to do any adjustments in post processing. All those other things only affect the shot if you shoot in jpeg mode.
At least some settings are included as metadata with the raw file. When I open a raw file in Lightroom, the default white balance is "As shot".
Jun 17, 2013 11:15:16 #
It doesn't make any difference to the RAW date, but it does make a difference to the starting settings in Adobe Raw Convertor (at least for the WB).
I always shoot RAW and leave the camera on Auto WB with no other picture settings selected. Then I have set up ACR to open the RAW file with a bit of extra saturation, etc. This does mean the opening image in ACR may be a bit bland, but it is a good starting point.
Remember, if you open a second image shot under the same conditions as the first, you can tell ACR to apply the same corrections to the second image that you have just made for the first image.
I always shoot RAW and leave the camera on Auto WB with no other picture settings selected. Then I have set up ACR to open the RAW file with a bit of extra saturation, etc. This does mean the opening image in ACR may be a bit bland, but it is a good starting point.
Remember, if you open a second image shot under the same conditions as the first, you can tell ACR to apply the same corrections to the second image that you have just made for the first image.
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