Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

I don't know what took me so long? I think it was because I've been using Photoshop Elements for so long ... and could never get it to open my RAW files. So, I convinced myself that jpeg was good enough. And, in a lot of cases it is good enough. So, I stopped shooting in jpeg + RAW, and just shot in jpeg.

Recently, I joined UHH, and began following the daily updates, etc. I absolutely love this forum, because I am learning so much, and I am starting to contribute in whatever way I can. I am a hobbyist ... and an enthusiast wannabe. I think? that's the order?

Anyway, I recently purchased Luminar 2018 for $49, YES $49 (when using discount code DANBAILEY at checkout) and fell in love with it. Today, I happened to take a couple of images from a year or so ago (that were jpeg images I had edited), and brought the RAW versions of those images into Luminar (for the first time) to see how I might be able to improve on the jpeg versions I had done.

OMG ... I could not believe it! I did this because a number of you (so sorry, wish I could remember your names?) kept saying to shoot and process RAW, and that it was easier and faster to process RAW files ... which I didn't believe. But ... I do now. I am a convert, and will be forever grateful to this forum for that. As I write, today I have been taking some of my favorite images that I had captured a RAW file of as well, and am re-editing them, with fantastic results.

Now, there are two variables here. One is RAW vs. jpeg. The other is Photoshop Elements 14 vs. Luminar. So, perhaps I could be improving my jpeg images even further by re-processing them in Luminar ... but at this point I don't even care anymore. Luminar and RAW is my new process! One other thing I have learned is although I've become pretty efficient with Photoshop Elements 14, I can edit so much faster in Luminar! Saving time to me is a very precious thing.

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with this forum! I am forever grateful.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Luminar rocks and will have management component as a free upgrade Dec 18, 2018!!!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

What camera do you have that PSE 14 couldn't open the RAW? And Adobe does have a RAW converter that sooner or later can handle and convert any RAW no matter the brand of camera.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Cool! I always like to hear a success story. ;-)

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Wondering the same. PSE 14 (I use this also) is a bit old now but the newest version covers new RAW files.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Fredrick, regardless of what processor you use, RAW offers much more in the way of processing an image.
--Bob

Largobob

There are many software/processing options available....from free to expensive. Among those that I use, Luminar 2018 is surprisingly simple and relatively powerful. I think Luminar is highly underrated.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Glad you were able to find a RAW editor to your liking.
(None came with the camera?)

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Fantastic....I went to Luminar last year, love it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

muggins88 Loc: Inverness, Florida

Is this a stand alone program? What book is the best to help learn it?

leftj Loc: Texas

Yes and Luminar does a great job on jpegs as well, especially if you get it mostly right in camera. I shoot a lot of jpeg only because I enjoy using the Fuji film simulations.

muggins88 Loc: Inverness, Florida

Thank you. I have always been against paying a monthly fee because I use LR , CC very little. This sounds good.

pila

Likewise. I love this forum. Pila

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

It is stand alone. I learned it by watching YouTube videos. Jim Nix’s channel is an excellent source for education and training.