RAW vs. RAW + JPEG
Nov 29, 2011 06:49:52 #
If you shoot only raw, any software you use is showing you a preview of a processed file. Even windows explorer now can preview raw files, it processes the file based on your camera settings. Contrast, white balance etc.
Your camera also shows a preview of a jpeg with your preferences applied, but you are not locked into those seetings, you still have all the original capture data at your disposal.
With PS you don't have to process the files any further with raw than jpeg. You can open them with the camera defaults and do with them as you please. Including saving them in a more user friendly format :-D
I have my friend shoot raw and jpeg so that she can copy the jpegs directly to her friends/family computer without any conversion. When she gets home, we process the images and she gets to keep the higher quality files.
GT
Your camera also shows a preview of a jpeg with your preferences applied, but you are not locked into those seetings, you still have all the original capture data at your disposal.
With PS you don't have to process the files any further with raw than jpeg. You can open them with the camera defaults and do with them as you please. Including saving them in a more user friendly format :-D
I have my friend shoot raw and jpeg so that she can copy the jpegs directly to her friends/family computer without any conversion. When she gets home, we process the images and she gets to keep the higher quality files.
GT
Nov 29, 2011 07:48:35 #
Greg
Loc: Maryland
gepaza wrote:
Your reply intrigues me.
I am just now getting into DSLR and have a Canon T3. I am shooting Raw+jpg (at 17 mb's and 4 mb's)
My question relates to your last sentence that Raw is convertible to color. I have seen, in this post and others) comments which lead me to think I have a problem. My Raw and jpg shots appear to be identical. Should I be getting some other version of the shot in the Raw mode?
I am just now getting into DSLR and have a Canon T3. I am shooting Raw+jpg (at 17 mb's and 4 mb's)
My question relates to your last sentence that Raw is convertible to color. I have seen, in this post and others) comments which lead me to think I have a problem. My Raw and jpg shots appear to be identical. Should I be getting some other version of the shot in the Raw mode?
No, RAW always captures the image in full color. When you set your camera to B+W, the .jpg will be in B+W, and the thumbnail preview stored in the RAW will show you B+W, but all the color information is still in the RAW file. Your RAW processing software, whether your camera brand or Adobe Camera RAW, Lightroom, etc will let you restore your color if you want a color image.
Nov 29, 2011 07:50:37 #
Many software programs will be able to 'preview' a RAW file and show you what it looks like. Nikon and Canon both have relatively easy to use, free RAW processor software.
The reason your JPG and RAW files look 'alike' in certain viewers if you view them side by side is that the raw file CONTAINS a JPG version. Some software will show that file, other software will show the unprocessed RAW bits.
Irfan View is one of the former - when you view a RAW file, what you see is the JPG copy embedded inside of it. This was very confusing to me when it first happened, until I asked the developer what was going on.
The reason your JPG and RAW files look 'alike' in certain viewers if you view them side by side is that the raw file CONTAINS a JPG version. Some software will show that file, other software will show the unprocessed RAW bits.
Irfan View is one of the former - when you view a RAW file, what you see is the JPG copy embedded inside of it. This was very confusing to me when it first happened, until I asked the developer what was going on.
Nov 29, 2011 08:02:33 #
Old Timer
Loc: Greenfield, In.
Bob is right and made it a little clearer. If you use the Canon program it will down load and show jpeg and raw each on the file ext. but you have twice as many images as you need, so use raw and convert to jpeg after you make the camera adjustments in Raw then edit how ever you like in any other program. I correct the wb and exposure the click on the save button and I can do what ever later use the other options. Read you manual or cd directions that comes with you camera. I shot some pics just for that purpose that I did not want to keep and played with them. I hardly ever do anything to mine after I crop them check for noise and camera settings. You can see one of the in the War Memorial post today.
Nov 29, 2011 08:21:02 #
cher wrote:
Are you saying if I shoot in raw and download to computer using Picassa....Picassa automatically converts to JPEG.....before I have had a chance to work woth them?
You can get the free Adobe raw converter from Adobe.
Nov 29, 2011 08:30:14 #
cher
Loc: Southwest Florida and Maine
I use Elements 9. If I use this to upload pics from camera does it keep them in raw until I have edited and save in either Tiff or JPEG?
Nov 29, 2011 08:43:55 #
I use FastStone image viewer (a free download) to view both JPG and NEF (Nikon RAW format) files as well as for basic editing. Both file formats look the same in the image viewer. However, RAW files have much more information to work from for editing purposes. FastStone has some good and easy to use intuitive editing tools as well. The newest FastStone version 4.6 can be downloaded free from their website: http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm
When you see a RAW file in the FastStone viewer that you would like to edit in Photoshop or another program, just click on Edit with External Program from the file menu and chose Photoshop (or other editing program)and the RAW image will open in that program ready for editing.
When you see a RAW file in the FastStone viewer that you would like to edit in Photoshop or another program, just click on Edit with External Program from the file menu and chose Photoshop (or other editing program)and the RAW image will open in that program ready for editing.
Nov 29, 2011 09:42:12 #
Nov 29, 2011 10:41:31 #
Bumphil wrote:
I've been shooting RAW + JPEG since it allows me to see the thumbnails of my images (the JPEG versions) before I process the RAW version (or decide which ones I'm going to discard). The downside of this is that it takes up a lot more room on the card and it's a bit slower reading to the card. For those of you who shoot RAW only, do you have a shortcut for how to preview your images without having to process each one first?
I open them in Lightroom 3.5. Once I do that, the RAW images magically show as thumbnails in Windows Explorer in Windows 7. Otherwise they just show up as RAW.
I don't even have to do any processing in Lightroom.
I'm still using Explorer to catalog my pictures, but I'm trying to get used to the cataloging features of Lightroom, Photoshop CS5, Corel Paintshop Pro X4, and Corel Photo-Paint X5. Haven't decided which I like best yet, which is why I'm still using Explorer. I'm familiar with it and actually like it, too.
Nov 29, 2011 11:24:19 #
Nov 29, 2011 11:39:25 #
I've been playing with HDR and find JPG useful for nearly static scenes but RAW necessary for anything that moves rapidly. The software can take a RAW shot and create one with less exposure and one with more exposure (within limits) and carry out the HDR conversions. A lot of fun!
For usual photos, I use RAW only when I expect to need to do significant processing later. But on a trip where you end up with hundreds of shots, taking all RAW (or RAW +JPG) takes up a lot of card space and requires a lot of manipulating after the trip is over. If you take a trip mainly to take great pictures, you may want a lot of RAW but if you travel to experience places and take pictures mainly to document what you saw, you may want to do high quality JPG with an occasional RAW. Great slide shows do not need RAW but great large prints do.
There is no answer as to which format you should take. Take pictures in a format which is consistent with your expected use.
For usual photos, I use RAW only when I expect to need to do significant processing later. But on a trip where you end up with hundreds of shots, taking all RAW (or RAW +JPG) takes up a lot of card space and requires a lot of manipulating after the trip is over. If you take a trip mainly to take great pictures, you may want a lot of RAW but if you travel to experience places and take pictures mainly to document what you saw, you may want to do high quality JPG with an occasional RAW. Great slide shows do not need RAW but great large prints do.
There is no answer as to which format you should take. Take pictures in a format which is consistent with your expected use.
Nov 29, 2011 11:55:05 #
I shoot in raw only. In the editing program I first look at composition (keep it or delete), and then subject matter and if I want to crop it. At that point I do my other adjustments. Up to the adjustment point very little time is involved. I really see no reason to do Raw + JPEG for 99% of my work. The only time would be if I really needed the file at the very moment I took it and could not spend the processing time. A properly exposed raw file should be very good for viewing and making a decision on keeping it or not. As other's have mentioned doing both takes up far to much storage room in the camera and computer.
Nov 29, 2011 12:01:39 #
mjp wrote:
If you shoot Nikon, they have a NEF codex for Windows on their download page. You can also use their free ViewNX program for preview.
If you have Microsoft, look here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26829
*(Some older MS versions may not work.)
This gives most every popular camera RAW the ability to be displayed by Windows. So you don't have to have a Nikon, almost everyone can do it.
It's a free update so go for it!
Nov 29, 2011 12:32:26 #
Norm3
Loc: California
Yes, There is software availabel to let you view your raw photos. The one I use is called "Fast Piucture View". It costs about $25 but win installed it allows you to view all your raw photos. It supports a very large number of camera types.
Nov 29, 2011 12:44:12 #
I also would recommend Fast Picture Viewer. It allows you to view the image full size on the monitor (no thumbnail) plus the ability to sort them into different file destinations. It is an easy way to get rid of any bad images plus the full screen size helps a lot.
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