Retrieving RAW files after it has been converted to JPEG (Page 2): There is also 'Recuva' which a number of members here have used successfully.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

RichardJohn wrote:

romanticf16 great advice. I did defeat the process in converting prior to but I have not used the memory card since so I'm going to try the recuva software Goofy recommended. I'll be back... :)

There is also 'Recuva' which a number of members here have used successfully.
http://download.cnet.com/Recuva/3000-2242_4-10753287.html#editorsreview

Now, as to your workflow.
Not only should you NOT be having NX2 convert your images, it should also be making a concurrent backup of the files from your cards. I do that to an external drive.
LightRoom is where you should be doing the JPEG conversion, and then ONLY after you edit them.

If your concerned about how much space you're using, remember this:
Memory is cheap! Buy more memory!
I just paid $69 for a 1TB portable drive.

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

Go to jkost.com and watch the first 5 or 6 videos by ms. kost. She is the Adobe LR5 guru and is very good at what she does.It won't take long and you will learn a lot. Good luck.

RichardJohn wrote:

I am a bit new to the digital world and I have a q... (show quote)

Accelerator

RichardJohn wrote:

I am a bit new to the digital world and I have a q... (show quote)

Richard,
The Recuva software recommended should work fine as long as you have not overwritten anything. Being new to digital and lightroom I would tell you the same thing I tell most anyone else. Go to http://jkost.com/ and spend a little time there. You will learn an awful lot from the very best instructor in lightroom. She is Adobes go to girl on this subject.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

RichardJohn wrote:

I am a bit new to the digital world and I have a q... (show quote)

What size canvas do you want to print on, and what is the resolution of your JPEG? Not to distract you from recovering the raw data (do that first), but the JPEG might have enough resolution for you to get pretty good results on canvas. Just saying this could be a last resort. If the resolution is indeed too small, then perhaps you can resize it using a fractal program like Perfect Resize?

zincgt Loc: Tucson AZ

I know it's probably not much help now, but a simple set up may be to dump the RAW files to one folder, then convert and send to another to keep separate. You may change your mind or want to use a different Post Production software, or combination of software for just some of the shots, in the future.

amehta Loc: Boston

zincgt wrote:

I know it's probably not much help now, but a simple set up may be to dump the RAW files to one folder, then convert and send to another to keep separate. You may change your mind or want to use a different Post Production software, or combination of software for just some of the shots, in the future.

I agree, copy the files over using Windows Explorer, then import them into ViewNX2 or LR5. I believe ViewNX2 will apply all the camera post processing instructions if you wish (unless only CaptureNX2 does).

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

RichardJohn wrote:

Didn't intend to. I made the apparent wrong assumption that even though I made the conversion, there would remain a copy of the original file. So once you convert from RAW to JPEG, the original is lost?

Raw files are write protected and cannot be over written.

amehta Loc: Boston

BigBear wrote:

Raw files are write protected and cannot be over written.

Raw files are not write protected by default. Most software like Lightroom is implemented to not overwrite them. Some software, including CaptureNX2, I believe, does overwrite a NEF file, including the post processing instruction set in the file itself. They do not change the sensor data within the file, but they do change the file itself.

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Thank you Pine. I will do that.

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

mdorn, the jpeg pixels are 1500 x 997

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

that's not enough for a..say, 30 x 30 canvas print if you want it to look crisp

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Thank you Allen. So, the mem card hasnt been used since I imported the files. I havent formatted it yet either, yet when I look at all the files on this mem card, the pic I'm looking for isn't there. In fact, there are about 12-14 pics in the numeric order that are missing. Any clue how this happened, and is the image I'm looking for STILL retrievable from the mem card? If so how does one retrieve it?

2thfxr

Costco will not accept RAW files, it will take JPEG. I know because I just had a canvas printed there. I used the highest JPEG setting for my print.

amehta Loc: Boston

RichardJohn wrote:

Thank you Allen. So, the mem card hasnt been used since I imported the files. I havent formatted it yet either, yet when I look at all the files on this mem card, the pic I'm looking for isn't there. In fact, there are about 12-14 pics in the numeric order that are missing. Any clue how this happened, and is the image I'm looking for STILL retrievable from the mem card? If so how does one retrieve it?

Have you tried any of the software like recuva mentioned above? It seems that something corrupted the card when ViewNX2 was importing the files, but the recovery software should be able to retrieve some of them.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Your original raw file (.nef) cannot be overwritten, nor altered in any way. Raw is a capture format, and cannot be viewed without first copying to a (temporary) viewing format. You can (automatically) open a temporary image, and process it, but what you 'save' will be in a viewing format, like JPG or TIF, and your original NEF file is completely unchanged. Raw files can be copied or deleted, but they cannot be altered. Also, you cannot convert a viewing image, such as JPG or TIF, back to a raw capture format, just like you cannot convert a cake back to its raw egg, milk, & flour components. Only digital cameras and scanners can create raw files.
FAQ: What is the Difference Between Raw and JPG?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26507-1.html