JBA wrote:
Of late I have felt the need to adjust my white balance after the photo was taken.
I am using a Nikon D7200 camera which has dual SD card slots, one for JPEGs and one for RAW. I process photos on an Apple computer using Apple's Photos program.
My questions are:
1. Can I pre-process RAW files using Apple's Photo program?
2. If not, can you recommend a simple-to-use pre-processor program that runs on an Apple computer.
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
PRE-processing is what you do when setting the JPEG processor menus in your camera, along with using appropriate exposure techniques and custom white balance.
POST-processing is what you do to adjust raw files after converting the data to bitmapped images.
Yes, Photos can handle raw files. Mac OS has a built-in raw processing engine.
For $50, you can get Serif Affinity Photo:
https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/desktop/ (scroll to the VERY BOTTOM of the linked page to get a free trial download).
Adobe Photoshop Elements is more expensive than Affinity Photo, arguably does less, and has limited support for 16-bit image processing. But it is a logical choice if you plan to step up to an Adobe Photography Bundle at some point.
There are many other also-ran choices. No doubt others will list them here.
For $9.99/monthly, you can get one of the Adobe Photography Bundles (BOTH versions of Lightroom — the "mobile" CC and the "desktop" CLASSIC CC — plus the full Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Bridge).
Lightroom is an image database and a raw file developer. Photoshop is a bitmap image editor. Bridge is an organizer. They all serve VERY different, but complementary purposes.
The Adobe Creative Cloud scheme assures that you will always have the latest versions of these applications. They don't charge for updates beyond the basic price of the subscription. And don't worry, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STORE YOUR IMAGES ONLINE OR "IN THE CLOUD." Lightroom Classic CC, Photoshop CC, and Bridge can run entirely locally. The only "online" part of the subscription is downloading the software and updates or upgrades as they are available, plus Adobe having to "phone home" about once a month to be sure you've paid your bill. BUT, if you want online storage, they have it, for a fee.
I use an iMac, I calibrate and custom-profile my monitor with a Datacolor Spyder5Pro, and I use Adobe's Photography Bundle for processing all my images. I seldom use Bridge, but all my processing STARTS in Lightroom, and MAY finish in Photoshop. Many images don't require Photoshop tools...
Lightroom Classic can be a head scratcher for many folks, because it does not directly edit your images. It is an IMAGE DATABASE used to "Import" (catalog), then rate and cull-edit your images. You can "develop and print" images from it, but it NEVER CHANGES YOUR ORIGINAL FILES OR IMAGES, until you need to get something out of it. It exports, creates books from, prints, or posts COPIES of your images to the Internet.
By contrast, Photoshop is made to work on one file at a time. It works in layers, and can modify individual pixels as needed, using a very wide array of tools. After 25+ years of development, it is arguably BLOATWARE... It has nearly every image modification tool needed in the graphic arts and photography industries. It will DO nearly anything to an image, but the challenge is to STOP DOING IT when you've done enough. It can become a "black hole time sucker" tool! That's why Lightroom was developed...
Lr Classic has a Develop module where you can alter the appearance of images with LOTS of global (or parametric) editing tools. You can also do cropping, straightening, minor retouching, and some other basic work. The Develop Module uses EXACTLY the same ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) processor that is in both Photoshop and Bridge. Each of those programs uses a very different *interface* to ACR, however!
Lr Classic has a Map module used to geolocate images that are tagged with GPS coordinates at the camera.
Lr Classic has a Book module used to compose PDF files of photos for coffee table photo books such as wedding albums or family vacation albums.
Lr Classic has a Slideshow module used to present your images. Its original purpose was for professionals to use in their sales rooms to present proofs to clients.
Lr Classic has a Print module that makes picture packages, custom layouts, and more... It is a full-featured tool for driving locally connected printers OR writing files to disc for a lab to print. I'm an ex-professional color lab manager, so I love it. It takes some care to set all the menus correctly, but results are excellent.
LR Classic has a Web module that interfaces with online gallery sites. You can post your images and manage them.
Lr Classic has an Export tool that can create just about any sort of file for any purpose you want. It can do batch exports and batch conversions, although it's not as sophisticated as Thorsten Lemke's Graphic Converter X, which is $40 shareware worth trying for free and then paying to own.
https://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/download/I hope that helps! You have LOTS of choices.