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Post by amitch on Apr 30, 2006 9:50:15 GMT 12
Last link for today www.pixmantec.com/If you want to try shooting RAW, this link is to the best (IMO) Raw Converter money can buy (its free, although they also sell an advanced version). Download the free version and try it. It's comes with a very good help file. Once you start to shoot Raw, you wont go back. You may need to buy some more cards though as the file sizes are just a wee big bigger than jpg! |
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Post by phil on Apr 30, 2006 11:41:22 GMT 12
Raw is very good when you want to have the option of making large prints. Depending on the type of camera you use, the raw formats contain much more information than the JPEG. I used to use RAW when taking very large group photographs (100+ people) since it didn't lose anything in JPEGing and you could define individuals features better.
It is also useful when doing work that requires the best out of the camera, like copy work, becuase you do not lose the subtle tonal vairations that are sometime lost with jpgs. Another advantage is when shooting in odd lighting. My experience is with Nikon RAW format, so I can't comment on others, but with Nikon you can alter the colour temperature easily in the computer, and fairly accurately, much more so than by using photoshop on a jpeg.
Remember though, most RAW formats are not as widely supported (hence the need for converters etc) and you will often need to JPEG them any way to get them printed, as most labs require .jpg, .psd or .tif to print from. Most versions of photoshop won't work fully with RAW formats unless you change them to 8 bit, which loses much of the extra info anyway. I think CS2 will work fully with 16 bit files.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 17, 2006 21:46:02 GMT 12
Managed to get hold of Pixmantec RawShooter, and, having taken several RAW shots, I am playing around with it. Lotsa fun. You can create some quite amazing effects.
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Post by xr6turbo1 on Aug 19, 2006 12:33:00 GMT 12
Managed to get hold of Pixmantec RawShooter, and, having taken several RAW shots, I am playing around with it. Lotsa fun. You can create some quite amazing effects. Do you reckon you could post some? |
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Post by Kereru on Sept 12, 2006 19:14:04 GMT 12
There is a product by Adobe called Lightroom which is in beta testing(free download) and has versions for Mac or Windows. This is an Adobe answer to Apple's Aperture program. It can process raw files and also catalogue them on your computer for easy searching. I have used it a little and need more time to play around with it. labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom/I first started out shooting in .jpg and then progressed to raw totally so that I don't forget to swap back when I need to use it. |
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Post by planeimages on Sept 12, 2006 19:48:17 GMT 12
The software which is supplied with Canon 20D allows the conversion of RAW into JPEG if required. This is necessary if you wish to have prints made at an Express lab but not always at pro labs.
RAW is very desirable if submitting images to a magazine for their consideration.
There is about 3 x the amount of information in a RAW file as in a JPEG and you pay for that in a reduced capacity on the CF card. I am using 2GB cards now.
The 20D and probably others will allow capture in RAW and various levels of JPEG but, again, this takes up card space.
Photoshop CS2 is great for working with 16 bit files and allows a fair amount of pre-production fiddling with exposure and white balance before going into the main menues.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 12, 2006 23:16:03 GMT 12
Haven't tried to use the came-with-it Canon RAW software, as I had heard good reports on Pixmantec. Now have the premium version.
There is a media release floating around that Adobe have recently bought out the Pixmantec firm, and have already stopped selling the premium, although you can still download the free version. They say that they will incorporate the good parts of premium into Lightroom.
(translation: the competition is so bloody good we had to buy them out to get rid of them).
My preferred photo manipulation software is Paintshop Pro 9.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 15, 2006 7:02:00 GMT 12
Anyone tried Bibble? www.bibblelabs.com Bibble Professional Workflow and RAW
Conversion software for Windows, Mac OS X, and
Linux is designed to quickly and easily let
you maximize the results from most major
cameras and RAW formats. |
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Post by planeimages on Oct 15, 2006 9:23:02 GMT 12
What does Bibble do that Photoshop CS2 cannot do? Is it better the PSCS2?
My photo processor tells me that Capture One is great but it also costs $A500.00.
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Post by Ned-Air2Air on Oct 22, 2006 12:22:42 GMT 12
When I changed to digital I started with RAW and dont shoot anything else. I have had Lockheed Martin blow up images to fit on the side of their buildings in Fort Worth and they look awesome, couldnt have done that with Jpegs or TIFFS.
Neville
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