Why shoot in RAW?

[gkyle]

I'm not new to photography, but have only had a dSLR (D90) for two weeks now. I see that many suggest shooting in RAW. Mine will do that along with jpeg, but I don't notice any difference.

I don't have an editor (other than the camera edits available) that will process the RAW file, so maybe this is an advantage only if you have Photoshop?

I'm buying Photoshop CS4 soon, but I'm curious to know what types of things you manipulate in RAW versus the normal editing. Can you actually change the exposure, etc., on the image itself - just as if you had exposed it properly to begin with?

Thanks

 

[BlueCorn]

First off, RAW isn't a panacea. To get the most of RAW shooing you will have to process your files to get them looking better than their JPG counterparts. There are also reasons and valid situations for shooting JPG. What you give up, with JPG, is the latitude of adjustment. Things like White Balance get set by the camera when you shoot in JPG. That's the primary reason that RAW works so much better in aquarium photography.

JPG is also a "lossy" compression scheme; i.e. data gets thrown away to make the file smaller. The result is a file that won't stand up to anything but minor editing without degrading

 

[dendronepthya]

RAW has more data than JPEG and it allows you to make adjustments in a RAW processor that you cannot really do with JPEGs. One thing in particular is retrieving information from areas with blown highlights.

 

[gkyle]

Thanks for the help. Can you do all of your editing in RAW format within Photoshop, or do you make the basic adjustments you've mentioned and then edit a JPEG that's generated from the resulting RAW file? It seems that most talk of using the RAW file for preliminary corrections only.

I set my camera to create a RAW file plus a JPEG for each shot, but haven't known what to do with the resulting RAW file. Maybe when my copy of CS4 gets here I'll be able to see what options are available.

Thanks again

 

[dendronepthya]

To be perfectly honest, I have only dabbled with RAW post processing. From my limited experience, you can probably make every adjustment in RAW and would not have to then adjust it again in JPEG. I suppose it depends on what you are shooting and what kind of look you are going after. Despite the advantages RAW gives, I still tend to shoot JPEG because I am more familiar with fiddling with the files in Photoshop where it takes me longer to do things in Lightroom or Aperture.

 

[BlueCorn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13994555#post13994555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gkyle
Thanks for the help. Can you do all of your editing in RAW format within Photoshop, or do you make the basic adjustments you've mentioned and then edit a JPEG that's generated from the resulting RAW file? It seems that most talk of using the RAW file for preliminary corrections only.

I set my camera to create a RAW file plus a JPEG for each shot, but haven't known what to do with the resulting RAW file. Maybe when my copy of CS4 gets here I'll be able to see what options are available.

Thanks again

Virtually everything I shoot is RAW. I do almost all of my editing in Lightroom. I use CS4 for final sharpening and selective dodging and burning. I save the resulting file in PSD format and it becomes my master copy. If I need a JPG I create one from my master file. Editing JPGs should be avoided at all cost. Every time you open one for editing and re-save it you're throwing away data.

If I find that I need to make an edit, after the fact, I'll edit my master copy and create a new JPG from it.

 

[gkyle]

That sounds like a good process, I know I've wished for a clean copy of the original many times. I was expecting that CS4 would have the RAW editing features I need built-in, but it sounds like I'll also need to buy Lightroom if I want that? $$$$

 

[BlueCorn]

CS4 comes with Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) for conversion, basically the same RAW capabilities that Lightroom has. In addition to conversion, Lightroom (LR) also handles importing, sorting, key-wording, cataloging as well as print, web and slideshow creation.

If I was trying to save money I'd buy Lightroom first and then a copy of Photoshop Elements for localized edits.

One of the primary complaints that folks have about RAW processing is that it can make the workflow tedious. Lightroom eliminates the pain from processing and really simplifies the workflow.

When I'm doing workshops they include a two hour demo/instruction with LR. 75% of the people attending, who don't already use it, go out and buy it.

 

[gkyle]

Thanks again. I'll probably go ahead and buy both. I used to spend a lot of time with Photoshop (Ver 5), but never really learned the more powerful features. I want to get the latest versions so I can dedicate the time to really learning it well this time. I hate to spend the bucks on the new camera setup and not really use it. I can entertain myself for an hour editing a picture of a milk jug.

I'm also looking at an add-on package that has some really useful tools, have you seen the onOne Plug-In Suite 4 software?

 

[swjim]

gkyle,

If you are a student or have a spouse or child who is you can purchase copies of Lightroom and/or CS4 at a significant discount from www.academicsuperstore.com. I think it's around $400 for LR and CS4 vs $1100 for the normal retail price.

I would recommend the Scott Kelby books to help get you started. They aren't photoshop/lightroom encyclopedias, but they are easy to follow and will get you comfortable with many useful aspects of the programs. He jokes around a lot in them which some people complain about but I think the books have a lot of good information and examples and are worth getting.

Back to your original question, I have gotten to the point where I shoot RAW only for everything. You never know when you might get a picture that you really like but needs some editing to get it just right. Having the full RAW file can really help, it's the equivalent of having a negative in the film days instead of just a print.

Hope this helps.

 

[gkyle]

Just so happens I do have a daughter in college. I definitely like those prices better! I'm going to get both programs, and probably the Plug-In Suite 4 also since your web site has liberated some free $$.

Thanks

 

[Slakker]

RAW vs. JPEG is kind of like Personal Dark Room vs. Wal-Mart Kiosk.

 

[IPT]

lynda.com has some nice video tutorials on those both (and just about any other software it seems). It's like $30 a month or something but I found it pretty helpful.

 

[gkyle]

IPT - love your avatar.

I just bought the Lightroom 2 software bundled with an LCD tablet for $200 on the academic site, not a bad deal.

 

[swjim]

Glad it worked out for you!