Help! My RAW files are VERY grainy! :-(

Hi,
I've not long started shooting in RAW with my Nikon D700 and have had some pleasing results so far. However, I've just started editing in Lightroom and have noticed that my RAW images are incredibly grainy. I don't think it's the ISO because this has happened across the board ... even with a very low ISO. Obviously the jpegs seem much better as they've received treatment, but no amount of tweaking the details section of Lightrom seems to solve the problem. My work flow was: Shoot in RAW + jpeg > Manually upload the files to my PC > Add the raw files to Lightroom > Edit them via the developing module.
I've uploaded a cropped version of one of the images. Please note the white specks in the dark area of the RAW image
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks

Thank you for the replies!
I'm not actually sure what the ISO was for this particular image ..... Maybe 800? Although that really shouldn't be problem as my camera (D700) copes extremely well in low light and performs very well with a high ISO. Plus this problem is across the board ... even for photos taken in good light with a low ISO. It's not just the shadows either (although my example was probably misleading!) - It's happening with faces and highlights as well.
I'm not really sure about the details panel :-\ (I'm very new to Lightbox ... Sorry!). I've tried lots of combinations and none seem ideal. I'm torn between losing the noise and making the image look fake, and would very much appreciate some guidelines on the minimum/maximum recommended slider positions. At the moment I'm (very roughly) using:
Sharpening:
Amount: 20
Radius: 0.5
Detail: 10
Masking: 0 (Not too sure what this does if I'm honest)
Noise Reduction:
Luminance: 40
Detail: 10
Contrast: 0
Color: 50
Detail: 50
Does the clarity also affect the grainy appearance?
"Are you sharpening in the Output dialogue? What settings?" .... Once again I'm not familiar with this. Sorry!! What do you mean by Output dialogue?
I'm new to editing in RAW, and whilst I can totally see what all of the fuss is about in most areas, this problem is making me want to revert to using jpeg instead .... Which would no-doubt be a great shame. Tempting though unless I can find a solution to this problem!!
Thanks again :-)

Similar Messages

Why are my RAW files coming over grainy from Lightroom 5 to Photoshop CC

My images are transferring grainy over the last week. Any ideas why?

What camera raw file is it? Can you provide the EXIF data?
Here's the link to the possible answer:
Help! My RAW files are VERY grainy! :-(
I hope this helps.

How to Delete imported JPEGS after matching RAW files are imported as masters

Using a 5D Mark III and shoot JPEG (SD) and RAW (CF).
Aperture 3.5.1, using a managed library
Perviously, using a 7D so new to shooting JPEG and RAWs from an aperture Aperture workflow standpoint.
I know that i can import the JPEGs > delete images that do not make the cut > then import the matching RAW files in the import dialogue that correspond to the JPEGs in the Aperture Library.
I use the RAW files as my Camera Master images and once the RAW files are imported, the smaller resolution JPEGs are no longer needed or viewed in my normal edit workflow. I only need the JPEGs to quickly go through the images to find out which RAW files i need to import at a later time to increase the speed of import > edit > deliver.
My Assumptions:
1. Logic would lead me to believe that after import the user should see a stack like image representation with whatever file type is considered Master to be on top and the viewable secondary file type on the bottom. clicking on the image stack should allow you to see both file types as you would normally see with image stacks with the same files types. This is not the case... What am i missing here?
2. Logic again would lead me to believe that when i have the ability to delete one of the 2 image types as i do not need both in the end. After the import process is complete and RAWs are backed up, I want to delete the JPEG files as they are just taking up more space on my DAS drive array... There is no need to keep a duplicate of every file in both JPEG and RAW format. This is not the case as when i delete the JPEG or RAW, both files formats are deleted simultaneously. What am i missing here?
Problems: (correspond to Assumptions above)
1. I do not seem to have access to both images (JPEG & RAW) in a stack where i can expand and close the stack to see both? It seems like i only have access to the image type i have selected as Master? This seems counter intuitive to what the workflow should be as why would aperture 'lock the secondary file types away' so you can't easily view both file types as the same time for comparison?
2a. Reality seems to be that i do not have access to the JPEG and RAW image files. I can only see one at a time by selecting the images and choosing 'make JPEG master’ and then respectively... 'make RAW master', but you can't see both at the same time for file comparison.
2b. Also, I can't find a way to delete the JPEG images after the RAW files have been imported. I would presume most professional photographers shoot RAW and do not shoot JPEG as their camera master or editing master images. I do not understand why aperture has captured both as a pair in the library that does not allow me to delete the JPEG (in this case) as i have selected the RAW as my master.
If someone can please help... The function seems like either i am missing something obvious or that the implemented function of using RAW + JPEGs files for import is broken from a real world workflow standpoint.

leonie...
thank you for clearing that up for me.
I think that at this point it is silly to use the JPEG+RAW import functionality as it seems that it takes longer to do the above steps than to just import only the RAW files and press on from there.
I seems what i have done in the past of only importing the RAW files and then using the quick preview functionality to reduce image load times is the best thing in can come up with without keeping 'duplicates' in the database.
That really baffels me that there is no built in functionality to remove the JPEG from a RAW+JPEG pair and i wonder how the real world photographers who help Apple test and implement software to solve real world workflow problems thought the JPEG+RAW import was going to be used.
I do understand that i can use a smaller JPEG file size to reduce the bloat of the database, but used over hundreds of thousands of images is certainly going to make a dent in my total aperture database size and therefore storage needs down the road.
If you have any other workflow thoughts, or know of a 3rd party plugin/ etc... to fix this obvious shortcoming then i am all ears..
thank you again Leonie and have a great week

I'm running LR 4.4. Just picked up a Sony RX100 M3 cam. It's RAW files are not supported within my version. Is there a free update still available for my version or do I need to purchase an upgrade to LR5?

I'm running LR 4.4. Just picked up a Sony RX100 M3 cam. It's RAW files are not supported within my version. Is there a free update still available for my version or do I need to purchase an upgrade to LR 5?

Camera Raw plug-in | Supported cameras
The Sony RX100 III was first supported in Lightroom 5.5.
There will be no updates for older versions.
So your choices:
Upgrade to Lightroom 5, or
Download the free Adobe DNG converter, convert all Raw files from the RX100 III to DNG format then edit the DNGs in Lightroom 4.4
Photoshop Help | Digital Negative (DNG)

I have photoshop CS5 extended on my PC; some days ago I had to substitute Windows 7 so I installed Windows 8. Since then my RAW files are not supported by CS5, I cannot see them anymore

PROBLEM WITH RAW FILES with WINDOWS 8.
I have photoshop CS5 extended on my PC; some days ago I had to substitute Windows 7 so I installed Windows 8. Since then my files RAW are not supported by CS5, I cannot see them anymore

Your answer has been very useful. I have made ACR update and now my RAW files are normally supported and visible.
Great !
Thank you very much ...

The camera raw button in Adobe Bridge has quit working and all my camera raw files are hidden by a c

The Camera Raw button in my Adobe Bridge has quit working and all my raw files are hidden by a cover that says PEF and has a camera raw icon on it. I can open the files in camera raw if I double click on the file but I want to see the files and be able to use the camera raw button. How can I fix it?

This means you have not the correct ACR plug in to support your PEF files or no ACR plug in installed at all.
In photoshop go to the menu Photoshop / About Plug ins / Camera Raw.
Here should be showing the version number of your ACR plug in (only 1 version should show btw)
Then go to this site and check wether your camera is listed and what minimal version you need to open the files:
http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html

I have Lightroom 4.4 and a Nikon d800 with firmware upgrade 2.005. raw files are now since upgrade, unreadable. any plugins or advice? Thanks

I have Lightroom 4.4 and a Nikon d800 with firmware upgrade 2.005. raw files are now since upgrade, unreadable. any plugins or advice? Thanks

I select the images I want uploaded, NEF files, click the "IMPORT" button, process bar comes up and shows work in progress, but no progress. after about 2 minutes, dialogue box appears with message: "unable to import because the following files are unreadable: NEFxxxx, etc."

RAW files are often unnecessary, but then, you never know.

I've decided to use both Raw and SQH (Olympus jpeg) when I take a shot because RAW files are often unnecessary, but then, you never know. Anyway, Aperture imports both versions as one would expect, and I can switch between versions by using a right click pull down and select either the JPEG or the RAW as original but my problem is that I can't see both at once, anywhere. I can't remove only one and it appears that if I trash either one they will both be gone.
What settings am I missing to import both version of the file as separate and visible and selectable images?

Read this page in the User Manual:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/aperture/usermanual/index.html#chapter=4%26sec tion=6%26tasks=true
To import the RAW and JPEG image files as separate masters: Choose “Both (Separate Masters).”
Note that you can import just JPGs, and then later go back and get the RAWs (assuming you save them).
My advice is to switch to RAW only (unless you work on stringent deadlines).

I'm having trouble converting my RAW files to jpegs. Even though my RAW files are 90MB plus, the jpegs when converted are only around 6MB. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks, A

Dear Forum,
I realise this isn’t necessarily your problem, buy I’m having trouble converting my RAW files to jpegs.
Even though my RAW files are 90MB plus, the jpegs when converted are only around 6MB.
Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks,
A

HHi Barbara, thanks for replying to my post.
No there's nothing wrong with the Jpegs, but I want to srart uploading images for sale in Alamy, but they say they must be a minimum of 17mb un compressed. Does that mean that at 6mb compressed from 90mb they'd be acceptable?
thanks,
alex

I noticed that when I develop in light room 5 that the raw files are larger and the finished product is 80 percent smaller

anybody have an idea why or is that the norm
my raw file was 11,2 and my JPEG was 1.26

The RAW files are the same size as the camera made them. Lightroom doesn't change the file size or image size.
The JPG size depends on a dozen or so things, some of which you can control and some of which you cannot control, but almost always the JPG is smaller than the corresponding RAW.. I see no particular problem with a JPG that is smaller, depending on the export options you chose, and I have never yet seen Lightroom produce an incorrect size JPG
By the way, normally numbers have units, you did not mention any units, so I really can't comment further without knowing the units for the numbers you show

NEF (nikon RAW) files are becoming Desaturated while 'viewing in Bridge'/'opening in ACR'..HELP!

i use
1)Nikon D80
2)Adobe bridge to get the images from the camera
3)ACR to retouch the the photo a lil bit.
i set 'Saturation +2' and 'contrast +2' in My camera.
I get very nice vivid tone in my images IN MY CAMERA LCD
but recently my life is in jeopardy
i dont know why but my NEF files are not that nice when i open them up in bridge.
I wasn't sure where it went wrong.
So i shot RAW+JPEG so that i get the JPEG from the camera.
and My JPEGs are perfectly OK.
lets give you guys a look what i am talking about::
this came from the camera as JPEG
and this came from the SAME camera as RAW (i saved it without any modification from ACR)
WHY? AnD WHAT IS THE SOLUTION??
EXTRA INFO YOU MAY NEED ::
my JPEG says sRGB
and my NEFs says Untagged
and in my camera setting i used sRGB...which is 'MODE3A' in my D80
And now i have some important pictures in my camera
Very important.
Is there any way to save them?(except working in ACR)

imrul_idl_rifles wrote:
i set 'Saturation +2' and 'contrast +2' in My camera.
I get very nice vivid tone in my images IN MY CAMERA LCD
First off, the only camera settings that have any direct impact on the raw files is ISO and F stop/shutter speed. All other camera adjustments to the image are merely metadata adjustments used by the camera or camera software to process the image. Camera Raw doesn't use any of those settings at all. So, if you are shooting raw intended for processing in Camera Raw, you would do well to not use camera adjustments to the images.
As far as matching the basic default camera LCD, that's a function of knowing how to use the DNG Profiles for either Camera Raw 4.6 or 5.5. There are specific profiles intended to render certain camera makers "looks". If you wish, you can either modify your camera's "Default" in Camera Raw or use Presets to apply settings in Camera Raw or Bridge.

Help opening raw files in PSE 13

Hello,
I upgraded PSE 13 from PSE 9. I was using PSE 9 with my Nikon 600 (because I couldn't open the 600 raw files in PSE 9) by using the Adobe DNG converter. This was working fine. Since upgrading I can't open any Nikon 600 raw files in PSE 13 nor can I open the converted DNG files. It only recognizes jpeg files. The "Open in Camera Raw" option in the File drop down menu is also grayed out and can't be selected. I've tried the "updates" option from the Help menu and ran the updates, shut down PSE13 and also shut down computer and it still isn't working. Wondering if I need to download a new ACR but can't find any that support the Nikon 600. Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you for your help.
When I do the "Help" drop down menu there isn't an option for "adobe plug-in" just "about plug-in" which doesn't list any options that seem to help when clicking on and none that say Camera raw.
I read the manual instructions for downloading and am currently downloading the zip file; it is about 70% done. Will this help?
This is what I'm referencing:
These instructions were originally written to install ACR 8.2 for PSE11, but have been updated to install ACR 8.3 with PSE12. While ACR 8.3 RC would work with PSE11, ACR 8.3 final will not. Only PSE12 will host ACR 8.3.
ACR 8.3 will work with PSE12 to open 70D files, but on an older Windows OS like Vista or XP there is no compatible installer, so a manual install is the only option. I should also say that the process outlined below does work on my Windows 7 64-bit computer, but I also have PS-CS6 and PS-CC installed on it, so it is possible that ACR 8.3 is dependent on something that wouldn't exist on a computer with only PSE installed on it, but someone else will have to confirm that.
I was able to get 70D files to open in ACR 8.3 on PSE12 by doing the following:
Download the ACR 8.3 for Windows update for PS-CC via the direct download link on the Adobe Blog - in the future this link will likely contain links to only newer versions of ACR but the process would be similar:
http://blogs.adobe.com/crawlspace/2011/03/keeping-photoshop-up-to-date.html#notconnected
Unzip this downloaded setup.zip to a folder somewhere.
Inside the files from that zip is a folder called payloads \ AdobeCameraRaw8.0All-031213015928.
(Note that for future versions of PS and ACR the folder name will be different at the end, but the general format shold be similiar, and the important thing is that this is the folder without x64 in the path, because at this point PSE is a 32-bit program so we need the 32-bit version of the plug-in. At some point in the future, PSExx may be 64-bit and the approporiate file or files could be the 64-bit version for the 64-bit version of PSE. This zip file is for Photoshop which has both 32-bit and 64-bit versions so there are both versions of the plug-in as well.)
Inside that folder is another ZIP called Assets1_1.zip so unzip it somewhere.
Inside Assets1_1.zip there is a file called 1003. This is the largest or perhaps only file in that zip and is the plug-in you need.
Copy this 1003 file into the existing PSE12 camera raw plug-in folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements 12\File Formats or for a 32-bit Windows OS, into: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements 12\File Formats
Rename the existing Camera Raw.8bi to Camera Raw_8bi_80 (in case something doesn't work and you need to rename it back, later).
Rename 1003 to Camera Raw.8bi
After these steps you have the ACR 8.3 plug-in installed in PSE12 but not the camera and lens profiles, so install those by downloading and installing the DNG Converter 8.3:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=106&platform=Windows

My 5d Mark III raw files are showing up as CRAW2 not CR2?!

I have tried resetting my camera settings to default, formatting the CF cards, using multiple card readers...nothing is working and I can't seem to find any information on what a CRAW2 file is. I have also tried using a DNG converter to convert the files but that doesn't work either. No program recognized the raw file type.

Camera Raw Defaults are per camera and perhaps they are set strangely for the 5D.3 on your client’s computer. In particular check the Green channel in the Point curve in Toning Curve. I can easily create a very-magenta image by setting the toning curve to Point and selecting Green rather than RGB for the Channel and dragging the center of the curve all the way to the bottom to remove all green from the image. The camera profile might also be corrupt, which can be tested by switching to some of the others to see if they look ok.
You can isolate whether it is your camera, in particular, or any 5D.3 raw file by having your client download and look at a RAW file from the following page—by clicking on the word RAW under the 5D.3 image at the top left of the series on this page:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii/28
This is the direct download link to the ISO 100 studio image for the 5D.3 is:
http://movies.dpreview.com.s3.amazonaws.com/canon_eos5dmkiii/5D3_5199.CR2.zip
You might also try converting one of your CR2 files to DNG and make some adjustments, then update the preview and metadata into the DNG, so your client will be using your settings, rather than the defaults.

Nikon D3s RAW files are underexposed by Lightroom / Camera RAW

I'm used to shot RAW files only.
I recently bought a D3s, alongside with my D700 and I noticed D3s files were darker than D700 ones, by about 1/2 or even 2/3 stop. Initially I thought the problem was one of the cameras, but after some tests I found the problem is my RAW converter. Infact this happens only with NEF (RAW) files, and if I shot a RAW+JPG image, the D3s RAW file opened in Lightroom 4 (or Camera RAW) is underexposed if compared with its JPG on-camera version.
I think no camera setting is affecting this behaviour. I reset either the D3s and the D700. No D-Lighting is set on-camera. This happens only with the D3s and only with Camera RAW and Lightroom.
Other RAW converters display the D3s RAW file correctly exposed, the same as its JPG version, and the same as the D700 RAW and JPG. I tested so far Capture One, DxO Pro Optics and Raw Therapee.
Color profile used is custom, but I tried using Adobe Standard and the result is the same.
Default develop settings affect only color profile and sharpening, and I got the same problem on a fresh new installation of Lightroom where no default develop settings are set.
If anybody with a D3s can check if his NEFs are underexposed if compared to their JPG versions when opened in LR or Camera RAW, I would appreciate that much.
Any idea about the origins of my problem would be great.
Thank you.

alessandroavenali wrote:
I know, DdeGannes, but a different rendition of 2 pro cameras at the same settings is a bit frustrating.
Would it be better to underexpose the D700 while shooting, or setting a default -0,5EV on every imported picture, if the problem goes on?
Moreover, seems the Nikon D3s ISOs need to be pushed +2/3 to obtain the same exposure as the D700 in LR workflow. So the advantage of this great sensor could be lost.
I'd like to know more about D700 and D3s rendition comparison in LR/ACR at same settings.
It's not unusual for two camera bodies of even the same exact make and model to have Exposure differences of up to 1/3 EV, which is very noticeable. Ditto for White Balance differences. For Example:
Camera 1 is +1/3 EV and Camera 2 is -1/3 EV = 2/3 EV Difference
Camera 1 White Balance is -500KTemp and Camera 2 is +500K Temp = 1000K Difference
Tack on minor differences between the LR Camera Profiles and it will get much worse if heading in opposite directions, as above.
The only way to compare the raw NEF files from two cameras is to use a RAW converter that applies NO profiles, NO Gamma Correction, or any other modifications to the raw pixel data. See may post here for information on 'Rawnalyze:'
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3952812#3952812
You can download it here:
http://dave-anderson-photo.com/files/software/Rawnalyze/Rawnalyze_2.10.4.0.zip
Online manual here:
http://www.oitregor.com/numeric/Rawnalyze/Rawnalyse_doc/datas/RawnalyzeGuide.htm
None of the external links in the manual work, but nothing to worry about. If you have any questions on how to use it let me know.
I believe the Nikon D700, D3, and D3s cameras are supported in Rawnalyze 2.10.4.0. If not you can convert the NEF to DNG.

Help opening raw files in pse9 from nikon D7000.

I have a new nikon D7000, and previously used pse6. When I uploaded camera raw files I could not open to edit in pse6. I was told to get latest version of pse. I downloaded trial of pse9, did all raw upgrades but still cannot open files to edit. I was told by Nikon to check with adobe, but find this website very difficult to find my answer. I am hoping someone out there that is much smarter than me has had a similar experience and can advise me.

I think PSE6 will not be able to import/open files from Nikon D7000 as support has been added in recent ACR updates which are not available for PSE8 and below.
Please have a look at http://photoshopelementsbyadobe.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-use-raw-files-from-latest-dslr s.html as workaround

Help! My RAW files are VERY grainy! :-(

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for