Raw File Conversion

What is better for Raw File conversion, Aperture or Adobe Camera Raw in PS CS2? I'd heard there was more noise in the Aperture conversions. Do people manage their photos in Aperture and export the raw file to PS for conversion if PS is better?

i agree with Paul. it depends on your Camera.
I am a photgrapher and use for most of my work now the Nikon D200. Sometimes Canon EOS-1 Ds mark II. I use Aperture 1.5 and Adobe CS2.
Now i have tested Adobe Lightroom beta4.And I have to say that for the workflow i prefer it over Aperure.
I have made the experiance that a picture with a lot of highlights looked unseable in Aperture , but was good once opend in Photoshop RAW converter. One step further: a picture shot outside, almost in the dark with only some light left from the lamps in the street, looked very bad in Aperture and Lightroom, once opend with Nikon Capture Editor it turned to be a great Picture in full scale size at 300dpi. I guess this is possible because they know exactly how the RAW is processed in the camera and their software is only dedicatet to Nikon. I think it should be the same for all other cameras.The only trouble is that Nikon Capture is very slow. But good work needs time:-)
So my conclusion is to use Aperture or Lightroom to organise and preselect the shoots, as well to make a webgallery for selection to the client.the selectet RAW picture i will then open in Nikon Capture and set the corrections. Then I open it in Photoshop to refine it and retouch. finaly save it as PSD or any other format desired.
There is one programm that I guess does the same high quality work on RAW files for all cameras and that ist Capture One Pro because of its dedicatet RAW conversion to each Camera type. I just dont lik the interface and its another 500 $ or so.
i hope this was ahelp to you.
regards
larry

Similar Messages

Canon 5D mark II raw file conversion size blowout

I am suffering from an issue where my CR2 files from a 5D decrease in size when converted to DNG from for example 14.4MB to 11.8MB while the 5D mark II files increase from 8.7MB to a much larger 23.6MB after conversion. Both conversions are being done with DNG Converter 5.4 using the same preferences. Any light you could shine on this for me would be greatly appreciated.

It is because your 5D Mark II files are sRAW images, not raw. (The full 5D Mark II raw files are usually over 20 MB, not ~8 MB.) When you process sRAW files into DNG files, the DNG files are stored in the "linear DNG" format, which is much bigger than the sRAW format.
p.s., these questions should be directed to the Camera Raw, Lightroom, or DNG forums in the future to get a faster reply.

Problems with RAW file conversion in PS5?

I recently updated Photoshop and Lightroom to PS5 and LR3. Never had any problems when I moved between the two programs before. Now, when I open a RAW photo (jpegs are fine) into PS5 there is a colour/contrast shift which gets saved when I import it back to LR (doesn't make a difference if it is LR2 or LR3). This happens even when I do nothing but open the file, do nothing and save it back to LR. I checked and the problem doesn't happen with LR4. I have ensured that my colour spaces and preferences settings are exactly the same in both PS4 and PS5. Please, can anyone help me? I have looked over the commentary on a lot of similar issues but haven't come across the answer. This is important because I am having problems when I send my photos out to a lab to print. Thanks in advance!

Dear Dorin,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for replying to my question!!!
I have been having a lot of problems printing (to a lab, not my own printer) since I upgraded to PS5 and LR3 so I am in the process of trying to eliminate all the variables.
The problem I notice is that my RAW files in LR3 (jpegs are fine) change when I work on them in PS5 and save back to LR3 or when I export them as jpegs to my desktop and re-import back to LR3. The photos become darker and slightly more contrasty. I have attached some screen shots. The differences are subtle when
looked at side by side but really quite noticeable when you switch back
and forth between the two. Different photos change more than others.
I have tried various other combinations and the photos stay the same (ie. photo from LR4 to PS5 and back, photo from LR2 to PS4 and back, photo from LR2 to PS5 and back). So I was thinking it was something to do with the way LR3 converts RAW files to other formats.
I use Spyder3 Pro for colour calibration and I have made sure that color spaces are the same across programs. I have also tried Adobe1998 and ProPhoto with the same results.
Thank you for your suggestion to figure out the ACR conversion. I couldn't find the option for plug-ins under "help" so perhaps I am doing something wrong. I think that my ACR is version 6.1.
Any suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated!! My business is getting quite backlogged while I try to figure this all out.
Thanks again for your help. Cheers, Michele

Single Raw file conversion to .dng

Sorry if this has been asked but I can't find any tutorial on .cr2 file to .dng file conversion. I usually shoot RAW+jpeg on my Canon 50d. I am using CS3 and understand the need to convert my Canon Raw to the Adobe Dng format for PS processing. I downloaded and installed the free dng converter. I just can't seem to find a way to convert a SINGLE raw file into a SINGLE .dng file, it only wants a whole folder full for conversion. And am I correct in that Adobe isn't writing a plugin to let CS3 do the conversion? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

You could copy the single CR2 file into a folder all by itself, then run the DNG converter on it. And I'm not completely sure, but I think I've heard of the ability for the tool to convert a lone file by providing the file path on a command line. Thus you could drag a single file to the DNG Converter icon if you had it on the desktop.
And you're correct - you're not going to get new camera support in the Camera Raw 4.x series that works with Photoshop CS3. Adobe stops adding new camera support when a new major version of Photoshop is released. But they do provide the (less convenient) DNG Converter for free.
-Noel

Automating RAW file conversion to Photoshop with Smart Object Layer

Hi
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to automate an action (and the steps) to open a series of photos from their raw file state to a Photoshop file with a smart object layer. I have tried **** this... recording an action without success... it ends up creating a photoshop file with a background layer, no smart object layer.
Am i missing something obvious? Thanks for your help!
Regards bruce

Hi
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to automate an action (and the steps) to open a series of photos from their raw file state to a Photoshop file with a smart object layer. I have tried **** this... recording an action without success... it ends up creating a photoshop file with a background layer, no smart object layer.
Am i missing something obvious? Thanks for your help!
Regards bruce

Raw File conversion to Tiff or Jpeg - best workflow for multiple files in Photo Shop Elements 11

Hello, I am pretty new to shooting in raw and Photoshop Elements (11). I have one big problem. Once I open Elements up and load the Raw files from the SD card it shows them all on the left side in Camera Raw. I make my contrast and color adjustments if needed, but then my problem starts: I do not really want to make any further adjustments in Elements itself, but in order to save my Raw files either as Tiff or Jpeg it seems like I need to - through clicking on the "open image". Now it only opens up that one particular photo. I did not manage to go simply back to Camera Raw to grab the next one as the screen just disappears. However, this one by one process is of course not the preferred way. I know that there is batch processing, but am also not sure if my adjustments that I did in Camera Raw will carry over as I am actually never saving anything and would like to avoid saving it before all manually as .dng files as it would just be another extra step. I hope I could make clear where I have problems and what I would like to achieve and hope you can help me. Many thanks in advance.
Philip

Simply select and edit each picture thumbnail from the left panel without clicking 'Done' or 'Open'.
When you have edited each individual picture, select all your thumbnails - click on the first one - shift click on the last one. They should be all highlighted.
Then simply click 'Done'.
Your edits are saved in sidecar xmp files.
If the thumbnails are not yet automatically updated, select the files, right click and choose 'Update thumbnail'.
No need to use the editor with 'Open as' if you don't want any further edit or jpeg/tiff/psd/png version.
Edit:
I am not sure I have understood your question.
The above process lets you convert and edit a batch of raw files without opening the editor.
If you want to get jpeg or tiff files from the already edited raw files, either use the 'process multiple files' of the editor or the 'export' feature from the Organizer.
The common raw workflow in Elements consists in converting small batches as explained above to take advantage of applying common edits or individual differences. In some cases you want to open the editor, in others not.
That's at the input time.
When you want to output pictures, the selection of picture is different for each purpose. You'll include pictures edited in different batches, some still in raw format, others already converted in version sets to jpeg/tiff... For each output purpose, those selected pictures can be sent to the destination folder in the required format withoug opening the editor at that stage either using 'process multiple files' or 'export'.

Sony RAW file conversion for Lightroom 5

I've been using Lightroom 5 (LR5) for my photo editing on a PC for a year now & been shooting with Nikon, just recently purchased a Sony A7II & LR5 will not read the RAW files, when I try it says: "The files are not recognized by the raw format in Lightroom 5", Please check for updated version of Lightroom, so I checked & I do have the current version, no updates available. I was previously told it would read it & there shouldn't be a problem, well it won't. From what I've read looks like I need to convert these RAW files to DNG through a plug-in. When I went to 'Adobe Support & Community Help' I found what I was looking (I think) a plug-in for LR5, however when you open the link at the top its says: 'Camera Raw plug-in for CS6, CC, or CC 2014 Adobe applications' doesn't mention anything about LR5, but it did on the previous search page so I'm a little confused. Attached is the link: Camera Raw plug-in installer
Is this it for LR5, 'CameraRaw_8_7_1.zip' ? And if so why doesn't it say for LR5, anyone know? I don't want to download something and have it screw up my LR5 program. Any help here would be greatly appreciated....jp

I have Lightroom 5.7. When I check for updates I show its up to date, I don't understand, whenever there are updates its always advised me, I started with Lightroom 5. Was that link to 5.7.1 on my post correct for this update? Like I said it didn't say for Lightroom 5 just Photo Shop CS6,CC, or CC 2014, so I was a bit confused, wouldn't be an issue if Lightroom 5 was included in the text.

12- and 14-bit Raw file conversion to 16-bit tiff

Does anyone know how Camera Raw converts the 10, 12, or 14 bit RAW file data(14-bit D3 .NEF here) into the 16-bit tiff files it can produce. I assume it either manages to leave empty space in the file, or interpolates by some means. If interpolation is the answer, is it by a method analogous to one of the spatial resizing methods(nearest neighbor or bilinear)?

Keep in mind that a 16bit image format (eg, TIF) is actually a container, and I've seen many variations on putting lesser bit depths in the format. EG, 10bits may only be stored in the first 1024 bins, or the same 10bit data may instead be stored in every 6th bin - the latter of which is the most common and best way. When I look at the 16bit histogram after ACR has converted 12bit RAW to 16bit TIF, it is as if 12bits has been converted to 16bits (actually 15bits), because every bin appears to have data in it.
As to how it's actually done, it may be proprietary ... but someone else may be able to draw conclusions from the open algorithms that are available (eg, dcraw).

Canon Raw File Conversion

I have a canon eos 60d and shoot in raw.
When I convert to jpeg with the canon dpp program i get really good results.
When I user Adobe Camera Raw in PS Elements 10, I get v grainy jpegs, I have tried playing with the settings etc.
I would like to use adobe as it has more controls and I prefer the colors of the finsihed files, but want to know how to get good results with it.
What can anyone suggest I do ? Is it noise reduction that canon is doing and I need to somehome turn on in Elements. Normally I do a batch convert, then go back and touch up any images that need it ?

Make sure you are not working with any previously saved custom settings. If in doubt choose Camera Raw Defaults or re-set the defaults.

Nikon D300 Raw files for 64bit windows vista machine not appearing in Photoshop CS3 raw

I purchased a new 64bit computer running Vista. I have installed Photoshop CS3 including the latest updates and the 4.6 (Camera Raw.8bi) raw update file. I included the raw file in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CS3\File Formats. I have purged cache in Bridge and I still cannot view the raw files in Bridge. I only see a gray square with a Blue NEF. I can open the files in Photoshop however. What can I do to see the files in Bridge?

Nikon encrypts RAW file data
ByMichael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 02:16 EDT)
A news item posted on Sunday by PhotoshopNews.com reports on comments from Thomas Knoll, one of the original authors of Adobe Photoshop, relating to the RAW file format used in Nikon's D2X and D2Hs digital SLRs.
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Thomas Knoll is currently the chief engineer for Adobe Camera Raw, the company's RAW file conversion software. The PhotoshopNews item references a forum thread started by Mr. Knoll in Adobe's official user forums, where he reveals that .NEF RAW files from the latest Nikon digital SLRs encrypt data relating to the white balance setting the photo was shot with.
RAW file formats vary significantly between digital camera manufacturers (and often, between different models in a manufacturer's lineup), and the manufacturers generally won't publicly disclose the specification for the RAW file format(s) they use. Some will offer plugins or software development kits (SDKs) that enable their RAW files to be opened in third-party applications, but these generally have some limitations attached to their use.
In addition, the companies generally offer RAW file conversion software of their own, either as part of their camera bundles or as an added-cost option. Nikon offer their pro SLRs with PictureProject software that includes limited control over the RAW file conversion process, and then offer the more feature-rich Nikon Capture conversion software for an added cost. In a recent publication on the company's Nikon Pro website, it suggested that it feels Nikon Capture is better-suited to photographers, while Adobe's Photoshop is more suited to graphic artists. Still, different photographers have different workflow preferences, and for this reason third parties such as Adobe often reverse engineer the RAW file formats, allowing them to be opened in their own software - sometimes with even better image quality than the original manufacturer's software.
In a way, it is understandable that companies would want to encrypt RAW file data from their products - it allows them to pick and choose which competitors are able to open RAW files shot with their products, and allows them to generate new revenue streams from the sale of their own RAW file conversion software (or, if they choose, the sale of licenses allowing competitor programs to access their RAW file data). Nikon is not the first company we're aware of to encrypt data in RAW files; Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-F828 RAW files contain encrypted data. In that instance, however, Sony granted permission for Adobe to decrypt the data in their software. At the current time, Mr. Knoll states that while Adobe has signed a non-disclosure agreement that grants them access to use Nikon's SDK, they have not received any response to requests from Adobe that the company be allowed to decrypt the white balance data, which would allow closer integration with their software than is possible with the SDK.
The fact that Nikon has chosen to encrypt a portion of the RAW file data would not be particularly problematic for third parties to overcome, were it not for certain laws enacted around the world in recent years. One such law is the United States' "Digital Millennium Copyright Act", often referred to as the DMCA, which makes it illegal to produce technology that can circumvent measures designed to protect copyright. One could argue that Nikon's encryption of the white balance data is just such a measure - which would make it an offense for a third party without permission to make software that could decrypt the original white balance setting used by the camera when the photo was shot. One could equally argue, however, that the copyright over the RAW file belongs to the photographer who captured the image - and hence the choice over what is done with that copyrighted work is entirely up to the photographer.
Unfortunately, there's no clear-cut answer, and short of a company or programmer finding themselves in court for having cracked the encryption, there isn't likely to be such an answer any time soon. This presents a problem for third parties attempting to make their own RAW file conversion routines for the D2X and D2Hs, as if they don't want to risk opening themselves up to legal action, they aren't able to determine the original white balance setting. Hence, they must either request the white balance setting from the user as the RAW file is converted, or attempt to determine an appropriate white balance setting automatically (which would not necessarily be the same as that determined by the camera itself).
Nikon hasn't communicated their reasons for encrypting the white balance information in their latest NEF formats, but we have to say it doesn't sound like a very good idea. While Nikon Capture does indeed offer excellent capabilities for people to manipulate images saved in NEF formats, many photographers and organizations have already established workflows based on Adobe's RAW plugin for Photoshop and other image-processing tools. The biggest consequence of this move on Nikon's part seems likely to be to push more photographers onto other camera platforms. It's hard to imagine that increased sales of Nikon Capture will make up the revenue lost from camera and lens sales going forward.

Filter in adobe bridge to only select Raw files for DNG conversion

Here's my problem - I have a new DMC TZ70 camera and Lightroom 5.7 doesn't recognise the .RW2 files. I would need to buy LR6! Perhaps later.
So I thought I will import via bridge and convert to DNG.
So I open bridge and select the camera - fine - BUT there are files for the Raw images, the same number of JPEGs and some .bdm, .TDT etc files. (e.g. 3 raw + 7 others).
I can set up a filter to view only the Raw files when I see what files are there in the card folder in Bridge but when I select "get photos from camera" I can either select them all OR deselect and then I need to MANUALLY select the raw files. There doesn't seem to be a way of setting up a filter in the Downloader screen so that Bridge only selects the Raw files for conversion.
If I let it select all, Bridge converts the RW2 files to DNG but also brings in the jpgs and other files. I can delete these afterwards but this seems an inefficient way to do it.
Is there any way to manually select the raw files in the photo downloader screen?
Advice please, thanks, Mel

Not sure I follow completely, Mel, but Bridge allows you to View > Sort > Type... which would allow you, after sorting, to click on the first image with a specific extension, then hold down the Shift key to select the last in the series and handle them independent of the other files presented.

Raw conversion: open EOS 70D Raw files in Elements 8?

I have a Windows 7 operating system, and Photoshop Elements 8. I have a new Canon EOS 70D and want to find
an adobe Raw converter which will allow appropriate processing, and connecting finished results to Elements 8 for conversion to routine JPeg or PSD? Any reccomendations?

The EOS 70D was first supported in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 8.2
http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/camera-raw-plug-supported-cameras.html
ACR8.2 is only compatible with Elements 11 and 12. Not Elements 8 so you cannot open Raw files from the 70D in Elements 8.
Your choices:
Upgrade to Elements 12, OR
Download the free Adobe DNG converter and convert all 70D Raw files to DNGs. That adds an extra step to your workflow each time you shoot more pictures. Then edit the DNGs in Elements 8.
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/extend.displayTab2.html

I want to know if Lightroom 5 (version 5.7) supports the conversion of raw files from the Fuji X-T1 micro 4/3 camera system???

I am considering purchasing the Fuji X-T1 Micro 4/3 camera.
However before I do I need to know if Lightroom 5 version 5.7 supports the conversion of raw files from this camera!!!????
Can anyone please let me know if Lightroom does convert raw files from the Fuji X-T1 please???
Many thanks,
Connie

Dear Adobe Support Staff!
Many thanks for getting back to me re Lightroom and the Fuji X-T1.
I am now wondering if Lightroom supports the Olympus OMD-E-M1 raw files??? Will Lightroom 5.7 convert raw files from this micro 4/3 camera??
This is the one I'm now intending to buy.
Many thanks for getting back to me!!!
Cheers
Sent from my iPhone

RAW + old photoshop generated .XMP file conversion to DNG

I have a set of camera raw files (.mos) and .xmp side car files that were generated in photoshop several years ago. I am thinking about converting all of the files and side cars to DNGs because Leaf Capture software is no longer being updated.
Before I do I want to confirm that Lightroom can read both the raw AND the corresponding side car files and convert them into single dngs. I also want to know if the .xmp information is extractable after the dng is created in the same way that the raw/original file is extractable.
I've been trying to test lightrooms ability to read .xmp files on my own. I added a .mos file in a folder with a corresponding .xmp file and a .mos file in a folder without a corresponding .xmp file. Lightroom reads similar adjustment information for both images but only generates a preview that more closely resembles a finished retouched .PSD of the added .mos file that does not have the .xmp file in the folder it was added from. I'm at a bit of a loss regarding how to proceed.

nonovsco wrote:
Upate on situation: I followed up with the individuals that created the files and found out that the side car files were in fact generated by leaf and not photoshop. i tried another test and it looks like the folder with a .mos +.xmp file is now reading differently than a .mos file by itself. both suggest that changes were made to the files with modulations in the "develop" section of lightroom.
You can view the XMP file data in Notepad or any other text editor, just select 'Open' and select 'All File Types' so you can see the XMP files. It should be possible to store both C1 and LR develop settings in the same XMP file, but there may be some naming conflcts. Review of an XMP file with both C1 and LR develop settings saved to it should show the two different develop data sets in Notepad. Conversion to DNG should save ALL XMP data, but you may lose some of the (edit) Leaf proprietary data that may be in the raw file's metadata. For now I'd hold onto the raws + XMPs, even if you do convert to DNG.
You can use EXIFtoolGUI to examine the metadata in the new DNG files and compare it to the original XMP file's data. My Canon DSLRs appear to have all of the manufacturer's 'Makers Notes' copied over from the raw file into the DNG metadata.
http://freeweb.siol.net/hrastni3/foto/exif/exiftoolgui.htm

Lightroom's poor conversion of Fuji RAW files

I am on the verge of switching to Capture One due to Lightroom's poor RAW conversion capabilities of Fuji RAW files. Before I do jump boat, I thought I'd ask whether anyone had actually heard as to whether Adobe were going to do something about this. i am not impressed by Adobe lack of performance & communication.

Mark Alan Thomas,
You see only half of the story. The Problem with JPGs is that this file format applies a "lossy" compression, and with each <save> "unnecessary" pixel information is deleted and lost irretrievably. And this happens each time the JPG is re-saved. So after a few saves the JPG is of very poor quality.
Even with LR that saves edits in the catalog and not in the pixels, you cannot avoid multiple <saves> of a JPG., for instance by exporting.
Also, how many quality settings for JPGs do you have in your camera? I have three: fine - normal - basic. And I have no way of knowing if "fine" corresponds to 100%, 80%, or 75%, or even less. I have practically no control over the quality of your JPG but maybe your camera gives you more control?
IMHO JPGs should only be used for
- e-mail;
- web-use;
- delivery of Lo-res for layout purposes.
The only scenario where I can see a pro shooting JPG is this: You cover a sports event for a sports magazine. The game is on a Sunday and starts at 3 PM and ends at 5 PM. The deadline for the magazine is at 5:30 PM. There is no time to edit Raw images. The photographer has to shoot JPGs and send them off to the magazine right after the game has ended. Maybe there are a few other scenarios that would justify shooting JPGs.
But if you value quality - forget JPPGs.
I use JPGs for the above stated three purposes. But I create them in Lr only when I need them. And I delete them regularly after a while.

Raw File Conversion

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