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Shooting Your Photos In The Raw


Mommymosier

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It's up to you. Shooting in RAW format doesn't compress the pixels like a jpeg does, but you will pay for it in the amount of pictures you'll be able to take. The RAW images take up almost double the space of high quality jpegs. I use them for photo shoots and sometimes for shots that I know I will want to blow up later or something. But for most everyday pictures, I'd say stick to high quality jpegs.

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Ok to start I read this as in THE raw, as in the bufff? LOL and I don't personally recomend that at all! LOL

 

However......

I just had another camera lesson from our photography friend and will be shooting this way most of the time now. Apperently everytime you open and close a jpg it compressed it, this doesn't happen with Raw images. I do however have a 2gig card for my SLR and can fit 600+ RAW images on it.

 

Another thing you can do is take as a jpg then save as a tiff and that will not compress it either, just another option, if I have my info correct.

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Another benefit of shooting in RAW is that your camera doesn't "read" the image. Most cameras process the information that they receive and then save the result. Most of the time this processing is helpful. If you have a specific lighting situation that is unique and you want the maximum amount of information you can shoot in RAW mode. I did this for photographing holiday luminarias at night at Christmas last year. I was shooting with a tripod and super long exposures. I wanted to have the most control possible on the final image and not have the camera try to correct the "dark" images. So other than that, I don't use it for everyday pictures... I really don't need to edit them that much so I don't worry about it.

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Wendy! How are you, girlie! Hope you're doing well. :)

 

Oh, I shoot everything in RAW! I honestly LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way I can manipulate my images, without losing any quality. I got CS3 in June-ish, and it has RAW for JPGs too... so I can manipulate those weird photos I get from other people (cell phone photos, small size photos, etc.). There isn't as much to play with in the JPG version as there is in the straight RAW version, but every little bit helps! Also, it lets me increase the size of my finished image too. SO cool.

 

My dad, who wants to be a photography guy, but is pretty clueless with the computer, even shoots in RAW. I taught him how to manipulate his RAWs in PSE4, and he's happy as a clam.

 

Try shooting a few and play around with the RAW capabilities in your editor, I'll bet you'll LOVE what you find!

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Hi Heidi, we are doing well, just staying busy. Thanks for asking :)

 

Thanks so much for the advice. I'll have to try it out and see what happens. I may be totally stumped at how to manipulate them but we'll see.

 

I am test-driving CS3 right now and considering the upgrade.

Thanks again for the advice.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Hi Heidi, we are doing well, just staying busy. Thanks for asking :)

 

Thanks so much for the advice. I'll have to try it out and see what happens. I may be totally stumped at how to manipulate them but we'll see.

 

I am test-driving CS3 right now and considering the upgrade.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

I just bit the bullet and have ordered my first DSLR - a Nikon D40. From what I understand the D40 doesn't come with a converter (or not a very good one at least). Will I need something else besides PSE to convert my Raw images or will PSE do the trick for me? :)

 

Maureen

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WOW you guys must of read my mind...I just got my new camera and was wondering about Raw images...So i searched till my eyes hurt..and then came over here...I hate asking so many questions and then saw this post...Right now i have 1 gb of memory! So i may try to shoot Raw and see if i can manipulate them...Does taht mean add filters and such to them?

Thanks for the info....

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Yes Yes Yes to the RAW photos! So much more color data, so much control left to you and not your camera. The memory cards have such large memory capacity that you can still get a large number of photos on one shooting RAW. My cameras allow me to shoot in both RAW and highest quality JPEG - I get two files with each photo. I am still able to get plenty of photos on my cards (I use 2 & 4 GB compact flash).

 

Word to the wise... when people talk about shooting huge numbers of photos on one memory card, they are usually talking about over the span of several days or weeks. BE CAREFUL! Don't save a month's worth of photos on your camera just because you haven't filled your card up. If any sort of hiccup should happen, you don't want to lose everything over the past month! You want to get those photos off and backed up. Just think of it as a mini-hard drive and you know how important it is to get those backed up!

 

With RAW and CS3, you will be amazed at the SUPER-HIGH-QUALITY images you can get! You'll be going pro before the year is out! :happy039:

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  • 1 month later...

Wow, I'm glad I found this thread-I just got a Canon EOS 30D and did a photo shoot without using RAW but I am definitely going to give RAW a try right away. Thanks for the info you all!!!

 

 

Kari

 

Yes Yes Yes to the RAW photos! So much more color data, so much control left to you and not your camera. The memory cards have such large memory capacity that you can still get a large number of photos on one shooting RAW. My cameras allow me to shoot in both RAW and highest quality JPEG - I get two files with each photo. I am still able to get plenty of photos on my cards (I use 2 & 4 GB compact flash).

 

Word to the wise... when people talk about shooting huge numbers of photos on one memory card, they are usually talking about over the span of several days or weeks. BE CAREFUL! Don't save a month's worth of photos on your camera just because you haven't filled your card up. If any sort of hiccup should happen, you don't want to lose everything over the past month! You want to get those photos off and backed up. Just think of it as a mini-hard drive and you know how important it is to get those backed up!

 

With RAW and CS3, you will be amazed at the SUPER-HIGH-QUALITY images you can get! You'll be going pro before the year is out! :happy039:

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Here's an example...

 

I just shot these. The first one was just how my camera would have normally taken it - no touch-ups at all.

 

The second one is the RAW version, after I made adjustments. You can see Clementine's face much more clearly now, as well as the correct color of my ugly couch and the coffee cup. You can even see her little tongue grabbing what's left of the cream on that lid, which in the first version just blended in with the couch.

 

Try RAW. It's worth it.

 

 

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I always shoot in the raw but I then I put my clothes back on when I edit in Photoshop, bwahahaha

 

Oh V - too much information! Now every time I see your Avatar, I'll be wondering if you were wearing any clothes! LOL!!!!

 

I shoot in raw + .jpeg for each shot. I have a Canon 5D and love it. It's not hard to "manipulate" the RAW shots. I use Scott Kelby's book for digital photographers and he gives some great advice in it. Try shooting a few and see what you like!

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I shot pictures in RAW for the very first time last Saturday. I will never go back to plain jpeg now! :)

It's been very addicting editing the files. I was also able to recover some pictures that a flat jpeg file would never allow me to do (completely dark) with details, color, the works.

 

With Bridge or ACR, you can also create presets and quickly apply them to your photos. It saves so much time.

 

I am now officially a ACR addict. Now, I want Lightroom!

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  • 4 weeks later...
I shot pictures in RAW for the very first time last Saturday. I will never go back to plain jpeg now! :)

It's been very addicting editing the files. I was also able to recover some pictures that a flat jpeg file would never allow me to do (completely dark) with details, color, the works.

 

With Bridge or ACR, you can also create presets and quickly apply them to your photos. It saves so much time.

 

I am now officially a ACR addict. Now, I want Lightroom!

I am also shooting both Raw & jpeg; but I am trying to understand what happens (in PSE5) between the bridge where you can do certain manipulations to the photo, and the "open" command which brings it into PSE for further manipulations. This action changes the file from a 16bit to an 8 bit file; which seems to me to mean a lot of information lost???? I always keep my original Raw file, but I still wonder if my layouts could improve if the pictures in them were 16bit instead of eight???? (I wish I knew what I was talking about) <sigh>

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well, my shooting in the raw caused some stress in our marriage. DH's computer could not read the raw files, so he got fed up and bought his own camera. Now I shoot in the raw, and he doesn't. I shoot in the raw, fully clothed, in case anyone (V!!! Sarah!!!!) is wondering....

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  • 4 weeks later...

I tried shooting in RAW and couldn't figure out how to get the picture open on my computer. I have PSE 5,but am very new with it..I have been using PSP 9

My Camera is a Nikon D40x and I don't have the specific software for opening RAW files , the software that the camera came with does not support Raw files..

So am I understanding this correctly that you girls are able to open the RAW files with the PSE ?

Thanks for any replies ...

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Guest miss bumble
I tried shooting in RAW and couldn't figure out how to get the picture open on my computer. I have PSE 5,but am very new with it..I have been using PSP 9

My Camera is a Nikon D40x and I don't have the specific software for opening RAW files , the software that the camera came with does not support Raw files..

So am I understanding this correctly that you girls are able to open the RAW files with the PSE ?

Thanks for any replies ...

 

 

Hi Girls I'm glad I came across this thread I have wanted to know the answer. But with no clothes on might be a little Jack Frosty here it's -1 in the UK

 

I have a question Please. I have a cannon 350D and when I take a photo, then load it on to the PC, bring it into PSE for scrapping it reads for size 48"x32" and only 72ppi. I have my camera set at large and good quality? Where I'm I going wrong. I can't seem to find where to change it even more(very new) at this Photo taking.

Thanking you all in advance.

Chris X

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  • 2 weeks later...

Help! I'm interested in shooting RAW and I can't figure out how to do it! I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XT and I can't find any settings to tell it to shoot RAW instead of JPG. I have done some perusing on the internet and see some reviews for my camera that talk about shooting in the RAW + jpg, but don't actually tell me how to do it. Anyone know? I figured I would come to SG and ask, since someone always seems to have the answer here! :-)

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Help! I'm interested in shooting RAW and I can't figure out how to do it! I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XT and I can't find any settings to tell it to shoot RAW instead of JPG. I have done some perusing on the internet and see some reviews for my camera that talk about shooting in the RAW + jpg, but don't actually tell me how to do it. Anyone know? I figured I would come to SG and ask, since someone always seems to have the answer here! :-)

 

On your camera menu, there should be a a setting called 'Quality'. (Should be the first one) Click on that, click your way over and select RAW. :)

 

Hope this helps.

 

--Alyssa

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On your camera menu, there should be a a setting called 'Quality'. (Should be the first one) Click on that, click your way over and select RAW. :)

 

Hope this helps.

 

--Alyssa

 

Thanks Alyssa! I *knew* someone here would be able to help me! I found it just the way you indicated. I think I had been through that menu several times before, but never saw the +RAW setting, since my camera wasn't on one of the creative modes (I think it only shows up in the creative modes).

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On your camera menu, there should be a a setting called 'Quality'. (Should be the first one) Click on that, click your way over and select RAW. :)

 

Hope this helps.

 

--Alyssa

 

Thanks Alyssa! I *knew* someone here would be able to help me! I found it just the way you indicated. I think I had been through that menu several times before, but never saw the +RAW setting, since my camera wasn't on one of the creative modes (I think it only shows up in the creative modes).

 

I am so glad someone asked this question! And you already got an answer! I have a Sony Alpha dslr and it is under quality too. I first have to hit the MENU Button.

 

I have 2 choices there:

1-RAW

2- RAW & JPG

 

Which choice is the better one?

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On your camera menu, there should be a a setting called 'Quality'. (Should be the first one) Click on that, click your way over and select RAW. :)

 

Hope this helps.

 

--Alyssa

 

Thanks Alyssa! I *knew* someone here would be able to help me! I found it just the way you indicated. I think I had been through that menu several times before, but never saw the +RAW setting, since my camera wasn't on one of the creative modes (I think it only shows up in the creative modes).

 

 

I am so glad someone asked this question! And you already got an answer! I have a Sony Alpha dslr and it is under quality too. I first have to hit the MENU Button.

 

I have 2 choices there:

1-RAW

2- RAW & JPG

 

Which choice is the better one?

 

 

Cherise: Yes, I think it is in the creative modes. I mostly shoot in 'P' mode. :) ("P" stands for professional, my dad and I joke ;) )

 

A-dab-adu: I shoot RAW ~ it takes less room then RAW + jpg. :)

If you truly want to conserve memory space, you can shoot jpg but then you don't have as much control as you do in RAW. I like having control when it comes to editing photos. :)

 

Hope this helps.

 

--Alyssa

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