RAW Files - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Meier_Link · 12-19-2007, 10:40 PM

In manual mode on my dslr, I take the pictures in a RAW format. I just use Picasa right now to view and edit the photos, but I was wondering how some of you process the files to bring out the color and make the pictures look good.

shakran · 12-20-2007, 07:00 AM

photoshop

Chamaeleontidae · 12-20-2007, 01:21 PM

If you have a Canon dslr, it comes with DPP. You can also use Bibble (which I like) or Adobe Lightroom. trial versions of both are downloadable from their sites.

fnaqzna · 12-20-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

photoshop

This is key.

Just adjusting the white balance is often enough.

dogzilla · 12-20-2007, 05:13 PM

I use the raw editor in Photoshop to adjust exposure so that the highlights are not blown out, where the histogram will be off the scale to the right, and sometimes reduce the exposure a bit more if the image still looks too bright. Then I open the image in Photoshop and examine the histogram using the levels dialog. If there is blank space at either end, I will move that slider towards the center of the histogram until it touches the edge of the blank space. This has the effect of bringing out the colors, where the original image looked flat.

If the histogram is already distributed across most or all of the range, then I use the curves dialog, where I pull the diagonal line into a slight S curve, dragging down the curve in the lower quarter and slightly upward in the upper quarter. This also boosts colors.

I need to be careful not to be too aggressive in doing this, since the picture looks to high contrast for me. I usually don't apply both techniques to the same image for that reason.

I have a bunch of pictures up at http://pbase.com/dwootton/dw that are the end result.

This link has some examples of what I'm doing.

http://www.thegoldenmean.com/technique/curves1.html

Meier_Link · 12-22-2007, 07:36 AM

Thanks guys... I've got copies of PS and Lightroom, I'm just a little intimidated by them... I guess there's no simple "just do this" answer; I'll have to play with the software until I get what I like.

analog · 12-22-2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meier_Link

Thanks guys... I've got copies of PS and Lightroom, I'm just a little intimidated by them... I guess there's no simple "just do this" answer; I'll have to play with the software until I get what I like.

I'm sure there are some decent tutorials out there, but no tutorial is going to be able to tell you how to best fix your individual pics... they'll give guidelines on adjusting white balance, color, etc., but it can't tell you how to make beautiful photos.

What version of photoshop do you have?

And yeah, for me, it's photoshop all the way.

BearNaked · 12-26-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meier_Link

Thanks guys... I've got copies of PS and Lightroom, I'm just a little intimidated by them... I guess there's no simple "just do this" answer; I'll have to play with the software until I get what I like.

These are the two programs I use. Lightroom does the vast majority of the work, and it is easy to do a batch of photos at one time. It is also a great organizational tool as well. Photoshop gets used for final tweaking if needed.

I too am one who still has lots to learn with these programs, but as daunting as they seem, once you start to really give them a chance, they are easy to use and do great stuff.

ngdawg · 12-26-2007, 07:56 PM

While I'm a huge PS user, the first step is prevention.
Be sure your ISO is conducive to the situation you're photographing, as well as your AV (or EV) and white balance. All the PS'ing in the world won't kill the noise and blur of a wrongly setup shot. Same with the aperature-make sure it's correct for what you're doing.
Make sure you're saving your shots at a minimum 300 dpi to really tighten the pixels up; most viewers default even RAW's at 72dpi. Using the crop tool in PS to 'condense' the file will increase the DPI or just set it to 300 in the crop tool settings. (Ex: cropping a 45in by 27 in file to an 8x10 increases the dpi, but only with the crop tool. Using a marquee and "Image/Crop" won't do that). Primary colors suck at lower DPI's.
Some people use "Levels", some use "Curves". "Levels" is a gamma correction and doesn't have the capability to contrast, whereas it's possible to do with "Curves".
I use a freebie plug-in called "Xero" which has a filter called "Improver". This smooths and sharpens, eliminating some of the 'noise' and blur.

My PS won't open my RAW's (Minolta MRW), so I use Irfanview for the preliminaries-correction, resizing, etc., before getting to PS.

One other thing people don't think about-your monitor. It needs to be as accurate as possible colorwise. You can either adjust the screen by holding up a magazine page to it as you adjust or print something vivid until it looks good enough.

skibum · 12-28-2007, 04:31 PM

So, a bit about my stuff...

I shoot with a D70 (notorious for its flat tone curve and conservative metering), and my raw converter doesn't hold camera settings so most things need a minor adjustment. My post work usually involves a small saturation boost, and small contrast boost, then convert the file and open it in photoshop. Depending on the shot I do a little curves work to get a bit more detail and more dynamic range. On rare occasions I will do a little dodge work. Sharpen using 2 methods, and its pretty much done.

Don't be intimidated by photoshop. Theres tons of tutorials out there. Just play around a lot, see what everything does.

12-19-2007, 10:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Meier_Link Psycho Location: in a state of confusion	RAW Files In manual mode on my dslr, I take the pictures in a RAW format. I just use Picasa right now to view and edit the photos, but I was wondering how some of you process the files to bring out the color and make the pictures look good. __________________ life is a sexually transmitted disease

12-20-2007, 01:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chamaeleontidae aka: freakylongname Location: South of the Great While North	If you have a Canon dslr, it comes with DPP. You can also use Bibble (which I like) or Adobe Lightroom. trial versions of both are downloadable from their sites. __________________ "Reality is just a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs." Robin Williams.

12-20-2007, 05:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
dogzilla Junkie Location: New York	I use the raw editor in Photoshop to adjust exposure so that the highlights are not blown out, where the histogram will be off the scale to the right, and sometimes reduce the exposure a bit more if the image still looks too bright. Then I open the image in Photoshop and examine the histogram using the levels dialog. If there is blank space at either end, I will move that slider towards the center of the histogram until it touches the edge of the blank space. This has the effect of bringing out the colors, where the original image looked flat. If the histogram is already distributed across most or all of the range, then I use the curves dialog, where I pull the diagonal line into a slight S curve, dragging down the curve in the lower quarter and slightly upward in the upper quarter. This also boosts colors. I need to be careful not to be too aggressive in doing this, since the picture looks to high contrast for me. I usually don't apply both techniques to the same image for that reason. I have a bunch of pictures up at http://pbase.com/dwootton/dw that are the end result. This link has some examples of what I'm doing. http://www.thegoldenmean.com/technique/curves1.html Last edited by dogzilla; 12-20-2007 at 05:26 PM.. Reason: Add examples link

12-22-2007, 07:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Meier_Link Psycho Location: in a state of confusion	Thanks guys... I've got copies of PS and Lightroom, I'm just a little intimidated by them... I guess there's no simple "just do this" answer; I'll have to play with the software until I get what I like. __________________ life is a sexually transmitted disease

12-20-2007, 07:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	photoshop

12-26-2007, 07:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	While I'm a huge PS user, the first step is prevention. Be sure your ISO is conducive to the situation you're photographing, as well as your AV (or EV) and white balance. All the PS'ing in the world won't kill the noise and blur of a wrongly setup shot. Same with the aperature-make sure it's correct for what you're doing. Make sure you're saving your shots at a minimum 300 dpi to really tighten the pixels up; most viewers default even RAW's at 72dpi. Using the crop tool in PS to 'condense' the file will increase the DPI or just set it to 300 in the crop tool settings. (Ex: cropping a 45in by 27 in file to an 8x10 increases the dpi, but only with the crop tool. Using a marquee and "Image/Crop" won't do that). Primary colors suck at lower DPI's. Some people use "Levels", some use "Curves". "Levels" is a gamma correction and doesn't have the capability to contrast, whereas it's possible to do with "Curves". I use a freebie plug-in called "Xero" which has a filter called "Improver". This smooths and sharpens, eliminating some of the 'noise' and blur. My PS won't open my RAW's (Minolta MRW), so I use Irfanview for the preliminaries-correction, resizing, etc., before getting to PS. One other thing people don't think about-your monitor. It needs to be as accurate as possible colorwise. You can either adjust the screen by holding up a magazine page to it as you adjust or print something vivid until it looks good enough.

12-28-2007, 04:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
skibum Crazy Location: Colorado	So, a bit about my stuff... I shoot with a D70 (notorious for its flat tone curve and conservative metering), and my raw converter doesn't hold camera settings so most things need a minor adjustment. My post work usually involves a small saturation boost, and small contrast boost, then convert the file and open it in photoshop. Depending on the shot I do a little curves work to get a bit more detail and more dynamic range. On rare occasions I will do a little dodge work. Sharpen using 2 methods, and its pretty much done. Don't be intimidated by photoshop. Theres tons of tutorials out there. Just play around a lot, see what everything does.