Raw workflow

[cbeam2]

How do you do your RAW workflow? Can files be opened directly into EX without using the viewer?

chuck

[bjnicholls]

No, that's one of the annoyances of the EX converter. You have to select your "queue" of images (you can select several for a series of conversions - or just one) and then click the EX icon on the viewer to invoke the EX opening dialog. It's in this dialog you set your choice of profile and format for output and you can select to have the display color managed via your monitor profile.

[SteveFredrick]

BJ, do you have the latest version of EX. When I installed my copy it created an icon on the desk top (windows). I can select one or a group of RAW files, drag and drop on the icon and batch conversions. It uses the conversion perameters I use for the 1st image of the set for all images.
All that and never go through that lame duck they call a brower.

[robinp]

I just tried converting an underexposed snapshot of a red rose (difficult colour) with RAW File Converter EX, Irfanview, Bibble and s7raw.
s7raw was the quickest to adjust, Bibble gave strange results no matter how long I tried but the Fuji RAW File Converter, although a pain to use definitely gave the best final pic.
Can anyone who has the option to use Photoshop CS and its plugin tell me if that is currently the best solution or should I just give up and let the camera make TIFFs for me to adjust easily in PaintShop Pro?

Cheers, Robin

[Rockyw]

Don't give up and shoot tiffs, tiffs are fine for some things but not if you need the best quality. If your shooting as a pro, shoot RAW and use the EX software to convert. I agree that CS has a better look and feel about it, but for quality EX is much better. I have compaired side by side conversions and EX has akways been the winner.

[jknights]

Robin,
No keep shooting the RAFs. Cant go wrong with RAFs only in your processing but you can try, try, try again. I have PS-CS and the latest ACR v2.1 it is certainly the best of the lot. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

If you want to email me (address in profile) and I will send you my phone number. Always good to talk !! for BT !

[robinp]

Such a nuisance that the plugin won't work with Elements.
Next week I'll ask my software man about getting an affordable copy of CS.
You're right about the RAFs - I can go back to them later and redo when I've got the software sorted, for now I should concentrate on mastering the camera. Thought the S2 would be easy after I'd spent time getting predictable results from the S1 but its a very different camera (not Fuji's fault but Nikon's!)

Cheers, Robin

[jknights]

IMHO
The S2 is sooooooo much better than the S1.
I bought the D1 in preference to the S1 even though the extra money grieved me. We will need to wait a while to see if the S3 is a similar imporvement.
I dont think it will be such a big step change.

[stevebri]

Robin, if you have Elements I think Cs is available as an upgrade for 200 quid or 200 dollars US.

Do a search here on this site to find it but I have a copy of either Elements of P/shop 5 or LE or something and when I put in the serial no on Adobe's site it said ok and I could upgrade for 200 dollars.


Steve

[stevebri]

Robin, if you have Elements I think Cs is available as an upgrade for 200 quid or 200 dollars US.

Do a search here on this site to find it but I have a copy of either Elements of P/shop 5 or LE or something and when I put in the serial no on Adobe's site it said ok and I could upgrade for 200 dollars.


Steve

[easternherp]

I have found that CS handles some files better than the Ex Converter but not all. It is a bit of a compromise. PS CS states that it doesn't sharpen the RAW file very much even when set to 100 as it expects the user to do more sharpening in PS.
I now tend to use CS as I was lucky enough to get a MAC copy. I find it slightly quicker than EX as you can update all your adjustments for each file and then do a batch conversion to whatever sizes you want. This has proved helpful when shooting wedding pics. I can spend half an hour updating the RAW file and then set the batch option to work away while I go and do something else.

[Gareth Lock]

You can upgrade from Elements to CS in the UK for £550. Or if you can find someone to act as a go-between and ship the software from the US/Canada you can get it for £185!! Adobe US will not ship directly to the UK.

Gareth

[robinp]

It would seem that, in the UK at least, Adobe is as guilty as Microsoft when it comes to pricing software - I'm sure they'd sell a lot more if it was affordable. Surely they must realise that most students who "need" PS for their coursework are using illegal copies.
I'm not trying to justify software theft but I believe the software industry have got themselves into just as much of a mess as the music industry over pricing versus the temptation to obtain the stuff illegally.

Cheers, Robin

[stevebri]

Spot on Robin,

I upgraded a 'free' version of Photoshop I received with a scanner (remember those). For 200 dollars, for just over 100 quid it wasn't worth using dodgy stuff at that price.

Also, I was in NYC recently and was buying music CD's for $12-$15, at that price you get the CD and the cover aand sleeve notes etc.. it isn't worth spending all night 'downloading'.

If the record industry and the software companies actually swallowed their pride and realised that to survive things had to be different 90% of us would buy retail.

They target students with a vengence but this just fans the flames, as students get older they STILL won't want to be ripped of by the boys with the suits, the qualifications and all the experience and understanding of life of a plant pot.

:soapbox:
Time I got off it...

Steve

[jknights]

Agree absolutely. Steve and Robin.

Also they wont let you buy from their online store unless you are a US resident with US creditcard and address. !!
It seems that they dont really want your money.