Converting Raw Photos To Fine Jpeg?

[greensa14]

Hi all,

I am a beginner photographer. I shot some pics in RAW and when loading them onto my PC (using Microsoft Office Picture Manager) the pics can only be viewed very small.

If i change them to jpeg it does nothing.

Can anyone help me. I am not at the level of manipulating RAW pics yet was just playing around. There are a few thjat i love and want to edit.

Also what beginner programs can i use to view and edit photos?

thanks guys.

[FST513]

Hi all,

I am a beginner photographer. I shot some pics in RAW and when loading them onto my PC (using Microsoft Office Picture Manager) the pics can only be viewed very small.

If i change them to jpeg it does nothing.

Can anyone help me. I am not at the level of manipulating RAW pics yet was just playing around. There are a few thjat i love and want to edit.

Also what beginner programs can i use to view and edit photos?

thanks guys.

Hey mate,

RAW Files can't be handled by Microsoft office picture manager. They only show a preview (AFAIK). You will need either a RAW convertor like Adobe DNG convertor or install photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw (depending on which photoshop you get will depend on what version of adobe camera raw you will be able to download. Camera Raw 4.6 will handle in CS3 but a newer version you will need cs4).

Otherwise you can get Lightroom, this will handle RAW files with large previews and options to edit the file also, or adobe bridge.

[GoldZilla]

As Kory has said, you'll need something like Adobe's Camera RAW (in Photoshop), Lightroom or Bridge.

Can anyone help me. I am not at the level of manipulating RAW pics yet was just playing around. There are a few thjat i love and want to edit.

Also what beginner programs can i use to view and edit photos?

thanks guys.

You might actually find that you'll get better results editing your RAW files instead of .jpegs, and when you edit a .raw file the editing data is saved in a separate file, instead of as an amendment to the original .raw file. That means you'll always have the original available to you.

[greensa14]

Cool thanks guys. I actually downloaded a trial version of Lighroom. I am still a bit of novice with PP software. This is suitable for me only wanting to do simple PP of my shots yea?

[FST513]

Lightroom can do everything that photoshop can do basically. They run off the same engine of Adobe Camera Raw. It's just more simplified in Lightroom. E.g. Adjustment brush = layer mask pretty much but you control it with sliders etc... Have a play around!

Even just slight editing in Lightroom will make your photos look tonnes better! I suggest shooting in RAW once you have got the hang of shooting in JPEG and the controls of your camera etc.. then start shooting in RAW. The only problem is file sizes are a lot bigger than JPEG. There are so many more advantages to shooting in RAW than JPEG as long as you can accomodate PP and file sizes.

Random fact: 95% of pro sports photographers shoot in JPEG for ease of file use and sending to there editors.