new DSLR user needing help... :)

[Stepfanie]

Hi, I just bought the Nikon D3100 last week and have been playing around with the settings. Yesterday, I took about 120 shots in RAW format... when I saved them on my computer, they saved as NEF files and none of my programs will open them. I've read how to convert the files in photoshop to jpeg files but when I go to open them in photoshop, it tells me the file format is not supported. What can I do to remedy this? Do I need a specific program or....? Please help!!
TIA

[Gulf Coast Girl]

Originally Posted by Stepfanie

Hi, I just bought the Nikon D3100 last week and have been playing around with the settings. Yesterday, I took about 120 shots in RAW format... when I saved them on my computer, they saved as NEF files and none of my programs will open them. I've read how to convert the files in photoshop to jpeg files but when I go to open them in photoshop, it tells me the file format is not supported. What can I do to remedy this? Do I need a specific program or....? Please help!!
TIA

What version of Photoshop do you have? I use CS5 and it has Camera Raw and recognizes NEF.

Anyhow, you should have received the Nikon software called ViewNX with your camera (if not you can probably download it for free since it comes with their camera). This is the Nikon software that transfers images from your camera to your computer, did you get this? If so, install it. When you use that software you can click on an image or multiple images and on top of the screen there is a button that says CONVERT FILES. Click on that and it will let you convert your images to JPEG or TIFF. Of course you lose the ability to edit the RAW images .... but at least you can open your images.

Hope that helps

EDIT TO CORRECT ABOVE: Nikon Transfer is the software that transfers the images and when they are done transferring, ViewNX is the Nikon Software to view the images. I checked the Nikon site and ViewNX is a FREE download so if you didn't get it with your camera you can download it here: http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Produc...NX/ViewNX.html

[Stepfanie]

Thanks!! I've been out of town for the week so I haven't even had the time to put that on my computer yet... I did figure it out in photoshop though. I didn't have the updated version that supported RAW so I just had to update and the photos are converting as we speak... or as I type....... anyway, thanks for the help!!