Help Processing Raw (CR2 files)

[redsel]

Please help. (Software)

Situation:
I have Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel). I am still in entry level but I want to step up my game since I also wanted to learn post processing. I recently went to China and HongKong (Disneyland) and so tried shooting in RAW. I have a few images which I think would help me learn better if I upload it here and ask for critiques... but I encountered a problem.

Problem:
The file is .cr2. My CS4, Bridge, or any other post processing applications (on windows) do not support cr2 files. I tried many forums, all failed. So far the only application that works is Canon's DPP, which is included in the package. The app can view, edit, and also convert but there are no tutorials out there. I am still a little bit doubting about converting (jpg or tiff) since I don't know which would turn out better (other forums confuse me).

Is it preferred to convert to tiff or jpg? The program (canon's) has options to (1)exif-jpeg, (2)exif-tiff 8-bit, (3)tiff 16-bit, (4)exif-tiff 8-bit and exif-jpeg, (5)tiff 16-bit and exif-jpeg.
And if possible please explain these options to me...

...i read someone is also having this kind of problem... but i think we don't have the same problem...

[Rentham]

Did you have your PS check for updates to make sure you have the latest version of Camera Raw? You can use the Adobe DNG Converter to turn your .cr2 to .dng files. Photoshop CS4 should be able to open those. Adobe Lightroom can also do that conversion natively if that's easier for your workfliow.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Did you have your PS check for updates to make sure you have the latest version of Camera Raw?

There's your problem. CS4 should open 1000D files with no problem as long as you update the ACR plugin

[redsel]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

There's your problem. CS4 should open 1000D files with no problem as long as you update the ACR plugin

Originally Posted by Rentham

Did you have your PS check for updates to make sure you have the latest version of Camera Raw?

I tried updating everything. From the application itself (failed), to manual downloads- both automatic setup (failed) and manual configuration (the download then copy-paste to folders method... failed). And that's my problem...

Originally Posted by Rentham

You can use the Adobe DNG Converter to turn your .cr2 to .dng files.

I tried this just now. Thanks for this!

So... another question. In the "preferences part"... what will "embed original raw file" do exactly? It says "Embeds the entire non-DNG raw file inside the DNG file. This creates a larger DNG file, but it allows the original raw file to be extracted later if needed."

Will it be more beneficial if i embed or not?


...and... is 1100D = 1000D?