Raw disappointment

[Arjay12345]

Hi

So I've just started shooting in Raw with my 50D and am using DNG 5.5 to convert so I can open in CS2, but am not convinced I like the output. When I compare my shots against the jpg versions, they do have more detail, but they carry so much more noise; the jpg's are much more smoother and uniform. I'm sure this is down to the processing into jpg by the camera.

What do I do if I want to use the (holy grail) Raw versions? Have tried different filters on the raw but nothing comes close to the jpg.

Oh, can't remember what ISO the shots are at as I was shooting predominately in P mode, and the shots are all in an indoor hall with no natural light. But if ISO is the issue, wouldn't it also affect the jpg's?
Thanks

[Sime]

I'm just taking a stab in the dark here... But you know that RAW shots don't have any in camera sharpening / adjustment done, and that you need to apply that, to your taste, afterwards?

If you would like - Post the two shots you're talking about in this thread with the exif for peeps to help you out?

Sime

[fletch]

I'm not sure if CS2 can support this but Adobe's answer to this issue is camera profiles. They are develop settings that and camera calibrations that are automatically applied on import to mimic the look of in camera JPEGs. They may even work as part of the DNG converter. If not can you create develop presents in CS2 and apply them as a starting point? (I use Lightroom2 so I'm not 100% on how CS2's ACR works)

Failing that if you use Canon's DPP software to develop your RAWs that should exactly mimic the in camera JPEGs, output as 16 bit TIFF to edit in CS2 without any of the JPEG loss you get by converting in camera. Canon has different noise reduction algorithums to Adobe and this will remove that difference.

[Arjay12345]

Thanks for the feedback.

I get that raw really does mean raw with no adjustment at all; problem is I'm not sure where to start to get the pic looking smooth jpg'esque. I'll post two versions of a pic later - good idea.

Re the develop settings: are they a pre-defined plugin (i.e. I download a 50D version) or do i still need to create myself from scratch (which would still lead to the original problem).

I did use DPP, but then I can only save as a TIFF which others have then said adds processing taking away the raw'ness..

Am I just not getting the point of RAW?! If I like the jpg version, am I really losing out?

(P.S. Latest CS2 version on ACR doesn't work for 50D raws..)

[Sime]

I'd honestly have a go at downloading the Adobe Lightroom demo and trying it... Works brilliant, tags, keywords, developing, exporting... All great!

Download the demo here - > Adobe - Photo Management Software - Photoshop Lightroom

[fletch]

Originally Posted by Sime™

I'd honestly have a go at downloading the Adobe Lightroom demo and trying it... Works brilliant, tags, keywords, developing, exporting... All great!

Seconded!

If you don't want to spend that much and just want to use the version of ACR that comes with CS2 just download the DNG converter from Adobe. Then you can convert your CR2 files to DNG and develop in CS2.

On the DDP issue you don't loose anything if you develop the RAW in DPP and save as a TIFF. You still have all of the 16bit goodness that you would loose if you shot JPEG and although the data isn't RAW you have benefitted from the RAW in the DPP process. The only issue is that it is a destructive workflow. However if CS2 doesn't have smart objects then there really is no difference to using DPP over ACR at all, you just need to use TIFF not PSD files (which are the same thing anyway).

Its only when you get to Lightroom/CS3/CS4 you can benefit from all of the Adobe joined-up-ness.

Edit - Looks like CS2 does have smart objects - Use the DNG converter.

[Arjay12345]

Originally Posted by Sime™

If you would like - Post the two shots you're talking about in this thread with the exif for peeps to help you out?

Sime

How do I post the DNG and the equivalent JPG so people can help me understand how to polish the DNG? The files are obviously big and way past the limits of the upload functionality.

Note, I'm not trying to merely recreate the JPG; there's aspects of the JPG I like (such as smoothness (or lack of grain)) that I want to apply to the DNG version but can only get so close. There are definitely parts of the DNG (such as brightness, vividness, depth, etc) that I like in the DNG that I would like to keep.

Arjay

[Sime]

Post your jpg here, then email me the .dng and I'll host it on dPS and link it... that way, with your permission, people can download the dng - have a shot at editing it and repost it to this thread for you to see. That could be interesting?

simon@gtvone.com

[Satirist]

Arjay12345, I'm at the same frustration level. I cannot seem to PP my raw images to be as sharp and noiseless as the camera can process the .jpg. I've been working in Raw for several months and using Canon Digital Photo Profesional, and Corel PSP Photo X2. I've tried several other photo editors including Gimp but I am to the point of giving up and going back to JPG.