Show me the benefits of RAW (with sample file)

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by wulf

It should be a .nef file. One of the complications will be that RAW formats are often quite camera specific.

I know that editing is quite subjective. What I'm interested in is whether any of the suggested edits offer an appreciable advance on what I can get from the JPEG version. For example, I think RLucas's version is too oversaturated for my tastes but I reckon I could replicate that if I wanted (and I appreciate him taking the time to show how he would work it). However, he does seem to have a bit more detail round the headlight area.

Another thing that is potentially interesting is to see the range of results that can be drawn out from the "digital negative".

Wulf

Wow! It is oversaturated! I am at work right now, on a different monitor. It may be that I had to resize it to post on here? I don't know.

I don't know, but most raw converters should open NEF files. I used Capture NX2 on this, but I also use UFRAW, and Gimp quite regularly. I have always been able to open them just fine with those as well.

Good luck with the research. I am interested as well.
Luke

[carl yeomans]

I will have a stab at this. Ive shot raw from day one. I also did the same adjustments to the jpeg and got some noise in the shadow detail, so here is my take on your raw file.
Adjustments in PS:

White/B
bumped up midtone contrast
bumped up shadow contrast
bumped up highlight contrast
slight desat after bumping up the contrasts
simple smart sharpen

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by wulf

It should be a .nef file. One of the complications will be that RAW formats are often quite camera specific.



Wulf

When I right click on the link and open the save as window it wants to save as "old_beetle.20090824.tif" I have several Nikon cameras and work with raw on my computer all the time so this seems rather strange.

old_beetle.20090824.tif

[Sterling]

I just tried it using Firefox and IE8 and both downloaded the .nef file correctly.

[fletch]

Here is my edit:



Very simple, I did it in Lightroom but it works in any RAW editor worth its salt.

Touch of fill light to bring out the shadow detail and raise the black point to avoid the flat washed out look.
Some clarity added (Large radius sharpening for non adobe folks)
Negative saturation of blues and aquas
Positive saturation of greens and yellows
Sharpening
Vignette

Done - I love raw and Lightroom so much

[wulf]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

When I right click on the link and open the save as window it wants to save as "old_beetle.20090824.tif" I have several Nikon cameras and work with raw on my computer all the time so this seems rather strange.

old_beetle.20090824.tif

That is very odd - the file is definitely stored on my webserver as .nef. Maybe your browser is trying (and failing ) to be clever? Have you tried renaming the extension from .tif to .nef?

Wulf

[deepspring]

Here is my attempt using Nikon Capture NX 2 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 3.0.



Work carried out on this photo:

• Camera Settings > White Balance = Daylight (Direct Sunlight), Picture Control = Vivid
• Quick Fix > Slight "S" Curve (added contrast), Exposure Compensation = -0.32, Shadow Protection = 15, Highlight Protection = 15, Saturation = 18
• High Pass > Radius = 4.37 px, Opacity = Luminance & Chrominance, Blending Mode = Overlay, Opacity (Luminance Channel) = 100%, Opacity (Chrominance Channel) = 100%
• Color Efex Pro 3.0 > Polarization: Rotate = 17 degrees, Strength = 100%

Edit: I should point out that Camera Settings is only available when working with NEF files.

[FizzixIsFun]

I had a go to try to see if I could pull the detail out of the shadows - especially under the wheel arches.



All I did was -
auto levels
lighten shadows 75%
midtone contrast +30%
Saturation +10

I could have done more but I didn't want to overwork it. I tried to do the same with the raw file and I managed to do it fine - possibly better.

Fill light 65
blacks 50
vibrance +10

I don't know how to put the resulting image on here though

[robbiemckay]

• I have created two conversions from RAW to JPG using presets that I developed in Lightroom for quick development. The picture you presented is fairly well within the dynamic limits of your camera and should look well in jpg or raw. When I pulled your RAW file into LR the histogram was fairly decent with only some specular hightlights being blown. If you were going to make an HDR adaptation of the shot then I think RAW would be the way to go. If you just wanted a decent shot then either is good.

• Closr.it - old_beetle.20090824.jpg by mithrandir

• Closr.it - old_beetle.20090824-2.jpg by mithrandir

[robbiemckay]

Where RAW really shines is in allowing you to create an HDR file from one shot using the extra dynamic range that is saved but usually not converted to a jpg.

Closr.it - old_beetle.20090824hdr.jpg by mithrandir

I think this version has much wider dynamic range (much as your eyes saw) and yet still looks realistic.