Camera meta data when opening RAW files

[Kenn]

I am a new user to Elements. I have Elements 7 and use a Canon 5D MK2. When I open RAW files in the Organizer they are in color yet I set my camera in monochrome and have other camera settings applied (white balance, color filters etc).
My question is how do I open a RAW file in the Organizer where my camera's meta data is applied to the image ex I set my camera to shoot in monochrome b/w (RAW) and so I see a b/w image on my camera LCD yet it is color in Photoshop?
Thanks,
Kenn

[Chuck S.]

Here's what I think may be going on, based on my experience with RAW images from a Panny LX3 using Dynamic B&W mode saved as RAW + JPEG and post-processed using Lightroom 2.3.



All RAW images are in full color, regardless of the picture mode selected.
The conversion to B&W is performed in camera, but to the JPEG image only.
The metadata captured and transferred to Elements contains full information on white balance selected, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. However, data on saturation, contrast, brightness, etc. is not passed on in the metadata.

Of course, you can convert the image to B&W - again! - using the various tools in PS, PSE, or Lightroom. Alternatively, you can use the JPEG captured in RAW + JPEG mode as your starting point for your B&W print; the JPEG will already be B&W and can be adjusted further for brightness, contrast, white point, black point, etc.

Hope that helps - and that it's correct for your 5D Mk II.

[Kenn]

Hi Chuck,
What you say makes sense...so I will eventually find the definitive answer on this but I think that your point about "However, data on saturation, contrast, brightness, etc. is not passed on in the metadata" is the key point and this makes sense to me. Of course I would love for this info to also be passed on.
Thanks for taking the time time to reply!
Kenn


Here's what I think may be going on, based on my experience with RAW images from a Panny LX3 using Dynamic B&W mode saved as RAW + JPEG and post-processed using Lightroom 2.3.



All RAW images are in full color, regardless of the picture mode selected.
The conversion to B&W is performed in camera, but to the JPEG image only.
The metadata captured and transferred to Elements contains full information on white balance selected, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. However, data on saturation, contrast, brightness, etc. is not passed on in the metadata.
Of course, you can convert the image to B&W - again! - using the various tools in PS, PSE, or Lightroom. Alternatively, you can use the JPEG captured in RAW + JPEG mode as your starting point for your B&W print; the JPEG will already be B&W and can be adjusted further for brightness, contrast, white point, black point, etc.

Hope that helps - and that it's correct for your 5D Mk II.

[ljameso1]

I think you can get some of the picture style presets from the adobe site to load into camera raw if that is your wish.

[Codebreaker]

What Chuck say's is correct. RAW images are precisely what the name implies - RAW data from the sensor (which just to confuse matters even more is mono-chrome: each pixel only records a Red, Green or Blue colour)

RAW processors such as Adobe ACR take this data and process this into a colour image. Any settings that would effect the processing of the data in the camera are not used.

However, the Raw image processors that come with the camera may use this additional data to get you a B&W image for example.

For Adobe Lightroom and ACR there are a number of Camera Profiles that will give you similar results to those profiles that are in some Cameras (Canon and Nikon) but they don't use the in camera settings to achieve them (I think). So things like Camera Faithful, Camera Landscape and so on.

Basically RAW is there for you to process rather than rely on a predetermined formula. Otherwise, in my opinion, there is not a big advantage in using it.

Colin