RAW + Jpeg

[cassiea]

I've been shooting in RAW + JPEG, so when I put the pictures onto my computer I get 2 files. This is probably a stupid question but, which file do I then upload onto photoshop organizer? Just the RAW (CR2) file or both? I have more questions, but I'll just start with this one.

Thanks!

[jjvera00]

You can open 1 or both. The CR2 will open up in Adobe Camera RAW as your Raw file. There you can make any adjustments that are needed. The once done, you click "Open Image" which will then open the file in PSE Editor. There you can do other adjustments as desired.

If you open the JPG file, then it will open directly into PSE. THe difference between the two is that you camera has already processed it into a JPG file while the RAW is still not.

[cassiea]

Thanks I love this site! You all get questions answered quickly.

Question #2. Say I use my RAW file and open in camera raw and do all the exposure/color adjustments needed. When I'm done and open the file into PSE should I have to do any different type of color adjustments there? Basically is there anything that should be done in PSE that is not in Camera Raw? I'm just speaking picture quality/color not effects like removing objects whiting teeth, removing blemishes etc.

I guess I also need to know is it better to shoot RAW? What is the benefit? You can point me to an article to read rather then explain it if it is easier!

[Sepiana]

Hi cassiea, welcome aboard!

The thread below may interest you. It discusses Raw vs. Jpeg.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15772

[cassiea]

Thanks for that link. It defiantly helped. I think I will keep playing around with RAW. But can somebody now answer this part of my question?

Question #2. Say I use my RAW file and open in camera raw and do all the exposure/color adjustments needed. When I'm done and open the file into PSE should I have to do any different type of color adjustments there? Basically is there anything that should be done in PSE that is not in Camera Raw? I'm just speaking picture quality/color not effects like removing objects whiting teeth, removing blemishes etc.

[ljameso1]

I usually add a levels adjustment layer. Also, if there is something I want to brighten I will selectively brighten as raw adjustments are global(can't mask in camera raw).

[jjvera00]

Cassiea

Are you a subscriber to the PET Newsletter? In the subscribers area there was a video by Matt K. who does a "double RAW" processing to a photo. He does work first on the foreground to make it look good. Then opens the photo in the PSE Editor, saves it as a PSD file. Then reopens the photo in RAW and does correction to sky. Then sends it back to the PSE editor and combines the two photos together. So, he brings the two worlds together.

Here is a link to the PET Newsletter (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/) if you have not subscribed yet. If you have, you can see the video in the videos area and it is dated 05/04/09.

NOTE: While watching the video, Matt said something very noteful. He mentioned that RAW is good for making global changes to a photo, while the Editor is good for selective changes.

[cassiea]

I'll look into that thanks! I guess I'm worried about doing the same thing twice. I'm going through the book "PSE7 for Digital Photographers" which is helping tons. But I'm noticing you can do the same things in Camera Raw and in the editor. I'm learning (I hope) which it better to do first!

I like the quote: RAW is good for making global changes to a photo, while the Editor is good for selective changes.

That makes since!

[Codebreaker]

Cassiea.....

There is really nothing extra you can do in the Elements Editor to 'process' your images that you can't do in the ACR window. With the exception of selective processing.

It is advisable to do as much processing as possible in ACR for at least two reasons:-

1. The order in which you do the adjustments is unimportant unlike the Editor. Processing changes in ACR are applied to the image simultanesouly (ok, you do them one at a time but overall what you see is as if they were applied in parallel)

With the Editor processing adjustments can have accummulative effects which means that one step can effect the previous,so you need to go back and tweak that one.

2. The processing adjustments in ACR do not effect the Levels - you still finish up with the same number you started with. If you make adjustments in the Editor - e.g Levels, then a number of your Levels will be removed. this can produce banding effects in your final image.

An additional point to note is that you can exit ACR with a 16 bit image and while Elements is limited in what it can do with these images, further processing steps e.g. Levels will not be as detrimental to your image quality compared to working with an 8 Bit image.

Colin