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03/22/2005 07:52:22 PM · #1 |
I've been recommending this to everyone I've e-mailed all day.
Go here and download it - it's free - and discover the world of shooting and working in RAW (obviously this is for those who don't already).
Actually, I think it's for everyone - the workflow model used is fabulously efficient, sensible, practical. I just cannot recommend it highly enough, and it has changed the way I shall process my photographs for ever (oh, and cost me £xx in CF cards, no doubt).
I'd be really interested to know what anyone who has a fixed process already thinks about it - I'm new to the idea of RAW, or rather the practice of it I should say, and so have no comparison; but this is the first time I've seen a process that really makes practical useable sense to me, and actually makes the whole thing function in a more organised way.
Here's the first finshed product ... 640xwhatever just can't show the detail I'm afraid.
E
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03/22/2005 07:59:40 PM · #2 |
I downloaded it last night but have not had a chance to try it yet. ti looks pretty intuitive so we'll see. And I just spent $100 on Nikon Capture 4 to do RAW! Darn. So far Nikon Capture seems a bit less intuitive. I'll try and remeber to post my opinion here at a lter date after trying both on a few photos.
BTW - great job on the cityscape. Very dramatic.
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03/22/2005 08:04:12 PM · #3 |
| The manual pdf, or whatever they call it, is really worth the read if you're new to the idea, as I was - recommends a workflow, has some useful things to say about camera settings, properly explains the thinking behind the product, and is probably invaluable if you're going to get the most out of it. |
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03/22/2005 08:06:15 PM · #4 |
| I downloaded it and played around with it a bit. For a free tool, its definitely nice. Is the sharpening function disabled in this version? |
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03/22/2005 08:08:10 PM · #5 |
I downloaded and installed it last week, and ran it for aa while. I probably am so used to Adobe Camera Raw that RSE just didn't seem to offer advantages.
From what I've read on performance, RSE is pretty good, certainly an alternative to CS or Elements 3. For those who use older version of PS, or other editing programs that do not support RAW natively, RSE seems like a very nice tool.
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03/22/2005 08:08:50 PM · #6 |
No, sharpening and detail extraction are both active - there's no impression of anything being restricted at all - no file limitations, no batch processing limitations, no unsupported RAW formats that it lets you know about.
What did you make of it John? My first impressions are that sharpening might be noisy - though the noise and colour noise suppression seems accurate and powerful.
E |
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03/22/2005 08:20:50 PM · #7 |
| I have tried quite a few RAW converters; PhaseOne, Nikon NEFLauncher, UFRaw, Bibble and recently RAWShooter Essentials, and I like the Essentials the best although it has the same problem -if it is indeed a problem, that is- as do the others except Nikon's converter. They change the picture size! D70 images are supposed to be 3008x2000 pixels, but once converted by any of these converters but Nikon's, the picture gets a little bit bigger; e.g. Essentials produces 3036x2010 pixel TIFs. I suspect this is probably OK and I should not obsess about it, but it still kinda bothers me, because I'm obsessive about stupid little things like that. Nevertheless, as I said before, I like the Essentials a lot better than the other converters, and believe that I'll be using it regularly if I can get over that obsession about the picture size. |
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03/22/2005 08:24:07 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by e301:
No, sharpening and detail extraction are both active - there's no impression of anything being restricted at all - no file limitations, no batch processing limitations, no unsupported RAW formats that it lets you know about.
What did you make of it John? My first impressions are that sharpening might be noisy - though the noise and colour noise suppression seems accurate and powerful.
E |
I like the interface but the sharpen option (and those below it) were grayed out. I have been using Capture One for quite a while now and I'm very used to my workflow in that program. |
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03/22/2005 09:25:54 PM · #9 |
| Because I'm using a slow work computer, I can't download it now, so could anybody tell me if this Rawshooter supports the Pentax RAW files (PEF)? |
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03/22/2005 09:34:59 PM · #10 |
I played around with it a bit, but found a lot of bugs in the output results. It looks to have potential but needs some work. Particularly, for areas that are clipped in one colour space, it doesn't saturate intelligently, and just rolls over in to a random colour.
Message edited by author 2005-03-22 21:35:57.
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03/22/2005 10:07:07 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by e301:
...download it - it's free... |
From what I see, it's a trial version, not free software. I'll have another look though, in case I missed something...
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03/22/2005 10:36:19 PM · #12 |
I've been playing around with this since it was released. The latest version is an improvement in a number of areas. Perhaps it's lack of support for my camera, but it does a horrible job with long exposures (many 10s of seconds or more). Bibble is worse with with these long exposures, whereas ACR works correctly. Ditto on the the clipping issues that Gordon mentioned in RSE. I recall that Bibble doesn't handle it very well either.
I had someone who doesn't really care about all this crap use Bibble for about 1000 images by providing them with a workflow to generate web and print output. After that, I asked them to try RSE. When they found that there was no ability to crop in RSE, they refused to use it. Bibble provides a fairly complete solution (too bad about their stupid lack of sort in the file browser/tree view) for casual/advanced users without having to add an extra editing program into the workflow.
I think RSE has a (much, much) more streamlined workflow, but lacks functionality which would make it ideal. Editing 1000 shots and then having to open them up for cropping elsewhere is a major pain in the ass. If you're going to be opening up PS anyway for some basic editing, ACR gets the job done nicely (albeit slower).
For colour critical work, ACR (and C1 they say) is da bomb.
John: the lower right settings group in RSE is greyed out (but still usable) when an image is not viewed at 100%. This is probably due to the fact that the RSE folks recognize these items are best done at 100%.
Message edited by author 2005-03-22 22:38:29. |
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03/22/2005 11:34:59 PM · #13 |
For comparison, here are 100% crops of the same RAW file for each of ACR, Bibble, and RSE (in that order). This is a 300s (5 minute) exposure.
All images processed with WB taken on the gray square above (out of frame) the one in the upper left. Sharpening turned off, everything at default, and color noise reduction turned off in ACR.
Both Bibble and RSE have custom camera profiles applied automatically, so I took the liberty of applying custom calibration in ACR.
Everything converted to sRGB and saved as JPEG, except RSE which was saved as TIFF, then cropped in PS and saved as JPEG.
Color squares in TBLR order (GM names): neutral 6.5, neutral 5, neutral 3.5, red, yellow, magenta, moderate red, purple, yellow green.
 ACR
 Bibble  Bibble 4.2.2
 RSE  RSE 1.1.1
Message edited by author 2005-04-10 03:28:32. |
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03/23/2005 04:39:27 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by e301:
...download it - it's free... |
From what I see, it's a trial version, not free software. I'll have another look though, in case I missed something... |
Yeah, it says that, but what you get appears to be time-unlimited.
Message edited by author 2005-03-23 04:39:37. |
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03/23/2005 04:48:02 AM · #15 |
David, you can automate the process of opening up your processed images into your editor: in my case, once the image is through the batch processing, it opens in PSP - for cropping, deformation, perspective or lens correction, selective editing &c; if I have PSP up and running, this just becomes the last part of the workflow.
I haven't yet run into other issues with it - but haven't put long exposures through it, and haven't had anything with clipped colours.
E |
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03/23/2005 08:38:41 AM · #16 |
| this is the best free raw converter I have encountered, for anyone who wants a quality conversion without spending money. It has a pretty good interface which I found a little confusing at first. I keep looking for for a "convert button", and there is none. After making your adjustments, and there are many options, you have to go to batch (even if your batch is only one photo) and press "add" in order for the program to "convert",which makes the raw file & a new folder, or open in another program. I think it is much better for converting raw than InfanView, which is another free one. I am keeping RawShooter, it does a good job, has lots of features, may not be as fast as photoshop cs, but is useful. |
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03/23/2005 09:15:05 AM · #17 |
| I am trying out RSE and so far I really, really like it; however, I am having difficulty saving my edited images as tiff or jpg files. I must be doing something wrong or else it takes a year to convert. When it asks what program I want to use for my images, I highlight PSP8, but it won't let me click on okay. Is it because it is doing the conversion and I should be patient or ? |
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03/23/2005 10:44:44 AM · #18 |
| I've just had a few minutes playing around with it and I'm very impressed with the results so far ... it seems to produce a much better conversion than the native Pentax converter. But it's so late - I should be in bed. |
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03/23/2005 11:07:15 AM · #19 |
I cant find it can be used in mac and if I am right, since it is not made for mac I second it is good, most professional work in mac !
icerock
Originally posted by e301:
I've been recommending this to everyone I've e-mailed all day.
Go here and download it - it's free - and discover the world of shooting and working in RAW (obviously this is for those who don't already).
Actually, I think it's for everyone - the workflow model used is fabulously efficient, sensible, practical. I just cannot recommend it highly enough, and it has changed the way I shall process my photographs for ever (oh, and cost me £xx in CF cards, no doubt).
I'd be really interested to know what anyone who has a fixed process already thinks about it - I'm new to the idea of RAW, or rather the practice of it I should say, and so have no comparison; but this is the first time I've seen a process that really makes practical useable sense to me, and actually makes the whole thing function in a more organised way.
Here's the first finshed product ... 640xwhatever just can't show the detail I'm afraid.
E
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03/23/2005 01:53:04 PM · #20 |
You do have to give a name and e-mail addy to get a link for the download, but I think it really is a freebie. Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I received today announcing v1.1.1.
"Is it really for FREE?
The most commonly asked question we receive at Pixmantec concerns our strategy for a FREE product, after all nothing ever comes for FREE, does it? Well, yes it does. RawShooter essentials 2005 will be FREE forever more. There are no hidden catches and no expiry date; it is quite simply a superb FREE gift to the digital photographer community from one of the most exciting and innovative teams in the world of digital imaging. We understand that some users have been given the impression that the product is only FREE for a trial period, as eluded to by the messaging received during product download. However, we can categorically state that Rawshooter essentials 2005 will be FREE for ever and that messages received to the contrary are merely a function of the services of our e-commerce partner."
They plan to launch a "retail product" later this year. Another excerpt:
"RawShooter - the next generation
This year we will be releasing a second RAW workflow product designed to build on the strengths of the FREE software by offering exciting new functionality and advancements for the RAW workflow. This retail product will be priced at a very competitive rate ... "
The new version incorporates support for some additional cameras including the new Rebel XT. There is a ReadMe file which lists several enhancements and bug fixes, but when I downloaded it, v1.1.1 is exactly the same file size as v1.1.0. - 6,832,128 bytes. Some coincidence.
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03/23/2005 02:22:16 PM · #21 |
I just want to know how to open a RAW image in PS CS.
A "For Dummies" blow by blow explanation. I'm not new to PS or computers and can figure out, almost any program(on the planet)but on occasion simple things like this seem to elude me.
I was able to download a RAW image to the Nikon free software(not Capture)but PS won't recognize the file, anyway I try. Whassup wit dat? |
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03/23/2005 02:32:41 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by e301:
Here's the first finshed product ... 640xwhatever just can't show the detail I'm afraid.
E
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e301,
Considering that it's not two RAW develops blended, this seems an even more impressive shot. Thanks for the tip on the software, tried it out quickly this morning when I got in, it seems pretty fast and powerful.
BTW, you mention that the camera contrast was set to low. I'm not sure that this actually affects the RAW file itself (the data from the sensor is recorded directly with no manipulation, other than lossless compression), but impacts upon any "as shot" settings in the RAW converter.
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03/23/2005 02:42:04 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
I just want to know how to open a RAW image in PS CS.
A "For Dummies" blow by blow explanation. I'm not new to PS or computers and can figure out, almost any program(on the planet)but on occasion simple things like this seem to elude me.
I was able to download a RAW image to the Nikon free software(not Capture)but PS won't recognize the file, anyway I try. Whassup wit dat? |
Download the Adobe RAW plugin and move it to the right folder (Photoshop CS/Plug-Ins/File Formats). Also, there will be 2 Nikon files (I think) in there now - remove them. |
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03/23/2005 02:57:40 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by xion:
Download the Adobe RAW plugin and move it to the right folder (Photoshop CS/Plug-Ins/File Formats). Also, there will be 2 Nikon files (I think) in there now - remove them. |
Awesome. Will give a try when I get home. I'm taking some set-up food style shots for practice tonight, so this might the perfect opportunity to go RAW. |
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03/23/2005 04:43:46 PM · #25 |
| FYI - there is a new release of RAWshooter available, that supports the 350D and the Athlon processor family, as well as a load of other bug fixes and new camera support. (V1.1.1) |
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