Someone sent me a RAW file and I can't open it

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

02/20/2011 04:18:04 PM · #1

My best friend who recently moved across the country took some photos of her baby and wanted me to edit them for her. I had her take them in RAW and send them to me through yousendit.com. I imported the files onto my computer, but for some reason I am unable to open them on my computer.

I am not really sure why this is happening since we have the same brand and make of camera and I import and veiw CR files in photoshop all the time. Is there something I am doing wrong? I have some free time today and really wanted to start working on them.

Here is what I have tried so far. I have them saved in a file in my picture folder I tried opening them directly into photoshops editor and it gives me this message: cannot open file O22.CR2 because it is the wrong type of file.

I also tried importing them into photoshops organizing bin and got this message: this file does not contain any supported file types.

Scapeshots

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/20/2011 04:19:44 PM · #2

Have you tried Digital Photo Pro yet? That is the default software Canon sends out with the cameras typically. If that can't open it, the file must be corrupt...

02/20/2011 04:23:31 PM · #3

Originally posted by wizardry:

Have you tried Digital Photo Pro yet? That is the default software Canon sends out with the cameras typically. If that can't open it, the file must be corrupt...

I am uploading the software now, I never use it because its just easier to use photoshops RAW converter. Hopefully that will work.

02/20/2011 04:29:03 PM · #4

It's possible the file was corrupted along the way. Perhaps the entire file did not get sent. I have had instances before where an upload to yousendit was incomplete, but the partial file was delivered. How big is the file?

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

02/20/2011 04:37:13 PM · #5

The file was around 20-21 MB. I saved the file directly to a sub folder in my picture folder. Did I do something wrong there?

I just tried opening it in the Canon software and no luck.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

02/20/2011 04:43:47 PM · #6

is that about the size of your RAW files? Mine are about 24 MB from the 7D.

I'd guess that the file is corrupt if you both have the same type of camera and the canon software doesn't open it.

Two questions:

Can she successfully open the RAW file (before it was sent)? Just making sure that the original wasn't damaged.

Is it possible that she is using the RAW-small option? I never was successfully able to open those.

02/20/2011 04:55:03 PM · #7

My files are usually around 28MB So those do seem to be a bit small. I can't get a hold of her, but I am assuming she was able to veiw them since she took around 200 photos and only sent me the best 5. I may have to just have her send me the files JPEG and open them up in photoshops RAW converter, it's not quite as good as having the RAW file but it will work.

02/20/2011 04:58:22 PM · #8

Why don't you give us the link to the file on yousendit and see if someone else can open it?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/20/2011 05:01:38 PM · #9

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Why don't you give us the link to the file on yousendit and see if someone else can open it?

Thanks I will PM you the link.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

02/20/2011 05:06:07 PM · #10

Originally posted by sjhuls:

I may have to just have her send me the files JPEG and open them up in photoshops RAW converter, it's not quite as good as having the RAW file but it will work.

If she can edit the raw files at all, maybe if she can safe them as TIFF format, it will be higher quality for subsequent editing.

Message edited by author 2011-02-20 17:06:45.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

02/20/2011 05:10:04 PM · #11

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Originally posted by sjhuls:
I may have to just have her send me the files JPEG and open them up in photoshops RAW converter, it's not quite as good as having the RAW file but it will work.

If she can edit the raw files at all, maybe if she can safe them as TIFF format, it will be higher quality for subsequent editing.

Good idea, I've got a couple people looking at the link so hopefully I can get this to work. If not then I will have her convert them to TIFF and send them.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

02/20/2011 05:14:14 PM · #12

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Why stop at TIFF lol PNG too and it works in browsers for direct distribution.

Either way if the files are not damaged, the latest DNG converter should allow you to at least get it into a format you can open in most editors. I use this to get around having to upgrade photoshop since they don't support newer cameras after a certain point. Plenty of open source converters out there but in comparison with the manufacturers settings the out of the box image wont look as nice.

Message edited by author 2011-02-20 17:14:55.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

02/20/2011 05:21:57 PM · #13

Downloaded the link she sent me. The file shows up as a thumbnail on my desktop and opens just fine using Canon DPP. PaintShop Pro does not open it correctly, however, and makes a mess of it.

Message edited by author 2011-02-20 17:22:18.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

02/20/2011 05:24:56 PM · #14

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Downloaded the link she sent me. The file shows up as a thumbnail on my desktop and opens just fine using Canon DPP. PaintShop Pro does not open it correctly, however, and makes a mess of it.

whoa... funky! Maybe you have a newer version of DPP than Jenn?

02/20/2011 05:30:42 PM · #15

Originally posted by vawendy:

whoa... funky! Maybe you have a newer version of DPP than Jenn?

If she installed from the disk, then I am certainly using a newer version, but the version that came with the camera should be able to open it. I thought she was trying it with PhotoShop, however.

02/20/2011 05:35:32 PM · #16

Good news just updated my software and it fixed the problem. Thanks everyone for your help. I love this site!!!!