weirdness with RAW - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/23/2011 04:32:36 PM · #1

When I look at my raw images in bridge, they look completely different from when I open them in camera raw. Like they open in a completely different aperture. While they look rich in the thumbnail and review, when opened they somehow get transformed. Any thoughts, ideas?

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

10/23/2011 04:37:48 PM · #2

Originally posted by tanguera:

Well the aperture shouldn't look different unless it's an optical illusion based on contrast and color.

It sounds like you are in two different color spaces. RAW files themselves are not subject to color space, but the thumbnail preview is because it's a jpeg. It sounds like you might have Bridge set to show in ProPhoto RGB or Adobe RGB which would make the preview look different.

Dave

Message edited by author 2011-10-23 16:38:04.

yakatme

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

10/23/2011 06:01:47 PM · #3

Another possibility is that the picture control settings that you have your camera set to are intact with one program while the other program is showing the raw data without those settings. The settings that I am referring to are things like standard versus vivid, and the D-lighting settings....things that you control in the menu on your camera.

When I open the raw files from my D700 in Nikon Capture NX2, the settings that I had in the camera when I took the picture are in place in the raw file. I haven't tried it, but I'd bet that if I opened the same files with another program (CS5 is the only other program I have that can read the files from the D700) the raw images would look different.

edit to add: Okay, I did just that. I opened the same raw file in Nikon Capture NX2 as well as Photoshop CS5 and there is a huge difference. The file currently in CS5 is dull and appears to be lacking in vibrance, saturation, and contrast, while the file that was opened in NX2 with the settings of Vivid for picture control and 'high' for D-Lighting look a heck of a lot better. Those settings were set in the camera when I took the shot. I didn't change anything after opening these files on the computer in either program.

It appears that I am right in my assessment.

Message edited by author 2011-10-23 18:09:24.

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

10/23/2011 06:18:22 PM · #4

It sounds more like what Robert is saying. I'm using bridge to look at my unprocessed images. It's the default for when I use CS5. But if I'm opening it with the same program with which I'm viewing the raw files, why does it change so dramatically. How can I open the image in bridge and keep it looking the way it does in the thumbnail??? Do I have to use NX2 instead??

yakatme

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

10/23/2011 06:29:30 PM · #5

My guess is that the answer is yes. NX2 is Nikon's proprietary software that "understands" what is going on inside the D700. I would not be surprised if Photoshop which, in a way, is translating a "foreign" language and ignores the colorful and descriptive parts of the message can't figure it out or never intended to. Photoshop may only be interpreting the true raw data with none of the embellishments that you added in the camera.

It seems that the combination of the processing of the raw file in the Nikon camera and the ability of Nikon's NX2 to read that somewhat processed raw file is what is required to achieve the results that you are after and Photoshop isn't able to do this.

Message edited by author 2011-10-23 18:30:37.

PapaBob

Sony Alpha a7 IV

10/23/2011 07:02:33 PM · #6

Is lightroom doing an auto adjust, I just got lightroom and noticed it is set to auto adjust images. If I look at the sliders in develop they will already be moved and show adjustments the program has performed. Likely just a setting in lightroom but for the most part I like what it does so I have not looked to change the setting.

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED AL AF

10/24/2011 02:08:16 AM · #7

Thanks so much, Robert. I'll try opening my images in NX2 and see if that makes a difference.

I thought PS was ALL POWERFUL. Who knew???!!!!

alohadave

Pentax K-5

10/24/2011 11:08:17 AM · #8

Originally posted by tanguera:

Photoshop and Lightroom do not read the picture controls that you can set in the camera, so when the preview loads, you are seeing the JPEG that is embedded in the RAW file. The preview loads first, and when the RAW is rendered by PS/LR, it replaces the preview. If you want the preview and RAW to look the same, turn off all picture controls in your camera.

As a side note, the preview JPEG is what you see on the back of your camera, and it's what your histogram is rendered from.

yakatme

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

10/24/2011 12:01:41 PM · #9

Originally posted by alohadave:

As a side note, the preview JPEG is what you see on the back of your camera, and it's what your histogram is rendered from.

To confirm: is this preview JPEG the processed image with the picture controls or the JPEG rendering as if the picture controls were turned off? I am wondering, because I keep my D-lighting setting on high and only change for the rare image that benefits from not using it. Whether it is in place or not makes a big difference in the histogram so I am wondering which the LCD is showing.

Message edited by author 2011-10-24 12:01:56.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

10/24/2011 01:05:22 PM · #10

@ alohadave - I guess it's the same thing as "actions" for your camera? But I guess if I really like what I see on my LCD screen, it would save me a LOT of time trying to get that look through editing in RAW or PS, since I've already "captured" the "look" I want. It would be wonderful for Adobe to add a feature to PS that would import the settings from the camera :-)

For now, new editing software to learn...

FromDaRock

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/24/2011 07:11:03 PM · #11

You may also want to try going to the Camera Calibration tab in ACR and choose something other that Adobe Standard. Might get you closer to what you want within PS.