RAW to JPG after conversion issue / problem?

[cheewooi]

Guys,
I don't know if you all encounter this. I shoot RAW full time. There's a problem still keep popping out even thou I been asking around, but I can't get a solution to that.

Here's the case:
When I open RAW using Lightroom and Photoshop CS2, the color of RAW seems flat or over saturated when i shoot in tungsten condition..it doesn't look like what I see in my camera LCD.

Then when I edit it, I adjusted the level, saturation, color setting...bla bla until it satisfy my eye... then I convert to JPG, the color doesn't look like what I see when I edit in RAW.

Color in JPG seems desaturated.

Any idea how the color works? As far as I know, Lightroom use ProPhoto RGB. My camera I shoot in SRGB.......

[astroboy]

Sounds like a "workflow" problem. Here's what I do:

1. Shoot in RAW. Use camera LCD only to check for sharpness + blow-outs (overexposure). I don't care about the colours, saturation etc.

2. When converting RAW to Jpegs (I use CS2), then only I apply WB (colour temp), saturation etc... "to bring back the colours" so to speak.

Pls note, RAW files when converted to Jpeg always look "flat". You are supposed to apply your own "magic" to bring back the colours in PS.

Alternative solution: get the Fuji S5Pro and get superb Jpegs out of the camera. No need shoot RAW. :)

[ShaolinTiger]

If you are using Adobe products do be aware that it defaults to AdobeRGB for RAW conversion.

Make sure you switch it to sRGB before you export into Photoshop and then save as Jpeg (check the colour profile box to make sure it's sRGB) your colours should be fine then.

[bitbytes9]

Pls note, RAW files when converted to Jpeg always look "flat". You are supposed to apply your own "magic" to bring back the colours in PS.

No, you are wrong. Raw convert to jpeg colour should be same not adjust anything (same shot setting in camera).
If you use Canon Raw (.cr2) use digital photo professional or Nikon Raw (.nef) use nikon capture nx to convert it.
I have try use photoshop cs2 & cs3 convert raw to jpeg colour without adjust any setting but colour have change. That why I use capture nx (nikon raw) or digital photo professional (canon raw) to convert raw to jpeg.

[desaintlights]

hmm..... i am using nikon, raw looks fine for me. i am using cs3.

[kiankheong]

No, you are wrong. Raw convert to jpeg colour should be same not adjust anything (same shot setting in camera).
If you use Canon Raw (.cr2) use digital photo professional or Nikon Raw (.nef) use nikon capture nx to convert it.
I have try use photoshop cs2 & cs3 convert raw to jpeg colour without adjust any setting but colour have change. That why I use capture nx (nikon raw) or digital photo professional (canon raw) to convert raw to jpeg.

There are bound to be differences in the final output of images by different RAW converters.

That is why dpreview frequently uses a few popular raw converters' output for comparison. Here's an example on D3:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD3/page17.asp

3rd party RAW converters may not preserve in-camera settings, especially on Nikon's NEF since its white balance is encrypted. :mad:

As for conversion from RAW to jpeg, make sure that your colour space (in Photoshop/Lightroom and OS) are the same.

[astroboy]

Yes, u r almost correct while the other guy who says i m wrong is himself wrong...but i m just too lazy to explain lah... :P

RAW simply means no in-camera/software adjustment. Jpeg means camera-adjusted, as simple as that. U have 2 choices, either let the camera adjust colours for u (ie shoot in Jpeg mode) or u do it yourself via PS (shoot in RAW mode).

But shoot RAW only if u know your PS stuff. Otherwise u will end up with flat colours etc as experienced by this threadstarter...


There are bound to be differences in the final output of images by different RAW converters.

That is why dpreview frequently uses a few popular raw converters' output for comparison. Here's an example on D3:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD3/page17.asp

3rd party RAW converters may not preserve in-camera settings, especially on Nikon's NEF since its white balance is encrypted. :mad:

As for conversion from RAW to jpeg, make sure that your colour space (in Photoshop/Lightroom and OS) are the same.

[ShaolinTiger]

RAW simply means no in-camera/software adjustment. Jpeg means camera-adjusted, as simple as that. U have 2 choices, either let the camera adjust colours for u (ie shoot in Jpeg mode) or u do it yourself via PS (shoot in RAW mode).

But shoot RAW only if u know your PS stuff. Otherwise u will end up with flat colours etc as experienced by this threadstarter...

That's not strictly true, it really depends on which RAW converter you use.

For example if you shoot .NEF from Nikon and you convert with Nikon Capture NX you will get the same output as the Jpeg as the software understands the in camera settings and applies them. You can of course tweak on top of that or choose to ignore the settings.

If you convert with a 3rd party converter like Raw Shooter Essentials or Adobe Camera RAW you will get flatter images as no in-camera setting are applied to the RAW file and it just gives a default baseline.

[astroboy]

Maybe you're speaking as a Nikon-specific user. I dun use Nikon Capture so i dunno.

Anyway the whole idea of shooting RAW is you should only worry about focussing + over-exposure and nothing else. That's my preferred workflow.

Others may like to fiddle with WB and other settings while shooting RAW and that's their business as long as it works for them. For me, i dun like to fiddle with 101 things preferring instead to concentrate on the shooting (as I know I can worry abt applying the settings later in PS).


That's not strictly true, it really depends on which RAW converter you use.

For example if you shoot .NEF from Nikon and you convert with Nikon Capture NX you will get the same output as the Jpeg as the software understands the in camera settings and applies them. You can of course tweak on top of that or choose to ignore the settings.

If you convert with a 3rd party converter like Raw Shooter Essentials or Adobe Camera RAW you will get flatter images as no in-camera setting are applied to the RAW file and it just gives a default baseline.

[ShaolinTiger]

Maybe you're speaking as a Nikon-specific user. I dun use Nikon Capture so i dunno.

Same goes for Canon DPP, I'd imagine it's the same for all propietary RAW converters.

DPP even understands which Picture Style setting you applied in camera, that's what you Canon guys call it right?

Anyway I agree with you, the in camera settings aren't relevant to me as I use ACR so it doesn't understand them anyway.

[kiankheong]

The D60 comes with an in-camera RAW converter.

Wonder what's next? :?

[bitbytes9]

That's not strictly true, it really depends on which RAW converter you use.

For example if you shoot .NEF from Nikon and you convert with Nikon Capture NX you will get the same output as the Jpeg as the software understands the in camera settings and applies them. You can of course tweak on top of that or choose to ignore the settings.

If you convert with a 3rd party converter like Raw Shooter Essentials or Adobe Camera RAW you will get flatter images as no in-camera setting are applied to the RAW file and it just gives a default baseline.

Same goes for Canon DPP, I'd imagine it's the same for all propietary RAW converters.

DPP even understands which Picture Style setting you applied in camera, that's what you Canon guys call it right?

ShaolinTiger your point is true.