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Subject: Shooting RAW with 2nd-tier software
I've been struggling with a problem with my image processing apps, and it's the reason I abandoned ACDSee Pro 2 after a long period of loving it, but being frustrated by it. Basically, it makes me do everything twice.
When you shoot RAW with a Nikon, it captures not just the sensor's output, but it stores in the file the camera setting like active focus point, colour settings, selected white balance, etc. The end result of all this configuration is stored as data in the RAW, and used to create a small JPG file which is embedded in the RAW file.
The camera uses this JPG for reviewing the photo you've taken in-camera 'cause it's much faster to work with than the actual RAW file. The problem is, it's a bit of a lie, since you're being shown the adjusted, calibrated and tweaked version, and when you get home and dump all your images, you are shown this version only for a moment, while the larger, more complex RAW file is decoded and displayed.
The end result of all this is the image you're left with at the end is undersaturated and unattractive more often than not. After loading this file into my favourite image apps, I've got to go through a fair amount of effort to make it look as good as it did when I took the shot. It's a massive time sink, and I view it as a complete waste of time.
![[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/NFG-preview.jpg]](http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/NFG-preview.jpg "http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/NFG-preview.jpg")
I work hard to create an image, I take the shot, I review it on the camera. I like what I see, I move on and take the next shot.
Now ACDSee Pro 3 is out, and I just love its speed and elegance, but it still makes me do everything a second time. It seems that, for reasons of time or cost-cutting or ignorance or inability or disinterest (or perhaps any combination thereof) ACDSee is not able to give me software that reads the adjustment data included in the file and make use of it. Instead, they present their interpretation of the file, which basically looks less like my photo than I'd prefer.
I hear other apps like Lightroom, and Nikon's own overpriced Capture NX, DO show you the RAW file adjusted as you shot it.
But I don't like Lightroom and I think Capture NX should come with the bloody camera, FFS. I paid enough for it, didn't I?
Frustrating.
When you shoot RAW with a Nikon, it captures not just the sensor's output, but it stores in the file the camera setting like active focus point, colour settings, selected white balance, etc. The end result of all this configuration is stored as data in the RAW, and used to create a small JPG file which is embedded in the RAW file.
The camera uses this JPG for reviewing the photo you've taken in-camera 'cause it's much faster to work with than the actual RAW file. The problem is, it's a bit of a lie, since you're being shown the adjusted, calibrated and tweaked version, and when you get home and dump all your images, you are shown this version only for a moment, while the larger, more complex RAW file is decoded and displayed.
The end result of all this is the image you're left with at the end is undersaturated and unattractive more often than not. After loading this file into my favourite image apps, I've got to go through a fair amount of effort to make it look as good as it did when I took the shot. It's a massive time sink, and I view it as a complete waste of time.
I work hard to create an image, I take the shot, I review it on the camera. I like what I see, I move on and take the next shot.
Now ACDSee Pro 3 is out, and I just love its speed and elegance, but it still makes me do everything a second time. It seems that, for reasons of time or cost-cutting or ignorance or inability or disinterest (or perhaps any combination thereof) ACDSee is not able to give me software that reads the adjustment data included in the file and make use of it. Instead, they present their interpretation of the file, which basically looks less like my photo than I'd prefer.
I hear other apps like Lightroom, and Nikon's own overpriced Capture NX, DO show you the RAW file adjusted as you shot it.
But I don't like Lightroom and I think Capture NX should come with the bloody camera, FFS. I paid enough for it, didn't I?
Frustrating.
BLEARGH
![[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/RAWvsJPG.jpg]](http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/RAWvsJPG.jpg "http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/RAWvsJPG.jpg")
![[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/rawfrustration.jpg]](http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/rawfrustration.jpg "http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/rawfrustration.jpg")