hi

I tried to analyse my RAW pictures with photoshop, but all i get is is a grey picture. I don't know how to set all the parameters and found nothing in the photoshop tutorial.

Any ideas ??

thanks

christophe

Christophe
Which version of Photoshop and which RAW tool are you using?
And I presume you are using the *ist-D camera in RAW mode?
Matt

Hi Mat
I am using the photoshop element v2 and I am actually using the *IST-DS in raw mode, right.

forgot to answer to the RAW tools, what does that mean ? mavbe this is the problem. Can't one open the RAW file directly with photoshop ?

thanks

Christophe

You need a RAW converter, a bit of software that will enable you to utilise the RAW files. This should be provided on a CD with the camera, as it will be specific to the particular maker.

Sue and I use the best quality JPEG setting, as this can be directly used in Photoshop and any other application.

Christophe,

Photoshop Elements Version 2 does not have RAW support and cannot directly load the PEF files Elements 3 does have RAW support and will handle both the *ist-D and *ist-DS PEF files

However, if you are going to use RAW all the time, I would suggest looking at Capture One LE ($99). There is also a free convertor at www.pixmantec.com
They both support the *ist-D, but I am not sure about *ist-DS support.

As John says the CD that came with the camera should have a convertor, but to be honest, you are better using JPG than the convertor they supply
IMHO, Capture One LE version 3.7 is great

Matt

Indeed the soft provided with the camera allows to see and convert RAW to JPEG files. Since the RAW files are much bigger than even the good quality JPEG, I will probably use only these.

Thanks for your help, was usefull

Christophe

Cristophe,
The RAW files have much more information. You can correct white balance errors very easily with RAW, and correct exposure comfortably around +/- 2 stops (very useful). The quality is also much higher.

That said, if you shoot the highest quality JPG you can still get excellent images. For me, having started using Capture One I find I can't go back to JPG

Matt

Slight change of topic.
What have others found?
Pentax RAW converter gives me ok looking pictures, but when I look at the histogram in Picture Window PRO, it looks like a comb-line! Also, Picture Window Pro doesn't recognise the ADOBE profile attached from camera. RAWShooter gives a smooth histogram in comparison, and the Adobe profile is recognised.
Any observations welcome, and how much better is Capture One etc?
Andy

This is what I've found:

* I used the Pentax convertor for a couple of times, but ended up using dcRAW from the command line and linear conversion. At the time I had trouble with profiles, so I shelved it.
* When I got my hands on Photoshop CS, I started using that and its RAW conversion. I have had some excellent results from that.
* After evaluating Capture One twice (the first time I couldn't see much difference between it and PS-CS. Afterwards I found it was because I was using an 'easy' shot.). Now I only use C1LE.
* When Pixmantec made theirs available, I tried it for a while. Generally it's very good. However, on very high ISO shots (1600 and 3200) it produces a very "muddy" output. C1LE gets some amazing detail even at 3200

I have found that into-the-sun shots are well reproduced in C1LE, whereas everything else had trouble coping with the dynamic range.

The main thing is - shoot RAW and you can choose the RAW convertor depending on your needs, the subject matter, or as new applications come out
Matt

Thanks Matt,
I agree about shooting in RAW, and do only use that. However as funds are limited I have to choose carefully which converter etc to go for, and so pixmantec coming along as a freeby is very welcome. Will however try and look at C1LE.
Andy