Which RAW converter do you prefer?

Hi, this is my first post, but I've been reading the forum a while.

There are several threads about details of some programs but not wanting to to hijack any of them, here goes a new one:

I use Pentax K30 with ACR (Adobe Camera Raw)+ Photoshop. It works OK but I'm not entirely happy with the workflow: 1st you must open Adobe Bridge, where the previews are less than high quality. 2nd you open ACR plugin, make adjustments and 3rd, open picture in Photoshop. If you master the software you can have very good results but the workflow is awkward.

Lightroom. Apparently all that is in Lightroom is also (and more) in Photoshop/ACR. Besides I don't like Lightroom's archive system. "I own your files".

I tried the program that came with the camera: SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0. I've have forgotten the details, but was not impressed.

I assume Pentax Camera Utility does not work with K30, as it is not offered with it.

Before I used Bibble->AfterShot Pro. At this time I regard it as the best that I've tried as to the workflow, but unfortunately it does not yet support K30 files.

I would like to hear what are your experiences, preferences and recommmendations, dear pentaxians.

For many people, the cost of buying Adobe Photoshop is prohibitively expensive. This is why many choose the second best Adobe option for image editing, Lightroom.

Adobe don't own my files, I don't give them to them. Instead, I prefer to make my own archive/backup.

You could try RawTherapee, it's a free RAW editor but I don't know if it supports K30 image files yet. Another reason for choosing one of the more mainstream editors is that they generally keep pace with new camera models.

I'm puzzled by the comment that Bridge displays low quality previews. They look fine to me, but you do have to wait for them to be displayed in full definitiion. Initially they will look rough until they all load properly.

The process in CS5, for example, is not that arduous. You open the image and a RAW file will open in ACR, within Photoshop. We open PS and Bridge (you can tell PS to open Bridge automatically, you don't have to do it separately) and they remain open throughout.

The RAW file can be adjusted and then saved as a JPEG or TIFF, after which it's all dealt with in PS. Bridge is only a browser like any other browser and is used just like looking for any other file in Windows.

Frankly as I usually shoot JPEG, there's no messing about at all. I just open an image, using Bridge to select which one I want.

The thing is that when you open RAW file directly in dedicated RAW converter, it generally produces a preview with your default preferences, so it looks better right "out from the box".

I don't think we're quite in the place yet where there is one perfect single software solution that seamlessly takes us through the whole process. Traditionally there has been an approach using essentially separate programs for different functions (eg Bridge, ACR, Photoshop - or Elements Organiser, ACR, Elements Editor) - there being single click links between the different processes to smooth the way.

More recent options such as Apple Aperture and Adobe Lightroom make efforts to further integrate these individual processes in a more modular structure. Or you take a pick and mix technique and find your own personal ideal single program for each key aspect of Photo organizing and processing (as I do).

I use imatch (photools.com) for powerful cataloging & high quality previewing of RAW and all image types - it doesn't take over your collection, you keep full control and your files remain where you put them in Windows Explorer. If you make changes in Explorer a one click rescan will update the imatch database. It handles 'offline' external drives well also.

Oh, one thing I should have mentioned about workflow - in imatch you can place shortcuts to any editing program in an internal folder, then rightclicking any photo thumbnail in any browser view gives you all your programs to launch the image into.

Like Lightroom does Nigel. Have you tried it yet?

K-30 files work in raw therapee just tried it

I'm a bit confused by all this talk about having to open different programs & plug-ins to process a RAW file. It's a breeze if using PSE8.

All I ever do for a single RAW is just right-click on the file in Explorer and select "Open with ... " then PhotoShop Elements. Elements then starts up and automatically starts ACR. You do whatever you want in ACR and then just click on the "Open Image" button. This closes ACR and passes the image to the PSE Editor. What could be easier?

RawTherapee is a very powerful tool. I must learn to use it properly some time.

Andrew

I can promise you Alan, that it has taken superhuman quantities of self-control to keep resisting this - that and the fear that as soon as I do try it that my entire collection of 15,000 or so shots will be sucked into a terrible dark impenetrable vortex deep inside Lightroom's database, and my only hope of them ever seeing the light of day will be if I go and read a guidebook to LR that is at least 470 pages long.

And anyway, why on earth would anyone who is using Lightroom ever need to launch a photo into any other program?

Its just that technically there are different individual processes going on - the ACR RAW converter acts as a 'plug-in', at least in PS & Elements, in a similar way to other plugins - its executable file is placed in the appropriate internal folder for the parent program to run when the file is opened. The ACR plug-in is updated regularly, and on its own individually from the main program, when new camera profiles and updates to RAW formats are released.

My main point previously was my feeling that we do not yet have an absolute ideal program that fully integrates all of the key image management & processing needs into a totally singular structure - ie that is not essentially 'modular'.

I've never read a lightroom book Nigel. Same as I've never read the k5 book.

Maybe I should, but I just like to mess about, and if I have a specific issue use google.

I know where all my original digital negatives are, and I know where all my output jpegs are.

At the risk of repeating myself, Adobe Lightroom could be, and is, easier. It's just one operation.

Peter, I see this point, relatively speaking, but is it not a bit misleading to describe LR as just one operation? Surely it really is a group of image processing, organising and output modules given a common interface with one-click transitioning?.

This may not be a bad thing, this greater integration of distinct functions, but it may be helpful for those trying to make choices between various products and workflow aproaches to appreciate the distinctions between the individual aspects in our post processing & photo management.

A good thing about Lightroom is being able to download a 30 day free trial and finding out first hand