Best answer 10 points: Using NEF RAW files and image editors?

Question

Hi,

I've tried converting and retouching my RAW files using Helicon Filter and GIMP/UFRaw, but neither of them really give me the level of detail that ViewNX does, plus I like the colours that ViewNX produces more too. This is probably because my camera and ViewNX are both Nikon products.

On the other hand, in ViewNX, i can't find the controls for gamma, WB etc to really enable me to tweak the histogram the way I want it to - all you seem to be able to do is set the same settings that you would be able to do in camera (eg, WB = cloudy) ... is there any way to do this in ViewNX, or do I have to upgrade to Capture?

Also, if I first convert to jpg using ViewNX, and then use another editor to do stuff like changing the WB/exposure/histogram/contrast/saturation etc, or free rotating the image will I end up with the same quality of image than I would do if I make all those adjustments and THEN convert to jpg??

Thanks for your help, and to summarize:

1. Are there advanced controls for image manipulation in ViewNX?
2. Is same as , in terms of quality of final image?

Thanks so much for your help! 10 points best answer promised :-)

Answer 1

1. No there aren't any advanced image manipulation controls in ViewNX - it does basic stuff only.. Capture NX (now Capture NX2) are the best software options for editing NEF's. Getting to grips with the NX software can be a little difficult at first because its totally different than editing in Adobe products, however, the colour control points feature in Capture NX/2 is really something once you get the hang of it.



2. No. Better to tweak then convert than the other way round. You know this anyway but always work on a copy file. As Chris said, NEF files carry image editing data as a sidecar file so you are not altering the original NEF in any case.



I used to use Capture NX a fair bit but tbh I've rather gone over to a combo of Adobe Photoshop CS5/Lightroom 3 which I find far more flexible than Nikon software, mostly because of the plugins that are available.

Answer 2

What you need is good software, free or cheap just doesn't work well. The cheapest way into effective Raw conversion is probably Elements.



It's always better to do all your 'tweaking' whilst the file is still a Raw file, as any changes are made to a 'sidecar' file which is separate from the data file, this offers totally lossless editing. Converting to Jpeg 'dumps' all the data that can't be contained with the Jpeg format, which can be as high as 40%.



Convert to Jpeg as the last thing you do, then apply sharpening.



Chris

Answer 3

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RE:

Best answer 10 points: Using NEF RAW files and image editors?

Hi,



I've tried converting and retouching my RAW files using Helicon Filter and GIMP/UFRaw, but neither of them really give me the level of detail that ViewNX does, plus I like the colours that ViewNX produces more too. This is probably because my camera and ViewNX are both Nikon products....

Answer 4

1. I'm not sure, I've never used ViewNX. Sorry I can't be of more help to you there.

2. No, the more editing you can do on the photo while it is still RAW, the better it will turn out. For this reason I would recommend doing as much editing as possible in ViewNX. Although the primary reason I shoot in RAW is to easily adjust exposures in post-processing, converting to JPG directly after that isn't much of an advantage over shooting JPG.



My recommended workaround is this: see if ViewNX can export to TIFF. TIFFs edit better than JPGs as they have a higher bit count (16 bits/channel vs 8 bits/channel for JPG). Also, saving them is not lossy, but I'm sure you already knew that.



So my final recommendation is to get Lightroom :) It does everything I need it to for my RAW files, and then I export to TIFF for final tweaks in Photoshop, cropping, copyrighting, and watermarking. I leave them as TIFFs on my hard drive, only converting to JPG when I need to upload somewhere or put the photos on a card or something.



Good luck!

Answer 5

ViewNX isn't intended for these things. For exposure/ white balance corrections, etc. you want Capture. After Capture, you can export the images as 16 bit TIFF files to GIMP for any (pixel level) retouching.



You could also use GIMP to bulk process white balance corrections, etc. by defining one or more actions. At least, Photoshop calls them actions.... where you hit a 'record' button, do your thing on a sample image, and store the sequence of manipulations as a script. You can then apply that action to an entire folder. (A cursory Google search indicates that GIMP does have this feature. I haven't used GIMP myself in over 7 years though... I transitioned to Photoshop back when GIMP's features were still a bit lacking and the GUI was, oh, batshit crazy.)



Anyway, the point of shooting in RAW is to get the most out of your sensor. RAW and TIFF are lossless, so any editing that you do in GIMP on TIFF files still gives you the full benefit of shooting in RAW. You can open and edit a TIFF image as often as you want - it'll remain lossless.



Once you convert an image to jpg, you throw information away. And with jpg files you throw more information away with every open/edit/save session. Ergo, saving to jpg should be the final step. I use an action for that, too:

* reduce image size (because I only use JPGs for email attachments and web)

* convert from 16 bit (TIFF) to 8 bit (for JPG)

* sharpen with a plug-in

* save as jpg

Answer 6

one thing you need to remember is:



the newer the camera, the less software there is to open and manipulate your RAW files...



jpegs are easy, cos they are an industry standard... but RAW files types change everytime a new camera appears on the market... Abode produce an add-in for elements and photoshop which allows you to open and manipulate RAW files...



best to start with the software that comes with the camera... alter, then save as a jpeg, then use other software to do other things...

Answer 7

Yes, I agree with you. I think that would be great, but I think that it would be nice if it would be an option then if you didn't want to choose a second best that you didn't have to.