On 12/12/2013 1:51 PM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> <Snip lots of good stuff>
>
> Now consider RAW images for a moment. These images typically start life
> as either 12 or 14 bit images and get converted to 16 bits on the way to
> editing. But these images don't start with a bunch of holes in their
> value ranges as does an 8-bit image converted to 16-bits.
Nicely said.
It's still true that immediately converting a JPEG to 16 bit for editing will
lead to fewer disappointing surprises, but
Raw* to 16 bit is much better.
> The full
> range of brightness ranges is real and the image will survive much more
> severe editing changes without succumbing to posterization. Compared to
> a JPEG image there is also much more leeway in recovering dark shadows
> and blown highlights... typically up to a stop on both ends.
Would that this were true. Unfortunately, Brian uses 3/4 cameras with limited
high ISO performance. Pulling up shadows
is like raising ISO, and one quickly runs into noise problems. Not too big an
issue, for someone using capable software
tools, but ...
> For this advantage you only need to use the RAW converter in the first stage
> of
> editing.
Would that this were so simple. FastStone converts Raw to 8 bit THEN edits, not
the reverse.
> Use the RAW converter to do all of your brightness, contrast,
> color balance, saturation, etc. changes up front. Then you can convert
> to 8-bit for cropping and other editing changes with little or no effect
> on color and brightness. Resizing and sharpening still have some effect
> on pixel brightness but is minor compared to other edits.
>
> My last comment is that FastStone can call external editors. If you
> open a RAW file in FastStone I'm sure you can pass it to the Oly RAW
> converter before doing further work in FastStone.
True, you may browse/view Raw files in FS, then pass them on to other apps.
> Or just do all of your work in the RAW editor first and then move to
> FastStone after
> conversion to JPEGs.
Sigh; again not so simple. Oly Viewer converter does no highlight recovery at
all, just useless on the top end. One must
go to something like RawTherapee, free, and slightly odd, or pay a few $ for PS
Elements, AfterShot Pro, or one of the
other ones. Personally, I'd go with PSE, as I think ACR is still the best Raw
converter.
That pretty much does what you've suggested, converts in 16 bit, then does
(most?) further editing in 8 bit, at least
that's what I read.
Raw Moose
* You convinced me, and now you succumb to the infidels with RAW images? :-)
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
>
> On 12/12/2013 7:29 AM, Brian Swale wrote:
>> I have no practical knowledge of the differences between 64, 32, 16, and
>> 8-bit images.
>>
>> I really don't know what my machine works in. I wouldn't know where to look
>> to find out ...
--
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
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