TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RAW CAPTURE MODE
by Peter K. Burian, Digital Photography Course Instructor, http://www.betterphoto.com/photocourses/PBN01.asp
In last week's Blog entry, I discussed using the best options in JPEG capture mode for high quality images. While JPEG is great for taking digital photos, there's another, entirely different, alternative. Available with all digital SLR's, and some compact digicams, RAW capture mode is well worth considering for serious photography.
Aside from slightly higher image quality, a RAW file has much greater latitude for technical image correction. As we’ll see, you can make major changes to aspects such as white balance, contrast, exposure, and color rendition.
What is RAW Capture?
When you select the RAW capture mode, the camera records raw data from the sensor in a proprietary file format (such as NEFF or CR.) In-camera settings for white balance, exposure compensation, contrast, sharpening and color saturation are recorded, but not applied to the image data. After you download the files to a computer, all of these settings can be modified before converting the file to TIFF.
Use the special "converter" software packaged with the camera or an aftermarket converter from Adobe (Camera Raw), BreezeBrowser (www.breezesys.com), PhaseOne (www.phaseone.com) or the free RawShooter Essentials from Pixmantec (www.pixmantec.com.)
Who Needs RAW Capture?
Obviously, you can correct an image made in JPEG capture using conventional software, so why shoot in the RAW format? There are two primary reasons. First, image quality will be preserved even if you make fairly major corrections. And if you use Adobe Camera Raw (in Elements 3.0 or Photoshop CS2) the process requires little expertise. The automatically-applied corrections often produce very good results, calling for only a bit of fine-tuning with one or two of the slider controls.
Here are a few examples. Let’s say you were shooting under fluorescent lighting (without flash) using Daylight Auto White Balance, and your images exhibit a strong green cast. Perhaps you inadvertently set spot metering instead of evaluative metering and many of your images of sky capped mountains are underexposed. Or you set the color saturation level to High in-camera, and skin tones are much too ruddy. No problem if you were shooting in RAW mode.
These serious errors (and others) can all be corrected in converter software without the loss of quality that would occur in conventional image editing programs. (It's just as if you had used the ideal in-camera settings when taking the photo.)
Is RAW Capture the Ideal Option?
Admittedly, there are a few drawbacks to shooting in RAW capture mode. First, image recording time is much longer and you may not be able to shoot more than one (or a few) photos in a sequence. Because of the larger files, your memory card will fill up much more quickly. Finally, you’ll need to spend extra time at a computer using the special converter. (Afterwards, you may also want to fine-tune the images in your conventional software.)
The Bottom Line
Frankly, JPEG remains highly suitable for most digital shooting. But the RAW capture mode is great whenever you absolutely must be sure that you'll be able to make a perfect photo. In such cases, take advantage of the slightly higher image quality and the wider latitude for making corrections in your computer. Use RAW versus JPEG mode particularly for important events, or once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, and you’ll have extra peace of mind.
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