What do you convert RAW to for work in Photoshop/GIMP for PP?

[cayenne]

Hello all,

From doing a bit of research...it appears  that you cannot work directly with RAW images in Adobe Photoshop...or the open source analog of PS which is GIMP.

So, I was wondering, of those out there that use PS/GIMP for Post Processing (HDR stuff, editing that requires layers, etc)....what is your work flow?

What format do you convert your RAW to...to work in these applications? jpeg? TIFF? PNG?...etc.

Can you give the reasons for which ones? What keeps the most information and fidelity?

Thanks in advance,

cayenne

[pierceography]

Adobe Camera RAW -> Photoshop.  If I use just ACR for minor editing in PP, I'll just save a JPG since the xmp file will retain the edits made.  If I do more work in PS I'll save a JPG and a PSD file (retains layers).  If it's HDR (photomatix) I'll import the CR2 files into photomatix, save a TIFF, and then work with the TIFF in PS.

[unfocused]

Simplified version of my workflow:

Based on Scott Kelby's "double processing."

I use Adobe RAW to make adjustments in RAW, then open as a smart object in Photoshop. Make a new Smart Object layer (not a duplicate layer) and then open that layer in RAW to make adjustments to other areas of the image. Do this as many times as needed to tweak all the areas. Use layer masks and the paintbrush tool to reveal or cover up portions that I want/don't want in each layer.

I tend to save all my layers in Photoshop (psd) in case I ever need/want to go back and tweak the image.

I'll save a final copy as a JPEG (often two copies, one for printing and one for the web).  I end up having the original RAW file, one PSD file and one or more JPEG files. (A small one for the web, a large one for printing)  Probably not the most space efficient, but it gives me flexibility. I know I can always go back to the original RAW file and start over, or I can pick up in the middle with the PSD file if I want to try a different look.

[pwp]

Sort and rank images in PhotoMechanic, convert selects to DNG, process in Lightroom V4.2 outputting 300 ppi Adobe RGB TIFFS, tidy up TIFFS in PS CS5, save as suitable JPEG and deliver to clients via FTP or courier delivered DVD.

From doing a bit of research...it appears  that you cannot work directly with RAW images in Adobe Photoshop.

Of course you can open RAW files in PS...that's what ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) is. It's embedded in PS just as Bridge is embedded. It's a very fine RAW processor using an identical processing engine to Lightroom.  LR just offers more workflow options, particularly useful when working on a lot of files, but the output is identical.

-PW

[TexPhoto]

When i want to work with an image I open it in DPP, make some changes there, the use the "transfer to Photoshop" command.  It does not save the file in any particular format, the file just opens in photoshop as a 16 bit image.  From there i will always save in Photoshop's native .psd format.

[cayenne]

Ok...so, would you say that TIFF is better than jpeg to work with ?

C

[RLPhoto]

Raw -----> PSD ------> TIFF/JEPG

[cayenne]

Well, one of my main reasons for the question here...is to do some HDR work.

I found that most things won't take RAW for HDR manipulations...so, would TIFF be better than jpg to work with when moving between applications, such as HDR stuff (Photomatix, etc).

I'm getting that Photoshop has the PSD...but I'm not gonna  have access to that tool for awhile I don't think....so, for work outside of Photoshop, or the Adobe Suite in general...what would be the best non-RAW format to work with?

Thanks for all the replies so far!!!

cayenne

[Tayvin]

TIFF or PSB(if you're using a lot of layers).

[Jay Khaos]

TIFF was used for print back in the day before jpegs could support CMYK color with variable levels of compression.  I find no reason to use TIFF anymore (TIFF can also preserve layers, which might be useful for sending files between PS and gimp?).  Not sure, I dont use gimp so i havent tested that.  Either way, a PDF can do everything a TIFF can + more.

As far as saving the most efficient flattened file, if working with a file that is going to be printed massive and viewed close (best quality), I'd work in CMYK color and save a flat version of my PSD as a PDF.  Otherwise, there is no real reason NOT to save something flat as a jpeg (or PNG).

The benefit of using a PDF is that it's viewable by pretty much everyone, but can preserve vectors and photoshop layers potentially if someone reopens it with PS.

Maybe I am forgetting something...?

[RLPhoto]

TIFF was used for print back in the day before jpegs could support CMYK color with variable levels of compression.  I find no reason to use TIFF anymore (TIFF can also preserve layers, which might be useful for sending files between PS and gimp?).  Not sure, I dont use gimp so i havent tested that.  Either way, a PDF can do everything a TIFF can + more.

As far as saving the most efficient flattened file, if working with a file that is going to be printed massive and viewed close (best quality), I'd work in CMYK color and save a flat version of my PSD as a PDF.  Otherwise, there is no real reason NOT to save something flat as a jpeg (or PNG).

The benefit of using a PDF is that it's viewable by pretty much everyone, but can preserve vectors and photoshop layers potentially if someone reopens it with PS.

Maybe I am forgetting something...?

TIFF support 16Bits per channel while JPEG only supports 8bit.

Thats the only reason I would export TIFF to the client. If they want additional editing done elsewhere, They have that extra data there.

IE: This link below
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/essentials/16-bit/

[spinworkxroy]

Eh..my cs6 sites open my 5dmk3 raw file directly..it just auto open ACR first..