photoshop - basic question

what to do?

ok,

just got photoshop CS. cant really make head nor tail of it but i'm sure i'll figure it out.

just wondering how do i edit my RAW files??? i'm trying to open a file and clicking on the RAW file but it says format not recognised - i think they are CR2 files???? it'll let me work on the JPEGs alright.

thanks very much.

Karoma

The CS version has very little support for RAW. Most of that support requires the update:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2699 [DNG convertor + RAW update. You can get the RAW update on its own if you prefer.]

CabanSail

You can also convert them in Lightroom (or any other RAW converter) & bring them over as TIF's

Tactical

The software supplied with Canon DSLR's also has a RAW converter that you can use.

Calina

I believe that picasa will read the RAW files as well. I'd recommend getting Adobe's RAW converter, however.

what to do?

thanks for the replies.

i'm converting them with the canon software to JPEG.

Does this defeat the purpose of shooting in RAW??? i've always shot in JPEG but only recently starting shooting in RAW - as i knew i'd be getting photoshop and i've heard a few people saying you can do much more with the photo afterwards if its in RAW. Now i find myself converting the image to JPEG anyway....... so maybe i should just be shooting in JPEG in the first place?? or am i missing something?? thanks.

ThOnda

Take RAW as equivalent to negative. You can push-pull the exposure in RAW, change white balance and what is the most important - you have all data recorded by camera.

It is OK to convert to JPG, however you should know why are you doing so. You are always loosing information when converting to JPG. It is OK when you finish with processing and you want to post the pictures on the web or if you want to print those pictures.

what to do?

thanks thonda.

i'm converting to JPEG in order to allow me process the pics in photoshop....

i guess i will have to do some editing in canon software, then convert, then edit in photoshop..... seems a bit long-winded to me though

ThOnda

The whole magic of processing is to use as much information from the RAW as possible and finish details in photoshop.