Needing a RAW program

<p>I'm using a 7D and modifying images in PS CS3. I can't seem to get a workable RAW converter from the Adobe site. Can anyone suggest a program that I can <em>buy </em>that will handle these images? Thanks.</p>

<p>You could upgrade to PS CS5, buy PS Elements 10, Adobe Lightroom 3.4 or use the software that came with your 7D DPP. There are a few free programs floating around out there but I think you get what you pay for there. Good luck!</p>

<p>I think that the 7D isn't supported by CS3, adobe want you to upgrade to CS5.<br>

One way to overcome this is to use Canons DPP for converting to TIFF and then use CS3 for further adjustments. DPP should be one a CD that was in the box with the camera.</p>

<p>google is an amazing thing</p>

<p>http://forums.adobe.com/thread/881416</p>

<p>your choice is to use the Adobe DNG converter to generate a .dng or buy/upgrade from CS3 to CS5.</p>

<p>I use the DNG converter. Just find the RAW images you want to convert, drag them into their own folder and point the converter at that folder. Then access them from CS3 in that folder. A pain but cheap process.</p>

<p>You can (or should be able to) use the Adobe DNG converter to convert the raw files to DNG (so-called "digital negative" raw) format, which will then open just fine in CS3. One option in the DNG conversion is to bundle the entire original raw data into the conversion, so this should be quite safe. Some people even convert all of their camera-specific raw files to DNG for just the reason you encountered with your old software and newer camera.</p>

<p>Once you convert to DNG you can open the files in ACR and work exactly as you did with earlier camera RAW formats.</p>

<p>If you can, it is worth upgrading to the newer version of Photoshop, both for the newer features and to qualify for future updates to the application.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

<p>I use the DNG converter with my 7D and CS3. It works well, provided that you use the right version of the DNG converter. I use 5.7.0.213. Older versions of the converter cause mosaicing artifacts and noise, and newer versions won't work with CS3.</p>

<p>Lightroom 3, Capture One 6 (Express or Pro - I'm happy with the feature set in "Express") and AfterShot Pro ("ASP" - which I recommend with the caveat that you spend a few more pounds/dollars/currency of choice on a Noise Ninja licence so that you can unlock the full built-into-AfterShot functionality of Noise Ninja) all get regular use on my 7D files, and all are reasonable, price-wise.</p>

<p>ASP is particularly cost-effective at the moment, especially if you already have a Noise Ninja licence.</p>

<p>Contrary to what Gil implies - that none of the free offerings out there are worth the trouble - I can assure you (and him) that Raw Therapee is capable of <em>spectacular </em>results, but at the expense of a very steep learning curve.</p>

Download the free beta of Lightroom 4. Very powerful with the absolute latest algorithms available.

<p>Have you tried Canon's DPP? You already paid for it with the purchase of your camera and it actually works surprisingly well. I tried Corel's Aftershot Pro (formerly known as and owned by Bibble)... I'll stick with Canon's DPP. ASP needs a<strong> lot </strong>of work. Very clunky to work with IMO.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>your choice is to use the Adobe DNG converter to generate a .dng or buy/upgrade from CS3 to CS5</p>

</blockquote>

<p>+1</p>

<p>Why do you want to <strong><em>buy</em></strong> something? Unless you want something that will integrate directly into CS3, I'd use DPP.</p>

<p>Otherwise, if you really want to spend money on it, you can always buy a CS5 upgrade.</p>

<p>Bob and others are right to point out that you have DPP and that it will do a credible job of converting your raw files. Beyond that, if you want a fully integrated version of PS and ACR, think about upgrading for this reason and also because of recent changes to Adobe's upgrade policies. Or, if you aren't really a big layer user, you might well be better served by Lightroom.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

<p>Unless I'm merging images or cloning out some major stuff, I use Lightroom for 99% of my post production. I do resize and add a border in PS, but that's after the image has been saved as a Jpeg. Even if your PS did recognize the 7D's raw files, I would still highly recommend getting LR.</p>

<p>I use Llightoom 3, and find it an excellent program for organizing files, and enough image adjustment to be creative in post. Mind you, I am an educator, and get the educational price, but even if I didn't get the discount I would still recommend Lightroom for handling RAW files. Yet, this is only one man's perspective on a program he uses. There are a number of good programs, and as said earlier the DPP program works well, and it is free with your Canon body. Good luck.</p>

<p>RawTherapee is free, as in thought AND beer, and its wonderful. Takes a bit of learning, buts its well worth it.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I'll stick with Canon's DPP. ASP needs a lot of work. Very clunky to work with IMO.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Heh! I imagine I'm not alone in seeing the irony of that - criticising a converter for "clunkiness" then recommending DPP - the converter with the worst, most clunky UI of any converter I've ever used - as an alternative.</p>

<p>Just goes to show how personal usability is.</p>

<p>I'm very fussy about converters and IQ, and I can't think of many (any, actually) that I haven't tried in depth: and I truly see nothing in DPP conversions to recommend it, or to warrant putting up with that godawful interface.</p>

It's worth trying DPP it's a much more capable program that

it was originally. I was using adobe raw with my 20D but

reverted to DPP with the 7D. However, I still use photoshop

for masked sharpening and NR etc.

<p>Lightroom seems to be everyone's favorite. Will it convert RAW from a variety of older Canons as well as those of the future. I'd hate to invest in Lightroom only to find that it no longer handles RAW from "8D". Can anyone predict? </p>

<p>I second the motion to try Lightroom 4 in the beta version. Totally free for now. My workflow these days is: RAW to LR4 and from there either print/web/edit in CS5 or NIK or directly to NIK. </p>

 

<p>Lightroom 3. Every few months they release updates that cover the latested cameras on the market. Does the same thing as ACR, and you can export your files to photoshop in native photoshop file format and bring it right back to lightroom for further adjustments. Once you "learn" how to use Lightroom properly you will be amazed how rich of a program it is. <br>

So +1 Richard Hatch, I too use it with Nik and CS5 and i don't think you can get a better intergration then that. </p>

Adobe will update RAW compatibility with Lightroom 4 until Lightroom 5 comes out, if you buy a new camera after a

newer version comes out then there is no guarantee it will work, you would be in the same situation you are now. It will

convert all legacy RAW files that I know of, it cannot know what is in the future and can't support cameras of the future.

 

You will always have the free options of DPPs CR2 to TIFF, or CR2 to DNG conversions via Adobes fully supported free

RAW converter, or a myriad of other free image editing programs.

 

Are you planning on getting an 8D soon? In the world of software little lasts very long, but even Adobe themselves make

a free, fully forward supported, way of never needing to upgrade.

<p>I too can recommend Corel's AfterShot Pro as a possibility. If you can get past the "clunkiness" that has been mentioned, I think you will find it is a very capable and fast RAW converter. I used it as Bibble Pro for years, before switching to Lightroom 3 last year. The only reason I switched was because Lightroom's Digital Asset Management features are far superior to just about anything out there. ASP's DAM has improved considerably, though, from what it was like when Bibble 5 came out. One unique feature that ASP has compared to most other 3rd party RAW converters is what it refers to as "Layers," which work a lot like LR's adjustment brush. Also, at $99, 1/3 the price of Lightroom, I think it is one of the best Lightroom alternatives out there. The only thing that comes close that I have personally tried is ACDsee Pro, which has excellent DAM, but on my system was just too unstable; i.e. it would crash about every other time I would open it.</p>

<p>Regarding Liightroom: Considering the program is now in V4 Beta: I would not buy a fresh copy of Lightroom 3.<br>

I use LR 3: Very happy with the program. Adobe RAW just like the Adobe CS products, but geared to bulk photo handling vs. the single photo emphasis of CS.</p>

<p>Well, if you really want to try AfterShot Pro, check out the link at the bottom of the Bibble page for a good deal. Available until the end of January.<br>

http://bibblelabs.com/press/pr20120109.html<br>

I just find it an incredibly frustrating piece of software that doesn't yield any better results than what's already included with the camera.</p>