Shot Raw, Now What?

PhotoShop 6.0, ThumbsPlus 7.0. Windows XP Pro SP2

Nikon D70 => .NEF format.

Is there any hope without spending money?

 

You can get a newer version of photoshop elements (obviously not free)
or there are lots of raw converters like Raw Shooter Essentials (free
lite version) which is pretty good or UFRAW which installs with the GIMP
free editor, and is nice but has some problems like no 100% zoom. Oh and
Nikon has a free lite version of their latest raw converter. And didn't
you get something with the camera?

 

ufraw - gimp

 

Irfanview will open a Canon raw file, albeit with somewhat limited
manipulation. Maybe it will open a NEF files as well.

I should think Nikon software for this should be freely downloadable as
well.

Colin D.

 

You can get a newer version of photoshop elements (obviously not free)
or there are lots of raw converters like Raw Shooter Essentials (free
lite version) which is pretty good or UFRAW which installs with the GIMP
free editor, and is nice but has some problems like no 100% zoom. Oh and
Nikon has a free lite version of their latest raw converter. And didn't
you get something with the camera?

 

UFRAW for GIMP is excellent and free

 

one among the most possible solutions is ufraw:

o for windows: http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Install.html#MS
o for MAC OS: http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Install.html#Mac
o for Linux: http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Install.html#Linux

list of supported cameras can be found here:

http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Cameras.html

another possible solution is the Free Nikon Neff converter:

---8<---
Is there any free Nikon raw converter that is easy to install. I went to
David Coffins site but could not install his raw converter. I know I'm ...
www.velocityreviews.com/forums/ t255888-free-nikon-neff-converter.html
---8<---

but i suggest to use ufraw for manipulation of raw files or follow this
link: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008tYo

good luck )

 

Welcome to the world of RAW.

 

Yes, there is hope but may depend.

1. Hope #1, Google for some *free* RAW converter, I believe some author
releases the *light* version as freeware while charging the "pro" version.

2. Hope #2 may cost some $$$, I haven't tried myself but I read some Graphic
Viewer supports RAW format's, and some has EDIT option.

Other than that Photoshop v6 (NO only newer PS does), Thumbs+ (NO), WinXP
Pro (NO)

 

5Per Paul Furman:

Yes - but based on prior experience with Nikon was reluctant to
install it.

Maybe I'll dig out the CD and give it a shot.

 

Per Joel:

A converter sounds like a good feature/plug-in for ThumbsPlus.

 

I haven't looked at Thumbs+ for many years (5-6+ years?) to know what's up
to, but the last one I looked didn't have any editing capable.

 

It probably isn't worth bothering. I tried the new free download &
that's not bad though more than basic adjustments are awkward.

 

Per Joel:

It's steadily grown over the years. My version has trimming,
cropping, color adjustment, and probably a few more things that
are over my head.

Nice product IMHO.

 

It seems like it, and just like ACDSee years ago it didn't have any
editing option now it does quite afew like Level, Curve, Color Balance,
Brightness, and even RAW etc.. but I am very picky with what I use so
Photoshop is the only program I save my image.

And even ACDSee and many claims looseness rotating but I just can't learn
to trust it. Yes, years ago when I was working on some web pages I did use
ACDSee to reduce the size for web.

 

I used Nikon View NX and it does the conversion job, but I didn't find
it great for corrections.. Not very fast, a bit clunky. Free download
from Nikon site. Now I'm using Raw Photo Processor almost all the time.
Very flexible, very capable, pretty fast, and not hard to learn.

http://www.raw-photo-processor.com/RPP/Overview.html

I donated $20 via PayPal, as suggested for non-professional frequent
use. You can try it for as long as you need to before deciding.

 

The the second reason I bought a Pentax (first ad foremost
being I already had Pentax lenses) is it can shoot in DNG
raw format, in addition to the proprietary PEF.

 

And that's a benefit how?

 

Because I already had and used Adobe programs, and did NOT have to learn
Pentax's raw processor program. Also, even for a half-blind person like
me,
Photoshop's jpg compression algorithm produced sharper images than the
Pentax's program. Both mattered to me and may not matter to anyone else.

 

Because there is more software that understands DNG than proprietary raw
formats.