Okay, so I'm tring to find some information on picture styles, and every single response is some variation of: PictAr stylez r for retardz, y0!!! Be uber 1337 and shoot in RAW, dood!!!



Just answer the question or don't say anything, elitist ****tards!

Just shoot RAW. I have no idea what picture styles are for or if my camera even has them

Thanks . I do shoot in RAW, mostly, but my PADs are often JPEGs b/c they're easier/smaller.

With Nikon, I always used either CaptureNX or ACR, depending on how frustrated I wanted to be.

Do you all just use ACR, or DPP, or Capture One, or other?

Just curious which solutions you have found that don't hinder your workflow too much and work well.

I have used ACR a lot, but mostly use Capture One these days.

DPP isn't bad, but it doesn't streamline as nicely in to PS as ACR and neither are as good as C1 IMO. So if I wasn't going to use C1 I'll use ACR for the convenience.

I just use adobe and import there.

Lightroom works decently but I haven't spent as much time figuring it out. For me it seems to work well when I have a lot of shots with the same lighting/WB but I tend to shoot more variety and a blanket adjustment doesn't work as well.

Thats not a bad idea - I usually shoot raw and just pp them but it would definitely be faster/easier to just do a jpg that I can not do much PP to and upload for faster pp.

I used to use DPP but I've since made the jump to ACR

I use Lightroom so it's ACR for me.

cool, thanks. That's what I figured. I have heard anecdotally that ACR handles Canon RAW better than Nikon RAW (and have found this to be true with Nikon RAW). It should help improve my workflow somewhat, which is great.

Depends,

Lightroom > batch export to jpg.

Bridge > CS3

ACR > CS3

Some peopls are *******s when it comes to shooting RAW or not... There are a few sports/wedding shooters there who realize you can't possibly process as many files as they shoot in the time they have and use them, but 99.9% of those guys are all about "using the best" but having ZERO clue how to actually use their gear or work an event... So they'll tell you to buy nothing but Ls, 1 series, and shoot RAWs!!!



As for what I actually shoot, I normally shoot JPEGs only but since Elias was born and I've been shooting inside a lot more I've been shooting RAWs simply because they're MUCH easier to work with in terms of noise. So anytime I'm above 800 I go with RAWs. It's funny though, I suck at getting a decent looking WB out of them, even though it's supposedly "easier". CWB FTW.

Guess I have a lot to learn about how to get the most out of my gear.....

Originally Posted by Markitos

Hell no I didn't post the question... I searched like a good n00b. Guess I have a lot to learn about how to get the most out of my gear.....

the most out of my gear <> jpg

Tell that to me next time you're going through 1k+ event photos that you're doing for a friend.

Time = Money sometimes. And let me tell you, my free time is worth more than shooting RAW all the time.

Originally Posted by Markitos

Tell that to me next time you're going through 1k+ event photos that you're doing for a friend.

I'm doing that right now.

Originally Posted by Markitos

Tell that to me next time you're going through 1k+ event photos that you're doing for a friend.

Time = Money sometimes. And let me tell you, my free time is worth more than shooting RAW all the time.

Its not that bad if you have a good raw workflow. Its the extra safety net vs extra time I guess. but If I shot JPG I dont think id speed up enough my workflow enough to make loose the benefit of potential shot recovery.

DPP is awesome if you have picture styles you like... It's lets you "assign" them to RAWs, then adjust them if needed. Also, it's a great way to "make" a new picture style since it can apply a style to old RAW files you "like" and see how they would look...

I'll have to try capture one though, do they have a free trial carl?

Originally Posted by emorphien

ACR for the convenience.

+1

My workflow typically is browse in bridge and tag the keepers, then open those in CS3. If it's a RAW, it automagically opens with ACR. JPEGs pop up in PS on their own (first if you open a mix). Works very well for me in terms of being easy/painless.... One of these days I should take the time to learn lightroom though, as it'll do the bridge and ps portions of my workflow and uses ACR, but I don't like not editing the actual files.

I'm pretty sure C1 does have a free trial for something like 30 days. Your output options may be limited though to discourage you from just reinstalling it repeatedly.

What is ACR?

I use the Adobe Bridge deal for browsing/converting.

adobe camera raw.

How do you know if you're using ACR?

Originally Posted by Stime187

What is ACR?

I use the Adobe Bridge deal for browsing/converting.

Then you're using ACR, which as Matt said is Adobe Camera Raw. I'm assuming that's also the same conversion engine behind Lightroom.

Originally Posted by Stime187

How do you know if you're using ACR?

If you open them up from Bridge, then you are.

Originally Posted by Stime187

How do you know if you're using ACR?

if you're opening RAWs in photoshop, it's ACR.

It's that "popup" window that opens to do the RAW conversion. It's part of PS really, but they consider it separate software because they use it with their other imaging products (lightroom also uses it).

Originally Posted by emorphien

Then you're using ACR, which as Matt said is Adobe Camera Raw. I'm assuming that's also the same conversion engine behind Lightroom.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

If you open them up from Bridge, then you are.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

if you're opening RAWs in photoshop, it's ACR.

It's that "popup" window that opens to do the RAW conversion. It's part of PS really, but they consider it separate software because they use it with their other imaging products (lightroom also uses it).

Wow. This place rocks. Thanks, guys.

And that's all well and good. JPEG vs. RAW was totally not the point of my post in the first place.

All I said was it's annoying how instead of answering a question, people on POTN feel the need to preach that everyone should shoot RAW.

Yes, if getting the most information, and having the most latitude in your photo is your goal, you should shoot in RAW. Yes, if you own a DSLR of the caliber of a D300/5D/40D, you are doing yourself a disservice, in general, if you're not shooting in RAW.

That said, sometimes some people are NOT after max quality or latitude in processing, and would like to have some baseline information about picture styles. They do NOT want to be preached to about how RAW is GOD, because many times, they are intelligent enough to understand the difference.

Like I said-I shoot in RAW most of the time, but not ALL the time. And this isn't even about me, or RAW, or JPEG--and that's my point. All those people wanted to know about picture styles, and got lectured instead.

Welcome to the majority of big photo forums. They're all like this. My friend regularly sends me ridiculous links from some of the Nikon forums.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

It's funny though, I suck at getting a decent looking WB out of them, even though it's supposedly "easier". CWB FTW.

It's flexible and gives you more control. That doesn't necessarily mean it's way easier at all times. It's not that easy for me anyway with my color vision You can still CWB when shooting RAW so that doesn't have to change at least.

For picture styles I would start by looking at your typical processing routine that you used with your nikon. Did you use a lot of curves? Bump up the contrast to +2 or +3. Did you typically add 10-20% saturation? Bump up sat by +1 or +2. Run more than one iteration of unsharp mask? Bump up the sharpness to +2 or +3. I wouldn't mess with the color tone.

I think for you Mark, you're really going to want to nail the black/white 'monochrome' style, I just have no experience with how to set it up so I can't advise you how to get your look straight out of the camera.

Everything I shoot is different and I don't have the time or patience to spend a day or two setting up a picture style. I have a set routine that I run for my RAWs now and processing a shot only takes about 1 minute from open to save.

I don't have a set RAW routine, but most of my adjustments are similar and pretty quick. I can process a couple RAWs a minute probably, maybe more if I go through a set quickly that doesn't need too much attention. I'll either set up a batch in C1 or just tell it to process them as I finish each one. I've got enough processor/RAM to let it process while I manipulate the next one.

Originally Posted by Markitos

And let me tell you, my free time is worth more than shooting RAW all the time.

egg ****ing zactly!!!

Originally Posted by subimatt

Its the extra safety net

some of us don't need a net...

vs extra time I guess. but If I shot JPG I dont think id speed up enough my workflow enough to make loose the benefit of potential shot recovery.

it cuts my workflow time in half.

Originally Posted by Markitos

All I said was it's annoying how instead of answering a question, people on POTN feel the need to preach that everyone should shoot RAW.

you're actually getting a similar reaching here, no?

Originally Posted by emorphien

You can still CWB when shooting RAW so that doesn't have to change at least.

yeah, my issue is mentally I think CWB is for JPEGs not RAWs... I know RAWs use the WB as shot, and then you can adjust it, but I always just shoot RAWs lazily because "they're easier to fix later". Then I'll have a tough WB issue and there won't be anything neutral in the room... A lot of my B+W shots are a result of this... I get the WB way better (or at least I'm happier with it) with JPEGs because I know I need to pay attention.

I'm tempted to start shooting RAW + L so I can just use the JPEG 90% of the time, then only pull out the RAW when I absolutely need it.

Thanks, Ted. You also have to understand that I am coming from Nikon, where to process a RAW file well, I had to use CaptureNX, which is, as far as I can tell, one of the worst designed pieces of software ever. Capable, but annoying as hell.

It's always been hard to use ACR to process Nikon RAW files and get the look I want, so when possible, I've avoided it.

Now that I have the 5D, I will probably be shooting in RAW most of the time, even for PADs. Still, though, it's useful to have some JPEG settings that you like for when that makes more sense.

Unfortunately, I don't think there's anyway to get my b/w "look" straight out of the camera, esp. since I generally shoot those in RAW because I need to for all the tonal information.

Mark, out of curiosity (because I don't think you have) could you post a tutorial for your B&W conversions? They are quite good and I think a lot of people would appreciate it.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

I think for you Mark, you're really going to want to nail the black/white 'monochrome' style, I just have no experience with how to set it up so I can't advise you how to get your look straight out of the camera.

IMHO, all B+W conversions should be done in the computer... The camera does an OK job of them, but why throw out the color info? It's way easier (at least for me) to get good/great conversions starting with a color file in PS than an out of the camera B+W...

and P.S.:
Why the hell is this in the admin section? The PotN Sucks portion/rant should be, but the rest should be in Marks PP question thread. This is great info all the users should be able to look at IMHO.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I'm tempted to start shooting RAW + L so I can just use the JPEG 90% of the time, then only pull out the RAW when I absolutely need it.

Me too, that's why I have 2 x 16gig CF cards in my B&H basket. And I don't want to continue the RAW vs jpg debate, but for me it's not so much a safety net as it is I love having access to all of the data and still having access to it months or years later. Yeah, RAW has saved some of my shots, but really I just love the look and feel that I get out of RAW than I do jpg.

Anyway, back to picture styles and how much POTN is retarted.

I can process 32 raws in a minute.

I'm not sure whats taking you so long ted and carl.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

IMHO, all B+W conversions should be done in the computer... The camera does an OK job of them, but why throw out the color info? It's way easier (at least for me) to get good/great conversions starting with a color file in PS than an out of the camera B+W...

and P.S.:
Why the hell is this in the admin section? The PotN Sucks portion/rant should be, but the rest should be in Marks PP question thread. This is great info all the users should be able to look at IMHO.

IIRC bruce (slvrscoobie) shoots RAW but in B&W mode with his IR converted rebel. It makes it easier for him to view & figure out the images on the screen. But even if you shoot B&W in RAW mode, you can still extract a color image, it's just that the preview image on the back of the camera is in B&W.

Originally Posted by emorphien

Mark, out of curiosity (because I don't think you have) could you post a tutorial for your B&W conversions? They are quite good and I think a lot of people would appreciate it.

Awwww No, I haven't, though I have tried to explain it before.

I'll try to write something up.

Originally Posted by thechickencow

I can process 32 raws in a minute.

I'm not sure whats taking you so long ted and carl.

Yeah but we're trying to make them look good

Originally Posted by tardypizza

I just love the look and feel that I get out of RAW than I do jpg.

^ yeah, it's funny, I hate the feel of RAWs and love JPEGs (with my settings)... But I have had some shots I REALLY wished were in RAWs recently that were not, so I certainly understand people who like them. I just can't get a consistent workflow down with them I like. Once I do I'll probably use them a lot more.

Originally Posted by emorphien

IIRC bruce (slvrscoobie) shoots RAW but in B&W mode with his IR converted rebel. It makes it easier for him to view & figure out the images on the screen. But even if you shoot B&W in RAW mode, you can still extract a color image, it's just that the preview image on the back of the camera is in B&W.

I have thought about trying to do some of my b&w's like that, so that I can see them in-camera first and adjust in the field, but have never had success with Nikon b+w with in-camera "filters." I'll have to try out the 5D and see if it does any better.

Ben, figure out some default conversion settings in ACR that match your jpeg settings and save those. You can then apply them whenever you want and tweak from there.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

IMHO, all B+W conversions should be done in the computer...

Oh I agree, I think all processing should be done in the computer.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

The camera does an OK job of them, but why throw out the color info?

Why use picture styles?

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

It's way easier (at least for me) to get good/great conversions starting with a color file in PS than an out of the camera B+W...

And it's way easier for me to get good looking shots in general by doing all processing on the computer, and not in camera.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

and P.S.:
Why the hell is this in the admin section? The PotN Sucks portion/rant should be, but the rest should be in Marks PP question thread. This is great info all the users should be able to look at IMHO.

We should find someone to move all the posts...

I wonder if picture styles used in the camera carry over to RAW? Maybe only DPP would recognize them.

And yes, someone could move the posts. If only we had an administrator to do that.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

some of us don't need a net...

Touche JPGsen. I like my net, frankly I dont think I need it persay... my results just come out all weird shooting JPG. I could try neutral settings in picture styles tho.

Originally Posted by emorphien

But even if you shoot B&W in RAW mode, you can still extract a color image, it's just that the preview image on the back of the camera is in B&W.

yes that's true but you're still shooting RAW... Setting the picture style just tricks the display into using that setting for the thumbnail.

Originally Posted by emorphien

I wonder if picture styles used in the camera carry over to RAW? Maybe only DPP would recognize them.

I know that ACR opens with some default contrast/sharpening/brightness but I never thought to see if that comes from the style settings.

Originally Posted by emorphien

And yes, someone could move the posts. If only we had an administrator to do that.

I no longer hold that title. I'm a slinky.

Originally Posted by emorphien

Yeah but we're trying to make them look good

I knew I was missing something.