Join Now
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
...and would really appreciate a little guidance on the next step!
I have a Nikon D40, and use Paintshop Pro XI. And the simple truth is I don't know where to start with shooting RAW files. I understand there is a much greater degree of control and adjustment available (so in a continuing effort to improve my photography skills I need to get to grips with it) but I really don't know what to do once I have my NEF file...
It needs converting. That much i have gathered. But do I need to shell out another £139 for Nikon Capture DX? PP XI doesn't seem to like NEF files much... and what do I convert it into?
(A polite P.S.... I posted this on another photography forum a while ago, and the one solitary response I did get was along the lines of "put the grown-up camera down, and go back to your colouring books.."
Constructive advice - or even a pointer towards it - would be appreciated. Smartarse remarks and condescending attitude will be accepted ONLY if you popped out of the womb a fully-fledged photo-editing guru. We all have to learn it somewhere/somehow...)
You will need to buy software I'm afraid, however how much you need to spend varies according to what you want to get out of the software.
If you don't want all the bells and whistles of the Nikon software (it is an image editing tool as well and very sophisticated), then I recommend either Photoshop Elements or as you have Paintshop Pro already, why not just invest in a product called Breezebrowser (link). It's a nifty bit of software, not very expensive (has a free trial so you can see how you get on), does RAW conversion and so much more (batch format conversions, batch renamings, resizing, all sorts of thing)
Also look at Capture One and Bibble, which aren't free but cheaper than Nikon Capture.
Don't look at RAW as a difficult step up from jpeg, more as using your camera's best quality setting. Everything still works the same, but you get more post-capture control. You have the extra step of adjusting white balance, contrast etc., and converting to another format for further editing, if needed. You can convert straight to a jpeg if you want, or to tiff which is a better quality, lossless file than can be reworked without damaging it. RAW files off the camera may not look as good as jpegs, but only because they don't have the camera's colour, contrast and sharpening settings applied.
Speaking of Capture One, not sure if the deal is still available, but you could get a licence key when you bought a SanDisk CF card a short while ago. I got the software but never got round to trying it out, and I'm fairly sure I may still have a second unused licence key with another memory card I bought, but I'd have to check when I was back home...
Well thank you all for your responses, much appreciated. Am looking at Capture One right now and am going to go for the 30 day free trial. Not only does it look good in terms of layout, the tutorials are clear and concise too.
It's not that I object to forking out for software, just that I am really getting to grips with PP XI now, and don't want to buy another full image editing package. I didn't get into photography to spend my life with my head stuck in my computer!
Quote: Have a look at Irfanview - its a free programme which, I think, will support your Nikon RAW files
I use it as a RAW viewer (as i have lost my copy of the Nikon RAW software) and it is very good.
Anil.
Quote: I am really getting to grips with PP XI now, and don't want to buy another full image editing package
I would walk away from Capture One then as it's not just a RAW conversion software but a full image editing package (a good product though).
Quote: Edit:
There is an update avialable from Corel website for RAW files.
Martyn
There's your answer 
Quote: I would walk away from Capture One then as it's not just a RAW conversion software but a full image editing package (a good product though).
Your not getting your Captures mixed up are you Barry 
Capture One is a very good raw convertor and one I have used extensively plus the support is excellent, though Lightroom may well be worth a try if you want spend less time in front of the computer
HTH
Stu
Add a Comment
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.
Login or Join Now
New to ePHOTOzine? Join ePHOTOzine for free!
Related Content
Join Our Free Newsletter
Awards
Current Competitions
foliopic 'Movement' Competition
1st May 2012 - 31st May 2012
This month's competition theme is 'Movement' which can be interpreted in a number of ways. You could photograph an animal running, a person walking or a car speeding...Featured e2 Photo
Featured Directory Listing
May's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.
Interact
Photography Gallery Photography Forums Recent Forum Activity Members' Meetings Members' BlogsSearch ePHOTOzine
Having trouble or would like to make a suggestion? Create a report
Calibrate your monitor so you can see 16 different shades.
ePHOTOzine © 2001 - 2012 Magezine Publishing | Contact Us | Site Map | Top