Greetings, I am having a difficult time converting some of my RAW phgotos (16 bits) to JPEGS in PSCS3. The option is not there for the most case. Do I have to re-process every photo in 8 bit to post in NPN? Seems like a lot of work. There must be an easier way. I will ask the experts. Thank your for your time.
Bill, what camera are you using? If the camera was introduced after CS3 was released, the camera RAW plug-in in CS3 won't handle the RAW images. That's a simple fix. You can go to www.adobe.com and download for free the latest CS3 camera RAW plug-in, and there are instructions on that site for installing it.
Then you'll be good to go.
At least, it sounds like that could be your problem. It also could be something else. Given the words you used, are you saying that CS3 sometimes converts your RAW images and sometimes not?
And you do have to adjust to 8-bit color to post on NPN or any other online forum. Generally, jpeg is used to post photos online, and that is an 8-bit format.
Once you install the RAW converter, I suggest that you convert the files to TIFF format. This TIFF file becomes your 'Master File'.
Assuming your goal is to post a picture on NPN...
Open your master file in PS and then duplicate it. Close the master file. Convert the 16-bit copy of your file to 8-bit. Make your adjustments to the image. Save the file using a new name. Resize the file to your desired size, ensuring it meets the NPN posting guidelines, and then sharpen it. Now, either use 'Save for the Web' or 'Save As' to save the file as a JPEG.
TIFF files not only support layers; they are 'lossless'. This means that you can open, save, and close the file as often as you like without losing any picture data. This is not true with JPEG files. Every time you save and then re-open a JPEG, some data is discarded, resulting in reduced image quality.
I hope you get this sorted out.
Cheers,
-PB
Posted by David Foster on June 14, 2008 at 10:38 AM
TIFF files not only support layers; they are 'lossless'.
Not completely accurate. LZW or ZIP algorithms are lossless, but a TIFF can also use JPEG compression which is lossy. Be careful with the compression options. Of course, TIFFs can be uncompressed as well.
Posted by Richard Ditch on June 14, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Work in 16 bit to preserve as much detail and tonal range as possible.
Save your master file as a layered tif.
Flatten your image to a single layer and change the mode to 8 bit before saving as a jpeg for web posting. Since jpegs cannot be 16 bit Photoshop grays out the jpeg option if you haven't converted to 8 bit at some pint. Once you've converted the jpeg option will be available in the Save dialog.
If you are processing lots of images and/or just want to save a step in your workflow, you can eliminate the flattening step Richard mentioned. PS will automatically flatten it for you when you save as a JPEG
Discussion
7 repliesThen you'll be good to go.
At least, it sounds like that could be your problem. It also could be something else. Given the words you used, are you saying that CS3 sometimes converts your RAW images and sometimes not?
And you do have to adjust to 8-bit color to post on NPN or any other online forum. Generally, jpeg is used to post photos online, and that is an 8-bit format.
Once you install the RAW converter, I suggest that you convert the files to TIFF format. This TIFF file becomes your 'Master File'.
Assuming your goal is to post a picture on NPN...
Open your master file in PS and then duplicate it. Close the master file. Convert the 16-bit copy of your file to 8-bit. Make your adjustments to the image. Save the file using a new name. Resize the file to your desired size, ensuring it meets the NPN posting guidelines, and then sharpen it. Now, either use 'Save for the Web' or 'Save As' to save the file as a JPEG.
TIFF files not only support layers; they are 'lossless'. This means that you can open, save, and close the file as often as you like without losing any picture data. This is not true with JPEG files. Every time you save and then re-open a JPEG, some data is discarded, resulting in reduced image quality.
I hope you get this sorted out.
Cheers,
-PB
Not completely accurate. LZW or ZIP algorithms are lossless, but a TIFF can also use JPEG compression which is lossy. Be careful with the compression options. Of course, TIFFs can be uncompressed as well.
Save your master file as a layered tif.
Flatten your image to a single layer and change the mode to 8 bit before saving as a jpeg for web posting. Since jpegs cannot be 16 bit Photoshop grays out the jpeg option if you haven't converted to 8 bit at some pint. Once you've converted the jpeg option will be available in the Save dialog.
-PB
Bill