Posted by Howard Cihak on September 5, 2011 at 4:12 AM
Is there a way to batch convert RAW files uploaded from the camera to 16 bit files in PS5? I'm doing it one image at a time and it's tedious.
Posted by John Mumaw on September 5, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Your images should automatically open as 16 bit files in CS5 via Adobe Camera RAW, Howard.
If they don't, then open a RAW file in ACR and edit your settings by clicking on the hot link directly below the image, where you'll see 'Workflow Options' (Space, Depth, Size, Resolution, etc.). If the depth is set at 8 bit, then you'llfind the problem.
Note that converting an 8 bit file to 16 bit depth after the fact will not recover the original depth that a native 16 bit conversion provides. Sorta like converting a native sRGB color space to AdobeRGB.
Posted by Howard Cihak on September 5, 2011 at 6:12 PM
Thanks, John. You're an incredible and valuable resource when it comes to PS.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on September 5, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Howard, once you set your ACR options like John stated, you can batch them into 16-bit Photoshop files easily too, using Bridge:
» Select all the desired raw images in Bridge.
» Right-click on one of the selected images and choose "Open in Camera Raw..." (or hit CTRL+R on PC, Command+R on the Mac)
» All the raw images will open in ACR, listed on the left side. Just click the Select All button above them.
» OK, almost there: at the bottom, click the "Save Images..."
» Up pops a window: pick your Save location for the PSDs, and change the DropDown box to Photoshop format. Click OK and let 'er rip!
Two optional things: one is to remove the numbering option that's there by default, it'll add a 3-digit number to your filenames. On the second DropDown, just change it to a blank. Or add whatever you would like to the filenames, such as "Monument Valley". Pretty neat feature. Second thing: if the batch of images needs any ACR work that will be the same on all images such as a white balance settings or anything else, do the adjustment to the top image. Then after you select all the images, hit Synchronize and the ACR edit will hit each image. Then hit Save and watch the fun.
Note also that many (almost all?) digital cameras measure in 12-bit space, then record it in 16-bit information. That's not really important, though, because it's still better to work in 16-bit as long as possible. But it would be nice if our cameras actually recorded 16-bit color, in a wide-gamut colorspace such as ProPhotoRGB. We're not there yet. I hope that it's coming...
Posted by Tom Stermitz on September 7, 2011 at 9:50 AM
You can also convert a series of selected images from Bridge via the Tools:Photoshop menu. I usually use Tools:Photoshop:ImageProcessor, so I can't say what the other options do. The ImageProcessor lets you rescale, convert color space, and save to another directory.
Discussion
5 repliesIf they don't, then open a RAW file in ACR and edit your settings by clicking on the hot link directly below the image, where you'll see 'Workflow Options' (Space, Depth, Size, Resolution, etc.). If the depth is set at 8 bit, then you'llfind the problem.
Note that converting an 8 bit file to 16 bit depth after the fact will not recover the original depth that a native 16 bit conversion provides. Sorta like converting a native sRGB color space to AdobeRGB.
» Select all the desired raw images in Bridge.
» Right-click on one of the selected images and choose "Open in Camera Raw..." (or hit CTRL+R on PC, Command+R on the Mac)
» All the raw images will open in ACR, listed on the left side. Just click the Select All button above them.
» OK, almost there: at the bottom, click the "Save Images..."
» Up pops a window: pick your Save location for the PSDs, and change the DropDown box to Photoshop format. Click OK and let 'er rip!
Two optional things: one is to remove the numbering option that's there by default, it'll add a 3-digit number to your filenames. On the second DropDown, just change it to a blank. Or add whatever you would like to the filenames, such as "Monument Valley". Pretty neat feature. Second thing: if the batch of images needs any ACR work that will be the same on all images such as a white balance settings or anything else, do the adjustment to the top image. Then after you select all the images, hit Synchronize and the ACR edit will hit each image. Then hit Save and watch the fun.