Art of RAW Conversion: How to Produce Art-Quality Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Leading RAW Converters 
asked by maxmill on November 17, 2006 10:07 AM
The RAW file format used by digital cameras is essentially the raw data that a camera captures when it takes a photo. RAW files allow the digital photographer to edit and manipulate their photos with less data loss than in other file formats (such as JPEG). There are many RAW conversion tools, and it's often a good idea to use more than one to get optimal results.
The Art of RAW Conversion shows digital photographers how to work with the RAW files generated by a digital camera to produce the best possible image quality in finished photos. The authors (both experts in digital photography, file processing, printing, and color management) describe the conversion tools used to enhance RAW files and maximize photo quality. All techniques covered are based on practical experience and explained with step-by-step instructions, so that readers will be able to apply what they learn and create their own fine art-quality photographs. Covers Adobe Photoshop CS and other leading RAW converters.
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Many photographers surrender control over their images to their cameras' built-in converters: take back the art by understanding how to manipulate RAW files with THE ART OF RAW CONVERSION: HOW TO PRODUCE ART-QUALITY PHOTOS WITH ADOVE PHOTOSHOP CS2 AND LEADING RAW CONVERTERS. From calibrating a digital camera to work with RAW files and understanding differences between the leading RAW converters to manipulating both color and black and white images, this is for the neo-pro who wants to get the most out of his camera.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
reviewed by reviewer on November 23, 2006 6:38 AM
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Most digital cameras deliver pictures in jpeg format by default. Digital SLRs and many more advanced digicams provide a RAW format as an alternative. While jpeg provides convenience, the RAW format can give you more photographic information, more flexibility, and ultimately better pictures.
As the subtitle says, Art of RAW Conversion will show your How to Produce Art-Quality Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Leading RAW Converters. This book will give you everything you need to get the most out of your RAW images. The introduction provides a clear description of how digicams work and why working with RAW can be so advantageous. The RAW image can be thought of as a digital negative or slide while the jpeg is more like a print. With RAW images, you can choose camera settings such as white balance, sharpness, saturation, and contrast later while reviewing the picture on your computer rather than at the moment you take the shot. Also, many RAW images capture 12 bits per pixel while jpegs only store eight. The extra headroom RAW provides can save a shot with blown highlights or dark shadows.
After describing the mechanics of digital photography and convincing the reader of the merits of RAW, the book gives a thorough overview of many RAW converters that are available. This includes those that come with the camera and third party options like Adobe Camera RAW, RawShooter, Lightroom, and Aperture. Each converter is covered in detail and compared with others. You'll get a good idea of each program's strengths and weaknesses.
The book goes beyond topics specific to RAW images with discussions on color management, workflow, file management, and more. There are some very helpful techniques on general image perfection such as sharpening, noise reduction, correcting distortion, etc.
I would recommend this book to anyone who:
- Wants to learn more about digital cameras and the RAW image format
- Wants a good comparison of RAW image converters and instructions on their use
- Wants to improve their digital photography workflow and image correction techniques.
The book is beautifully printed in glossy color with many examples throughout.
As the subtitle says, Art of RAW Conversion will show your How to Produce Art-Quality Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Leading RAW Converters. This book will give you everything you need to get the most out of your RAW images. The introduction provides a clear description of how digicams work and why working with RAW can be so advantageous. The RAW image can be thought of as a digital negative or slide while the jpeg is more like a print. With RAW images, you can choose camera settings such as white balance, sharpness, saturation, and contrast later while reviewing the picture on your computer rather than at the moment you take the shot. Also, many RAW images capture 12 bits per pixel while jpegs only store eight. The extra headroom RAW provides can save a shot with blown highlights or dark shadows.
After describing the mechanics of digital photography and convincing the reader of the merits of RAW, the book gives a thorough overview of many RAW converters that are available. This includes those that come with the camera and third party options like Adobe Camera RAW, RawShooter, Lightroom, and Aperture. Each converter is covered in detail and compared with others. You'll get a good idea of each program's strengths and weaknesses.
The book goes beyond topics specific to RAW images with discussions on color management, workflow, file management, and more. There are some very helpful techniques on general image perfection such as sharpening, noise reduction, correcting distortion, etc.
I would recommend this book to anyone who:
- Wants to learn more about digital cameras and the RAW image format
- Wants a good comparison of RAW image converters and instructions on their use
- Wants to improve their digital photography workflow and image correction techniques.
The book is beautifully printed in glossy color with many examples throughout.
reviewed by h2o on November 29, 2006 7:02 PM
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Finally we have access to the RAW workflow expertise of Uwe Steinmueller in book form. And what a beautiful print version this is! Steinmueller, the publisher of OutbackPhoto.com on the Web, is well known for his comprehensive e-books on RAW workflow and other topics. This book is a treatise on RAW workflow which I think should be the first resource for the serious advanced amateur or professional photographer.
The author's aim is to produce great images. The emphasis is on the final result, not the technique per se. He encourages the photographer to trust his eyes, while manipulating the various tools. To that end the author sprinkles the book with beautiful photographs from his extensive portfolio.
As far as technique, the book covers the major RAW converter applications of the day. It does not replace the application's user manuals, rather highlights, in a convenient way, the features/controls of the various programs. And it does not matter if these applications will be surpassed tomorrow, as the instruction aims at process rather than specific controls.
Run, do not walk, to add this resource to your reference library!
The author's aim is to produce great images. The emphasis is on the final result, not the technique per se. He encourages the photographer to trust his eyes, while manipulating the various tools. To that end the author sprinkles the book with beautiful photographs from his extensive portfolio.
As far as technique, the book covers the major RAW converter applications of the day. It does not replace the application's user manuals, rather highlights, in a convenient way, the features/controls of the various programs. And it does not matter if these applications will be surpassed tomorrow, as the instruction aims at process rather than specific controls.
Run, do not walk, to add this resource to your reference library!
reviewed by corral on November 29, 2006 7:07 PM
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The book has a compelling title and is co-authored by a popular Internet photo personality. It also has an interesting visual design which is strongly supported by some wonderful photographs (mostly by the authors I assume) and top-notch color printing. The type design is a bit jarring.
But in the final analysis the book presents little in the way of "art"-producing tips regarding conversion of RAW digital image files. Rather, it falls into the trap of trying to cover too much ground too thinly. For example, a significant portion of the book is devoted to presenting micro-manuals for several current RAW converters. This is low-value material that has a very short shelf life (one of the products has already been sold), generally represents nothing more than enumerations of product features, and is covered by the products' documentation. The fact of the matter is that the current generation of RAW conversion tools has much more in common than in distinction. They could easily have been adequately, and perhaps more usefully, covered through a generalized discussion of these commonalities.
Much of the remainder of the book's material is devoted to very basic coverage of generic topics such as workflow and understanding color (ugh).
In summary, this book is far from a presentation of the "Art of RAW Conversion". Intermediate and advanced readers looking for insights and tips from "...active pioneers of RAW file processing and digital workflow" (as the authors' descriptions are worded) will leave empty-handed. Beginners looking for a primer on RAW image treatment might find themselves so bewildered by the book's attention deficit disorder format that they flee back to the familiar JPG image file format.
Bruce Fraser's "Real World Camera Raw" and, more recently, Mikkel Aaland's "Photoshop CS2 RAW" are both more direct and instructive treatments of the subject, albeit they both consider Adobe's Camera Raw converter exclusively.
But in the final analysis the book presents little in the way of "art"-producing tips regarding conversion of RAW digital image files. Rather, it falls into the trap of trying to cover too much ground too thinly. For example, a significant portion of the book is devoted to presenting micro-manuals for several current RAW converters. This is low-value material that has a very short shelf life (one of the products has already been sold), generally represents nothing more than enumerations of product features, and is covered by the products' documentation. The fact of the matter is that the current generation of RAW conversion tools has much more in common than in distinction. They could easily have been adequately, and perhaps more usefully, covered through a generalized discussion of these commonalities.
Much of the remainder of the book's material is devoted to very basic coverage of generic topics such as workflow and understanding color (ugh).
In summary, this book is far from a presentation of the "Art of RAW Conversion". Intermediate and advanced readers looking for insights and tips from "...active pioneers of RAW file processing and digital workflow" (as the authors' descriptions are worded) will leave empty-handed. Beginners looking for a primer on RAW image treatment might find themselves so bewildered by the book's attention deficit disorder format that they flee back to the familiar JPG image file format.
Bruce Fraser's "Real World Camera Raw" and, more recently, Mikkel Aaland's "Photoshop CS2 RAW" are both more direct and instructive treatments of the subject, albeit they both consider Adobe's Camera Raw converter exclusively.
reviewed by reader99 on November 29, 2006 7:25 PM