> Posted by Matt Maynard (Mattmaynard)
> What are the advantages of using the NEF format and what
> can you do with them in Photoshop that would be of concern to me?
RAW is simply the digital output of your sensor, unprocessed by the camera, saved directly to your card. It is a format that has 12-bits of information for each channel (Red, Green and Blue) compared to 8-bits for TIFF or JPEG. It allows you to adjust things like exposure and colour balance when importing it into Photoshop. It has the potential to produce the highest quality your camera can give you under difficult circumstances.
To get the most out of it, you really need Photoshop CS, which lets you load it at the full 12-bits per channel into spacious 16-bit per channel workspace and perform all image processing steps without ever having to reduce it to 8-bits per channel. It also takes some skill and experience in image processing to get the most out of it.
It is particularly useful in mixed light situations, since the file can be reopened with each area of the image receiving its own colour balance, with these being combined through layering and layer masks. It can also use a similar method to gain extended dynamic range, as one would do with a set of auto-bracket exposures. I have a tutorial with numerous ex&les at
http://www.larry-bolch.com/layers.htm
What is the cost? Speed and storage. In-camera rocessing is much quicker for Fine JPEG and the resulting file is much smaller. If one is skilled with the camera using proper exposure and white balance, there may be no visible difference between a print from a Fine and a RAW image under normal photographic circumstances. There is also the cost of Photoshop CS.
Is it worthwhile? Absolutely when shooting in mixed light, on the street at night with an uncertain white balance, under extremely contrasty conditions and so on. It works fine under good lighting, but offers no visible advantage.
I use it quite often, because I really like to shoot places others might find difficult or impossible. I also use it when I am lazy - someone wants a shot of a camera or accessory, and I don't feel like setting up under carefully controlled light for a quick and dirty over the 'net. When shooting under less extreme conditions, I shoot Fine JPEG.
It has become a bit of a cult-thing on the net in some forums. While it is a very useful file format, it is not the Messiah. You may get advice to NEVER, EVER shot anything but RAW. Fine, if you don't mind a slow unresponisive camera and a card that fills quickly for no good reason. However, in difficult circumstances - if you have the image processing skills - it is quite useful.
larry!
http://www.larry-bolch.com/
ICQ 76620504