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RAW processing

A RAW converter is software that processes RAW files from a camera and converts them into regular image files. Not all RAW converters are the same. The closest analogy is the different developers used to process film. Examples include Adobe Camera Raw, Capture One Pro and DxO PhotoLab.

Capture One 23 review

December 3, 2022 by Rod Lawton

Verdict: 4.8 stars Capture One 23 is a professional Lightroom rival that offers a step up in both image quality and editing tools, and supports a greater variety of professional workflows. The RAW processing is excellent, the editing tools are powerful and the new Cull view, layered Styles and improved Variant handling alone make the upgrade look worth it. Capture One is not cheap, but it’s designed for professional, quality-orientated workflows.

Filed Under: Best software, Capture One, Featured, ReviewsTagged With: Adjustment layer, Asset management, Capture One, Cataloguing software, Culling, DAM (Digital Asset Management), Masks, RAW processing, Session (Capture One), Style (Capture One), Tethered shooting, Variant (Capture One)

ON1 Photo RAW 2023 review

December 1, 2022 by Rod Lawton

Verdict: 4.5 stars ON1 Photo RAW 2023 is probably the closest thing there is to a photo editor that does absolutely everything. This version adds AI subject recognition and masking features. ON1 Photo RAW’s scope and ambitions are impressive, though the AI doesn’t always work perfectly and ON1 Photo RAW 2023 can sometimes feel sluggish.

Filed Under: Best software, Featured, ON1 Photo RAW, ReviewsTagged With: AI (artificial intelligence), Browser (photos), Cataloguing software, Noise reduction, Non-destructive editing, NoNoise AI, ON1 Photo RAW, Portrait enhancement, RAW processing, Subject recognition, Tack Sharp AI

DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite review

October 6, 2022 by Rod Lawton

Verdict: 4.5 stars PhotoLab 6 has important improvements over version 5 which make it even better for quality fixated photographers. The PhotoLibrary organizing tools are catching up at last and the new DeepPRIME XD processing is superb. Add in the excellent editing tools and local adjustments, and you have perhaps the best RAW processor of all.

Filed Under: Best software, Featured, PhotoLab, ReviewsTagged With: Aberrations, Barrel distortion, Control point, Corner shading, DeepPRIME (DxO), Distortion, DxO, Lens corrections, Noise reduction, PhotoLab (DxO), RAW processing, Virtual Copy (Lightroom)

4 reasons to shoot RAW+JPEG and not just RAW files

September 1, 2022 by Rod Lawton

images on laptop screen

But why would you want both? Surely a RAW file is superior, as it has everything you need and a JPEG version is simply superfluous? Well maybe not, and here are 4 reasons why.

Filed Under: Featured, ListiclesTagged With: 14-bit RAW, 8-bit images, JPEG vs RAW, RAW processing, RAW+JPEG

ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 8 review

August 6, 2022 by Life after Photoshop

Verdict: 2.5 stars ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 8 is the MacOS version of ACDSee’s all-in-one Photo Studio application. From its features, it looks like a strong rival to Lightroom or ON1 Photo RAW, for example, but the reality is very different. It’s both basic and technical at the same time, it’s missing features many might take for granted, and it looks like a Windows program ported on to the Mac, even if it isn’t.

Filed Under: Best software, Featured, ReviewsTagged With: ACDSee, Browser (photos), Cataloguing software, RAW processing

Open in Camera Raw: the Lightroom alternative right under your nose!

April 16, 2022 by Life after Photoshop

Adobe Bridge and Camera Raw make a great alternative to Lightroom, with all the same editing tools but in a simpler workflow with no tiresome imports, just ‘live’ image browsing and editing.

Filed Under: Featured, Lightroom, Tutorials, WorkflowTagged With: Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), Bridge (Adobe), Browser (photos), RAW processing

Adobe Lightroom Classic review (2022)

April 13, 2022 by Life after Photoshop

Verdict: 4.5 stars Lightroom Classic’s latest masking tool updates make it more powerful than ever, though it’s still not fast to use and its interface is quite cluttered and oppressive. And do we still need all these different modules?

Filed Under: Best software, Featured, Lightroom, ReviewsTagged With: Adobe, Cataloguing software, Lightroom Classic (Adobe), Noise reduction, Non-destructive editing, Photography Plan (Adobe), RAW processing, Subject recognition, Subscription software

Why calling RAW files ‘digital negatives’ is only half right

April 6, 2022 by Life after Photoshop

RAW files are not quite ‘digital negatives’. They are actually more like the latent images on undeveloped film and need a ‘digital developer’. Choosing the best digital developer (RAW processing software) can make a big difference to your images.

Filed Under: Featured, General, WorkflowTagged With: Bayer sensor, Demosaicing, RAW file, RAW processing

10 myths about RAW files – and why they’re wrong

March 31, 2022 by Life after Photoshop

Almost any photographic expert will tell you that you should shoot RAW files not JPEGs, and that RAW files are innately superior. The trouble with this kind of wisdom is that it’s repeated and passed on without question.

Filed Under: General, Listicles, WorkflowTagged With: 14-bit RAW, 16-bit image, 8-bit images, Artefact/artifact, Bayer sensor, Bits and bit depth, Compression, Dynamic range, JPEG, JPEG vs RAW, Lens corrections, Lossy/lossless compression, Noise reduction, RAW file, RAW processing, RAW+JPEG, TIFF, White balance

Adobe Lightroom review (2022)

March 6, 2022 by Life after Photoshop

Lightroom 2022

Verdict: 4 stars Lightroom is Adobe’s bold vision of a cloud-based photo organizing and editing tool where all your images can be organised, edited and viewed anywhere on any device. For mobile users and content creators it’s a clever and effective proposition, but for regular photographers, while its editing tools continue to impress, its restrictions, the closed nature of its editing ecosystem and its cost remain a major barrier.

Filed Under: Best software, Featured, Lightroom, ReviewsTagged With: Adobe, AI (artificial intelligence), Album, Asset management, Catalog, Cataloguing software, Cloud storage, Creative Cloud (Adobe), DAM (Digital Asset Management), Lightroom (Adobe), Non-destructive editing, Photography Plan (Adobe), RAW processing, Sensei (Adobe), Smart album/collection, Subject recognition

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