37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Across the Board, October 5, 2006
This review is from: Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives: A Complete Digital Photographer's Guide to Raw Imaging (Paperback)
When a digital camera takes a picture it saves the information in a digital file. This file may be processed by the camera for easier viewing or use. RAW is the name of the file format for unprocessed data. This RAW file is capable of more manipulation when transferred to a computer than a processed picture, like one in the JPG format. This allows a photographer to make the file look more like his or her vision.
This book offers guidance on using the raw format, starting with set up of the camera for saving a picture in RAW, through processing, to archiving the image. There are several books in print that explain how to use the popular Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) software, which is part of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, for processing RAW files. But ACR is not the only software available for processing RAW files, even if it is the most prominent. Unlike other books, this volume takes a step back and looks at the range of software available for RAW processing including independent software like Capture One, Raw Shooter and Bibble, and camera manufacturers' software like Nikon Capture. The authors also consider related software, like Adobe Bridge and Extensis Portfolio, as well as some new software that takes a different approach to handling RAW files, like Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom.
Unfortunately, this effort to take the long view has its problems. The authors look at different software packages for RAW processing, and point out the most important features of each, However there is not enough depth to allow readers to make a decision as to which package is best for them. If it is impossible to provide that much information in a book of this length, I would have liked to see the authors provide their comparative conclusions as to which software was most appropriate for photographers with different goals and bents.
The same problem exists with regard to other aspects of the long view. For example the author's note that both Extensis Portfolio and Adobe Bridge have the capability of searching archived files for keywords. But they don't make any comparison that shows the advantages and disadvantages of the two. I conducted an experiment to search one thousand files for a single keyword. With Portfolio the search took less than a second. The same search with Bridge took more than five minutes. Yet, if I were working in Bridge with a small file set, it would be more convenient to search keywords with Bridge than to start Portfolio. While I don't need to see this exact comparison, I would have liked to see a more detailed comparison than was provided.
At the other end of the scale, the authors give far more detailed instruction on the use of ACR than on any other converter. Unfortunately, it's just not quite deep enough. They show you how to manipulate the controls in ACR but leave out many of the fine points. For example, most experts recommend that you not sharpen your pictures in ACR. The authors also tell you this, although they do tell you how to adjust the sharpening slider. But it's easier to use the other controls if the picture is sharpened. ACR has a facility that allows you to view your file as sharpened, without actually applying sharpening. The authors don't mention this.
If you want to learn how to use ACR, for the beginner I recommend Mikkel Aaland's "Photoshop CS2 Raw" and for the more experienced user, Rob Sheppard's "Adobe Camera Raw for Digital Photographers Only". But if you want a broad overview of the entire RAW process, with an introduction to all aspects, including software, I haven't found a book comparable to this.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for a beginner, February 6, 2007
This review is from: Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives: A Complete Digital Photographer's Guide to Raw Imaging (Paperback)
I am not an expert, but as someone trying to improve my skills with Raw, this book definately covers the waterfront. I am very pleased. It has a very nice mix of text pictures and examples. Very easy to follow, and offers a wide choice of options for editors, setting up a workflow and covering the subject.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives, July 6, 2007
This review is from: Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives: A Complete Digital Photographer's Guide to Raw Imaging (Paperback)
Surprisingly, there are few if any books that cover RAW workflow these days; so any book that covers this important subject for the digital photographer is to be welcomed. Not surprisingly though, Focal Press have been the first to fill the niche with this excellent guide written collaboratively between Philip Andrews, Yvonne Butler, and Joe Farace. The book covers all subjects RAW, from capturing images through to archiving them. The initial chapter is aimed at the newcomer to RAW imaging, explaining what RAW is, the various formats, and the advantages and disadvantages of using it. In addition, for the beginner there is a chapter outlining the step by step procedure for capturing your first RAW images. There are two whole chapters devoted to getting the most out of Adobe Camera RAW, one for Elements users and one for CS/CS2 users. These chapters are probably the most informative and helpful I have read on the subject, with clear descriptions and examples of what each of the controls in the software do. Camera manufacturers' own RAW conversion software is also discussed, along with "Third Party" converters like Capture One and Pixmantec Rawshooter. The chapter discussing how to establish your own RAW workflow is also very helpful for beginner and more experienced alike. The "new kids on the block", when it comes to processing RAW files i.e. Lightroom from Adobe and Aperture from Apple are covered in some depth, again very informatively. These two pieces of software are the future of RAW image processing, as they allow you to perform the entire workflow using only the RAW image. The final two chapters give some useful advice on organising your images and suggestions on archiving them. This book is again of the same high standard that Focal Press is renowned for, with full colour throughout, clear screenshots and examples in abundance. For those new to RAW imaging you will find a mine of helpful information here to guide you through an oft-perplexing subject. The book's skill however, is to not only lead the beginner through the subject, but also to teach the more advanced user a few new tricks.
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