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Old 05-08-2010, 06:05 PM
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hotspur (Chris)
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16 bit files,how??

Hi Folks

Started taking photos in RAW and attempting to use CS5 (and I really mean attempting!).

I got some instructions from AP,and have them printed out.I notice the files

others using are '16 bit',when I import them they come up as '8 bit'

It appears the 16 bit is the better file type.

How do you get from 8 bit to 16 bit?? is there a setting in camera or is there a setting in CS 5 you have to activate?

Some guidance would be wonderful,As this is a big learning curve,actually thats another thing I have to learn about too (curves)
Chris
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Old 05-08-2010, 07:24 PM
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wasyoungonce (Brendan)
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Are you sure your files are all RAW and some are not jpeg?

My 450D has a RAW bit depth of 14 and jpg depth of 8 bit (all jpgs are 8 bit). I right click & open raw files with CS3 and the DNG converter pops up with a box calling the image 16 bit.

I think when opening RAW files in photoshop it (the DNG converter) re-scales the bit depth to 16, see pic, with the dialogue box.

DSS and such like usually save files as 16bit Tiffs.

edit:
forgot the happy snap.
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Last edited by wasyoungonce; 05-08-2010 at 07:35 PM.
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Old 05-08-2010, 07:33 PM
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mill (Martin)
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Goto "Image -->> mode -->> 16 bit and you will be working in 16bit.
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Old 06-08-2010, 06:44 AM
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hotspur (Chris)
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re bit files

Thanks Martian,I thought it would be something like that,

I take photos in both JPEG and RAW at the same time.

Thanks for help chaps

regards Chris
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Old 06-08-2010, 07:02 AM
luigi
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RAW files are not really a graphic format but a representation of the data the camra sensor captured. You have to "develop" (convert) the RAWs in a graphic format first. You can do that in many different applications, PS, Canon DPP, ACR , Capture One, DxO etc etc. When you develop the RAWs save/convert them to 16 bit tiff files.

If you read an 8 bit file in PS and use edit->convert to 16 bits you are stil in 8 bits mode. It's like having a number in 2 decimals format and converting to 4 decimals, you have to start with the 4 decimals!

Hope it helps.
Luis
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Old 06-08-2010, 07:13 AM
cfranks (Charles)
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My belief is always capture in RAW. 16 bit images have 2**16 range (0=Black to 65536=White). In order to display the image (printer or monitor) it has to be converted to jpeg = 8 bit = 2**8 = 256 levels. You permanently lose a huge amount of data when converting to jpeg so always keep your RAW originals. Eventually your post-processing experience grows and a revisit to some old pics may find you can glean an APOD or two.

Charles
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Old 06-08-2010, 10:56 AM
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hotspur (Chris)
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re files

OK,Luis,if I get a magic shot and I am happy with my tweeks in CS5 and I save it as a TIFF,can I get a TIFF image printed out at the photo shop?

I think I heard someone say that TIFF images can be printed in very large sizes.All I know is that they are a really HUGE file.

What is the best format to store images in that you want to get printed?

Thanks for advice.Chris
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Old 06-08-2010, 11:11 AM
luigi
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Most photo shops print from 8bit jpeg files as printers as well as screens are 8bit devices. The advantage of the 16 bits is only seen when editing, you have more room to massage the photo in PS if you work in 16bits. Less information is destroyed. The output world is mostly 8 bits.

So you go from

RAW ----developer--> 16bit Tiff ---edit PS--> 16 bit Tiff ---convert--> 8bit output

To make it more clear if you are sure the RAW doesn't need any editing at all then you can just convert it to 8 bits for printing.
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Old 06-08-2010, 03:41 PM
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hotspur (Chris)
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re bit files

Thanks Luis.

That explanation is helpful,I have been manipulating in 8 bit files,and I notice

on closer examination the pictures are looking like information is been destroyed.I will start working in 16 bit files now.From what I can gather it will
make a positive difference.

cheers Chris
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