When to leave a RAW file alone!

[davewebleyphotography]

Hi All,

Since buying my 60D I shoot everything in RAW, the only downside to this is knowing when to be happy with the tweaks and leave the file alone!

Does anyone else find this a problem?

Dave

[donoreo]

Try shooting in RAW+JPG for a while. Then compare.

[thefonz78]

Tell me about it! Remember anything you have done in raw is reversible. So don't worry about it to much. I tend to do the editing then finish up in Photoshop and save it as a psd which retails the layers. Leave it until the next day and take a look again with fresh eyes. If i don't like it i will open the raw file again and start again. Processing is as important as taking the shot may more.

[davewebleyphotography]

Originally Posted by thefonz78

Tell me about it! Remember anything you have done in raw is reversible. So don't worry about it to much. I tend to do the editing then finish up in Photoshop and save it as a psd which retails the layers. Leave it until the next day and take a look again with fresh eyes. If i don't like it i will open the raw file again and start again. Processing is as important as taking the shot may more.

Cheers for that seems like a plan.

[dan123]

The majority of my shots have been looked at over the course of a few days, just tweaking until im happy, i then Try to get as much feedback as poss, the edit again as i see fit, but ill go back tweak here and there as my pp Knowlege grows, but if you think your going to far with it then stop,

Dan

[markgozz]

Like donoreo said , I always shot in RAW + JPEG and keep all my camera picture settings set at natural so that I have a reference point to keep my post processing under control .

Mark

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by davewebleyphotography

Hi All,

Since buying my 60D I shoot everything in RAW, the only downside to this is knowing when to be happy with the tweaks and leave the file alone!

Does anyone else find this a problem?

Dave

All Raw flies need tweeking as they are flat. If you are unsure then, as already suggested, shoot Raw plus fine Jpeg and compare the two. If will give you an idea of what to do with the Raw file.

[lesrhar]

I shoot with a Canon 10D and find that the RAW files lack punch. In most of my shots I boost the contrast and colour saturation very slightly in Digital Photo Professional. Most times that produces an acceptable image.

Depending on the effects I'm after there might be further processing in PS, but not all that often.

Les