I really would like to try shooting in raw, but I have no idea how to edit it.
I've looked up previous discussions and they've mostly said Lightroom 3, but I can't afford that at the moment. I have a Nikon D5100 camera and photoshop elements. Do you know of any software that is free and downloadable from the internet?
I may be wrong but i think you can edit RAW from Elements 8 upwards.. version 11 is out now and is really good value for money, it was on Amazon the other day for about £35...
@markyl I have elements on one computer, but I'm on a different one at the moment. I'll have a look at that once I get back on the other computer.
Thanks!
From memory I think you can do some basic raw editing in the Nikon software which came with your camera. Other than that you could look at GIMP. They have a raw plugin you could use.
If you're an Apple Mac use then Apple's Aperture application can work on a huge range of RAW files. I've used it with various Pentax cameras and now use it with my Nikon D300. It's quite similar to Lightroom but somewhat cheaper, though not free. As others have said, the Nikon software supplied with the camera will allow you to manipulate the RAW files.
Pedantically, of course, you DON'T edit raw files: you edit the metadata associated with the RAW data and which controls how the image is presented. Aperture refers to the original RAW file as the Master and a set of modifications as a version. A single Master can have multiple versions associated with it, this is a feature I've used many times. I believe Lightroom can do this too.
@smalbon thanks! I wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. I use a windows computer and I do have a program that came with my camera, but have misplaced it.
Re: the tiny images. You need to install the RAW plug-in to edit your files using Gimp.
Photivo and Rawtherapee are a couple of other free applications you could try.
I edit raw in PSE 10. And actually the initial processing you do of the raw files to use them in PSE 10 is just like Lightroom-same sliders to adjust exposure, fill light, recovery, clarity, saturation etc. The only things you don't get in using PSE instead are all the lightroom presets-which is fine, you can recreate most of them anyways. I don't even use lightroom much anymore unless there's some easy and specific preset I know I want to use and that's it.
Like Stephan said, Aperture works well for the mac and is also an excellent storage/organization tool. It also has a feature called 'vault' where you can back up all your files and it keeps every version intact -- raw, jpeg, originals, edited versions. I use an external drive as the vault as a backup.
Nikon usually have a new NEF (RAW) format for each new camera. You need to check that the version you get will be compatible with your camera. Just because a program will edit NEF files from e.g. a D90 does not mean it will edit them from a D5100. Please don't spend money without checking first. Having said all that it is usually possible to get an upgrade plug in...but make sure it's available before you commit.
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http://www.scarablabs.com/scarab-darkroom
Pedantically, of course, you DON'T edit raw files: you edit the metadata associated with the RAW data and which controls how the image is presented. Aperture refers to the original RAW file as the Master and a set of modifications as a version. A single Master can have multiple versions associated with it, this is a feature I've used many times. I believe Lightroom can do this too.
I just know that a lot of people using RAW files do use GIMP for editing... as it's very compatible!
Sorry I can't be of much use... I normally Google GIMP problems when I get them... It's always helped me out so far!
Photivo and Rawtherapee are a couple of other free applications you could try.
@lynnb: iPhoto is really, truly, a beginner's tool, not much better than a toy. I have it on my MacBook Pro and avoid it like the plague....
http://rawtherapee.com/downloads