Product Description

The RAW file format used by digital cameras is essentially the raw data that a camera captures when it takes a photo. RAW files allow the digital photographer to edit and manipulate their photos with less data loss than in other file formats (such as JPEG). There are many RAW conversion tools, and it's often a good idea to use more than one to get optimal results.

The Art of RAW Conversion shows digital photographers how to work with the RAW files generated by a digital camera to produce the best possible image quality in finished photos. The authors (both experts in digital photography, file processing, printing, and color management) describe the conversion tools used to enhance RAW files and maximize photo quality. All techniques covered are based on practical experience and explained with step-by-step instructions, so that readers will be able to apply what they learn and create their own fine art-quality photographs. Covers Adobe Photoshop CS and other leading RAW converters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #413174 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-12
• Format: Illustrated
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Graphics.com, June 7, 2006
"Focuses on how to maintain creative control of photos . . . [and] reflects the growing popularity of RAW workflows."

Boston Globe, June 12, 2006
"Provides a workflow you can follow to filter out imperfections and correct the lens distortions in your would-be masterpieces."

From the Back Cover
Ansel Adams never would have surrendered his negatives, but countless digital photographers surrender their images to their cameras built-in image converters. The Art of RAW Conversion, written by an expert in RAW photography, will show you how to regain creative control of your photos by working directly with the RAW file format.

This practical and beautifully illustrated guide explains the advantages of working with RAW files, which are the digital equivalent of film negatives, and then how to use RAW converters to create the best digital image from each shot. Mixing clear explanations with striking photographic examples, The Art of RAW Conversion covers today's most popular and innovative RAW converters (such as Camera RAW, RawShooter, Lightroom, and Aperture) and how to get the best results from each.

Highlights include:
• Techniques for calibrating a digital camera to work with RAW files
• How to get the best results from the leading RAW converters and when to use each
• Tips for color to black-and-white conversion
• Coverage of basic color management and batch processing
• Sections on Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom

Whether you're an amateur or a professional, The Art of RAW Conversion will take you beyond mere point-and-shoot photography, and show you how to achieve art-quality results with your digital camera.

Customer Reviews

Very complete set of readings and tutorials on the use of RAW
Art of Raw Conversion

reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher, Olathe, KS: (dreric1kansas@aol.com

Strengths: Very complete set of readings and tutorials on the use of RAW format for digital photography. Breadth and depth of content is excellent. Exception information about commercial, free PC and Mac RAW format converter programs plus in-depth tutorials to learn how to use these applications. Well written and easy to understand.

Weaknesses: Since you might not use all the different software packages, you won't read some of the chapters. But they are handy to browse to gain a better idea what the different conversions do and don't do and their advantages and disadvantages, especially should you decide to upgrade. No cd

Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Rating: 5/5

More and more photographers are using RAW format for their photographic needs. With RAW format, the user has a lot more control with their photos and ultimately creating better final photos. But conversion from RAW needs to take place after RAW are made with your camera. The process then can begin concerning actually making your pictures better. More books being created that act as resources that tutorials type information to make this process easier. While you can search far and wide for books on the topic, try this book Art of Raw Conversion, for several reasons.
A book that will assist you with using RAW, needs to include both methods, procedures, tutorials and step-by-step instructions. Both authors, whom are active pioneers with the use of RAW digital processing and the use of digital cameras and workflow process have created a great book. Mr. Gulbins founded an online magazine and has focused on the using of RAW format , digital work and printing, Mr. Gulbins has written more then 25 books on a variety of computer and digital photographic topics. It is evident within this book, that they are able to communicate and convey a wide array of resources, tutorials and information concerning RAW format.

This 222 page packs much helpful information within its 14 Chapters.
The multitude of text makes for good reading but you have to watch carefully for certain ideas that are really important (as they are not in bold). The colorful screen shots are well done and help illustrate points the tutorials are focusing upon. Screenshots of the software tools and what these do in the process also help, but there are no extra guide pointers in the shots to highlight what the main intent of showing the photo is (you have to hunt around a little).

Each page has 2 or 3 sectioned columns which make for easy browsing, reading and understanding. The tutorials are well written and provide an exceptional understanding regarding the use of RAW. Mac and Windows platforms are reprepresented as both authors work on them so that the user with either platform won't get lost in the shuffle

What is exceptional about this book is that the authors have crafted a book, that is not only intuitively written but that highlights the commercial, free and camera bound software that can be used for convertion of RAW format for use by your editors. The pros and cons of each pieces of software are highlighted and his gives the user ideas of which converter might be better for their uses. Some of these converters work for MacOS, PC or even both platforms aqnd this is also highlighted. This information widens the appeal of the book. But it is the language by the author that makes it a real good read as well.

The authors' tone is personable and clear. They " speaks to you" and have great insight into the "little things" that are important, many that you might never know or think about. They don't just say "what to do" but they actively explain the " whys and how's" of the procedures by using short tutorial like paragraphs. The information is covered not in breadth but depth as well about RAW. You are immersed in the process and don't just a glimpse of the process.

Chapter 1, "intro to RAW " so the first time user can start from the beginning. Chapte 2, "basic color management "gives and insight into beginning work with light while the Chapter 3, "basic raw workflow" begins in ernest to convey the procedures that are needed. Chapter 4, explains and the rest of the chapters tell about adobe camera raw, Pixmantec raw shoote4r (RS), Apple `s Aperture program is covered as well as well other RAW converters. Adobe lighthouse, Perfecting images, and Batch processing. Metadata, color conversion techniques and
black & white techniques are also included. The Appendix A is a nice glossary while Appendix B section has information about the different converters.

I can't think of a better book to begin your "RAW journey."
I wish I had found this book a little sooner. My questions about RAW would have been answered much earlier. This is a great book from start to finish. The content is authoritative, very each easy to read and understand. It is a great one for novice RAW photographers to begin with but also intermediates. Advanced users might also learn a new trick or two. I recommend this book highly. I will use it to work with RAW photographs to see how I can make my photos better with RAW. So give it a try and see what RAW can do for you.

Excellent, though slightly dated, survey of RAW converters
With the plethora of image processing and editing tools available to today's digital photographers, making optimal choices from among those offerings has become daunting. Here to shed some light on the issue and help with the decision-making is a book from which every advanced digital darkroom practitioner should benefit.

When digital imaging really began to reach the consciousness level of consumers in the late 1990s, file capture was most often in JPEG format. As the public enthusiasm for digital accelerated, serious photographers loudly debated quality issues, especially as related to film. Then along came RAW -- a digital capture mode using minimal in-camera processing with much more post-capture flexibility and strong potential for higher quality results. Early RAW files could only be converted using the camera manufacturer's proprietary software which often lacked convenience and elegance. Then Adobe popularized RAW with distribution of their Camera Raw Photoshop plug-in which through reverse engineering enabled one program to convert RAW files from many different brands of cameras. This proved very convenient to many who were already using Photoshop as their primary image editor and opened the door to unprecedented control of the digital image development process, including post-capture adjustment of white balance, exposure, and other variables. Numerous third-party RAW converters quickly followed, making informed choices tough without trying them all.

But when there's a need, someone usually rises to fill it...hence this book. Uwe Steinmueller has written a number of books (some co-authored with Juergen Gulbins) in both print and e-book format. What this edition does exceedingly well is describe in detail the concepts of digital capture, color management, and the benefits of shooting in RAW file format, and then it lays out the choices among RAW conversion programs currently available. The authors follow with additional info on perfecting images, batch processing, the DNG format, profiling, and creating black and white images. I know of no other printed volume that provides as comprehensive a survey of current RAW tools with cogent comments on qualitative capability and appropriate application. Furthermore, the clear, concise discussions of often highly technical subjects are really excellent, and the order and manner in which this rather complex collection of topics is presented is logical and understandable - really well done.

A couple of caveats. This is not a beginner's book. While those who wish to learn digital photography thoroughly will benefit a great deal from it, the sheer weight of technical information might stymie someone relatively new to digital imaging. Secondly, technology has moved so rapidly that this book is already dated. There have been significant changes in the industry since the date of publication that alter the choices in RAW converters. Hopefully an updated version of the book will arrive soon to bring issues to a more current status. Nevertheless, as a whole, this collection of information is an important resource for serious digital imagers and is highly recommended.

EXTREME RAW PHOTOGRAPHY!!
Are you an amateur or a professional photographer? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Juergen Gulbins and Uwe Steinmueller, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that shows you how to achieve art-quality results with your digital camera.

Gulbins and Steinmueller, begin by preparing you for implementing a RAW conversion workflow. Then, the authors focus on the RAW conversion process and the software you'll use to implement it. Next, they present the key features of four more converters. They also cover Adobe's new integrated digital photography application, Lightroom. Finally, the authors focus on more specialized topics.

This most excellent book deals with the conversion of images shot using RAW format into images in a standardized image format, such as TIFF or JPEG. Perhaps more importantly, this book focuses mostly on the process of RAW conversion: what you should consider when shooting RAW, how to prepare files for conversion, and how to set up an efficient conversion workflow as part of your total image workflow.