Photoshop and .CR2

[Paul Cronin]

I shot my first 18MP raw with the 7d testing for time laps and Photoshop won't recognize the IMG_xxxx.CR2 files. What am I missing? As you can see raw is new to me.

[Craig Coston]

Which version of Photoshop are you using? CS4 is the only one that can pull in the 7D Raw files without DNG conversion (at least that's what my experience was). I think you still need to update Adobe Camera Raw to a newer version than what CS4 ships with as well. That's a free update from Adobe, and using the Adobe Updater will grab it for you.

[Paul Cronin]

Yikes I have to buy CS4. I have CS3, Photoshop 10.0.1. That is a expensive upgrade did not see that coming.

[Jon Fairhurst]

Use Canon's Zoom Browser and Digital Photo Professional. They come free with the camera. Once you adjust the RAW image, export to 16-bit TIFF for further editing. Keep it full scale. Edit in Photoshop. Scale to the final resolution and save an 8-bit TIFF for printing - or an 8-bit JPEG/PNG/GIF for the web.

[Paul Cronin]

Thanks Jon that is better.

[Chuck Spaulding]

The other option is to get Adobe's DNG converter, its also free from Adobe and converts your RAW file to RAW files CS3 can use. Works great.

[Paul Cronin]

Thanks Chuck that it what I was looking for it keep it raw.

When shooting stills I am shooting 18MP raw and Med jpg at the same time which is a nice feature. The DNG Converter will let me play with raw in photoshop which is perfect.

[Craig Coston]

Paul, sorry. I mentioned DNG Conversion quickly in my original response but didn't make clear what it is for. It will allow you to open your files in RAW on CS3, it's what I had to use for a while. You have to run your files through the converter before being able to use them, and it creates a new file while leaving the original file intact.

[Paul Cronin]

Thanks Guys,

I will look into all the options today if I can make some free time prior to holiday travel tomorrow.

Battery handle, extra batteries, and remote controller arrived yesterday so time laps coming.

Nice to have a high quality DSLR in the kit bag for time laps, video clips, and just high quality stills.

[Charles W. Hull]

Originally Posted by Paul Cronin

Nice to have a high quality DSLR in the kit bag for time laps, video clips, and just high quality stills.

Another option you might want to consider is DxO Labs - Home .

I've been working with DxO Optics Pro 6 for stills recently and the results with .CR2 have been excellent, better than with either Canon's DPP or Adobe ACR.

If you're not familiar with Optics Pro, they pre-characterize every camera and lens combination and then correct for all the distortions automatically. Now with version 6 their RAW conversion is also excellent. I'm finding the conversions at high ISO to be outstanding.

My workflow is to batch process with Optics Pro to 16 bit TIFFs - then a simple export to Photoshop for final tweeks and cropping.

The 7D works with the Standard version and there is a special deal until the end of the year for $100. 5DMkII users will need to spring for the Elite version at $200.

[Ray Bell]

I second on Charles recommendation for DXO... thats a great deal at $100 if you shoot stills
and want them to look their best...

The program takes a little time to get used to it, but the end result is just fantastic....

and after you convert the RAW pictures then you can bring them into your Photoshop to
further the post process.. so its much cheaper to go with DXO and photoshop cs3
vs upgrading to photoshop cs4 just so you can work your RAW 7D photos...

[Paul Cronin]

Charles, Ray,

Seem you both think DXO is worth the money I will look at it in detail on Monday and decide. I am away but the deal is till the end of the year.

Is there a way to touch stills for time laps in DXO prior to Final Cut or After Effects?

Appreciate the help.

[Charles W. Hull]

Originally Posted by Paul Cronin

Is there a way to touch stills for time laps in DXO prior to Final Cut or After Effects?

Sure, that would work fine; just batch process a series of .CR2 stills into JPEGs in another folder, and then inport the JPEGs into the video editor. The only issue is that the conversion is slow compared to other programs because it is also doing all the image corrections, so you will wait a while for processing. Sort of like rendering video.

Also DxO is still on version 5 for MAC; version 6 will be a free upgrade in Q1 2010.