Q: I decided to take some pictures in RAW format and when I got home and transfered the files onto my comp I checked the resolution in IrfanView and it turns out they are in 640X480. The file sizes were big, around 4 mbs or so but I was wondering what I was doing wrong? I want the resolution to be larger and when I tried expanding it the picture become all sorts of ugly.
A: The 640x480 JPEG showed and extracted by InfranView is the embeded JPEG thumbnail included by the camera in every RAW file, not the RAW itself. This is the same embeded image you check when you review and zoom the image in-camera (you will see the compresion artifacts and low resolution and say "hey, where's my RAW file??)
To obtain the real image, you need to process the image with the Canon FileViewerUtility, or (I think) ZoomBrowser, or better yet, using the much flexible and faster BreezeBrowser, by BreezeSystems.
Also, if you are shooting in RAW, it has no sense to transform it to a JPEG. You can shoot directly in JPEG in the first place, and avoid the conversion process.
To obtain the best results you must convert it to a 16-bit TIFF, because the RAW file has a 12-bit depth, and the JPEG only 8-bit depth.
After all the image postprocesing in Photoshop, you can save the finished image as a JPEG, and get a much better image quality.
Q: When i convert the RAWimage to TIF(16bit/ch), although the file size is a whopping 22mg, image i pull up in my image editor is 1x2"(72dpi) print size!!!!!! it looks like a postage stamp!
Why is this, and what is happening? i know i'm not real good at all this conversion stuff, but this all seems not right to me
A: This is because the TIFF in fact is a multipage TIFF(2 images, first one is the thumbnail, second one is the full size image), and you are viewing the thumbnail. Or your editor don't support multipage TIFFs, or you are viewing the first page. If supported, check the second one.
If you will be using RAW a lot (as me) I recomend you stay away from Canon software, and use BreezeBrowser, Adobe CameraRAW plugin or CaptureOne DSLR. As my camera is only supported by BB, I'm using it.
You can download a trial version from:
http://www.breezesys.com
BB has no problems with TIFF because it creates a single image TIFF, and the EXIF info created is more compatible with Photoshop, for example. Also is WAY faster and flexible.
Q: When you shoot in RAW and zoom the picture during preview or replay mode to check the image, it looks very pixelated. Why?
A: When you review a RAW image, you're just looking at a 640x480/Normal JPEG image embedded inside the RAW file, not the actual data. That's why it looks pixelated. Apparently the camera isn't up to the task of converting RAW files in replay or preview mode.
I've solved this problem shooting in JPEG when I need to review if the picture is ok (as in slow shutter shots or manual focus ones) and THEN converted to RAW if the image is worth keeping (pressing the "FUNC" button you convert from JPEG to RAW when the CCD data is still in buffer).
Q: Is PS 7 Camera RAW plugin able to convert S50 files?
A: I've pached Camera RAW (using the S45 profile) but only a few pictures are converted OK. There is a lot of color banding in the green channel, and the camera white balance seems to be ignored. Not useable except for testing.
Camera RAW 2 included in PS CS (PS8) works fine, but it renders a pinkish default color not very pleasing at least to me.