Raw files - camera settings?

T

ttmt

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Hi all

I'm new to DSLR and have just bought a Pentax kx, I'm really happy with the camera but I have a question concerning raw files in general.

The camera can create JPEG or raw files, the raw files can be either the DNG format or Pentax's PEF format. I wanted to work with the raw files but Photoshop CS4 doesn't support the PEF format. Therefore I am working with the DNG format in Camera Raw, opening the files from Adobe Bridge.

The DNG files that I open in Adobe Bridge don't have any of the setting that were on the camera such as custom color settings. I can adjust the color space on the camera to say Black and White, the image appears as B/W on the camera but when I import the DNG file to the computer it is color again.

Is this normal?

Is the raw file just the raw information and the color space on the camera is added information?

Sorry if this is a really basic question, thanks for any help.


ttmt
 
Its normal - RAW files (in any format) are basically the data the camera captures as it views the scene, without and adjustment
 
That would pretty much be the case whether you took the image in DNG or PEF, and as Hugh says it's normal.

To give you a parallel example in the Canon world, if I apply in camera settings and then open the CR2 file in DPP (Canon's RAW editor) the program will recognise the settings chosen and display the picture with them applied. It will however allow me to alter those settings to anything that could have been changed in camera as RAW files lose none of the information recorded. If I open exactly the same file in ACR none of the presets are acknowledged.

In camera adjustments are designed for Jpeg use and also to give you an impression of what the RAW file will look like after processing! :)
 
You normally need to use the camera manufacturer's software to retain all the camera settings.
I have a Nikon and Nikon Capture NX2 can read and apply all the camera settings although these can be easily changed by using the software.
The underlying raw data for the picture is not changed at all, it just applies different settings.
 
The DNG viewer does have adjustments, but from memory they have to be opened. Havn't used it for ages, but there are options in the viewer somewhere, but I do remember it not being obvious.
 
You can download the updated plugin for CS4 here which will let you open the PEFs in Photoshop, which you might prefer.

Just a thought....
 
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