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T
turner111
Inspiring
December 10, 2016
Answered

Raw photos in-camera b/w show color once viewed?

  • December 10, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 16555 views

Hi all-

Fairly new to Lightroom, so I am not sure what to search for this. (What I did search came up with 10 zillion unrelated posts )

Anyway, my son shot a bunch of "black and white" photos in RAW using a Nikon D5500.

They import fine, and appear black and white - until viewed, then the preview reverts to showing the color information.

Any way to keep the shots appearing black and white?

thanks,

Andrew

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer dj_paige

    RAW photos are always color in Lightroom. This is normal behavior, first Lightroom shows you the JPG preview which is black and white (if you set the camera to take black and white) and then once Lightroom has the time to render the RAW. There is no way to turn this off.

    If you want B&W, you can either shoot JPG, or use the manufacturer's software, or use Lightroom to turn the colored photo into B&W.

    4 replies

    carbonadam
    carbonadam
    Participant
    August 10, 2019

    From day one I was scratching my head as to why I spent a ton of time getting my camera to shoot a RAW picture just so, only to have Lightroom revert to some standard blah RAW file that lacks the nuance of what I set in camera. It’s awful. The RAW file should be imported as per the cameras settings. Period. Yes the RAW file can be manipulated any way I’d like once imported but it would be nice if the manipulations I applied in camera would appear in Lightroom. Then I could chose to adjust any way from there. I’m sure Adobe could do this but without any real competition they don’t bother. I’ve got issues with aspects of Lightroom, photoshop, illustrator, and ID. Everyone does. It’s just nonsense. And debates are nonsense too. This is software. They could do this easily And have a setting to import in camera setting or just ignore in camera settings. Jeez. Do this already.

      GoldingD
      GoldingD
      Legend
      August 10, 2019

      What you are looking for is called Profiles. Specifically Camera Matching profiles

      April Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw Releases: New Profiles and More | Adobe Blog

      In my non pro opinion, this should be your very first edit.  Then WB, then White/Black point adjustment, perhaps a brightness adjustment, and then tone curve.

      T
      turner111Author
      Inspiring
      December 10, 2016

      Thanks guys-

      Well, that's disappointing. I understand that RAW is RAW, but Lightroom shouldn't automatically convert a preview without prompting.

      One of the reasons for wanting this is because my son (who just got this camera) is learning, and has been shooting fully manual, but in both color and "black and white"; without this reference, is there any reference in Lightroom as to which photos he intentionally shot in black and white?

      That said, I believe Apple's Photos does the same thing.

        D
        dj_paige
        Legend
        December 10, 2016

        Well, that's disappointing. I understand that RAW is RAW, but Lightroom shouldn't automatically convert a preview without prompting.

        But it does, it always has done this, and if you want software that doesn't do this, use the camera manufacturer's software.

        One of the reasons for wanting this is because my son (who just got this camera) is learning, and has been shooting fully manual, but in both color and "black and white"; without this reference, is there any reference in Lightroom as to which photos he intentionally shot in black and white?

        Not that I know of, but I haven't looked very hard for this either. Again, use the manufacturer's software, it solves your problem.

        T
        turner111Author
        Inspiring
        December 10, 2016

        What I'm going to do is send Adobe a feature request.

        Just Shoot Me
        Just Shoot Me
        Legend
        December 10, 2016

        Let me start with RAW is RAW. What you are seeing when first imported and viewed in the Film strip is the embedded JPG inside all RAW files. That JPG follows the in camera settings, this case B&W. The RAW data does not follow in camera settings, at least not in LR for Nikon cameras. If viewed with the Nikon supplied software they might show as B&W, Not sure haven't used a Nikon in 9+ years or the software Nikon supplies.

        What LR sees is the RAW sensor data, which from a color sensor, will be in color.

        Once viewed LR builds it own Preview image which will also be in color.

          D
          dj_paigeCorrect answer
          Legend
          December 10, 2016

          RAW photos are always color in Lightroom. This is normal behavior, first Lightroom shows you the JPG preview which is black and white (if you set the camera to take black and white) and then once Lightroom has the time to render the RAW. There is no way to turn this off.

          If you want B&W, you can either shoot JPG, or use the manufacturer's software, or use Lightroom to turn the colored photo into B&W.

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