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A
Anonymous
March 29, 2019
Answered

Photoshop RAW different to other RAW converters

  • March 29, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 812 views

Hey, I am currently working on some .raw images I recently shot with my Sony camera and I noticed something.
When I open one of the images in Adobe Camera RAW in Photoshop and use all the default settings and don't modify the image at all and save it to let's say a JPG, the .jpg looks different then when I open the original .raw image in Windows Photo Viewer (I installed the Sony RAW Driver which makes it possible to view raw pictures in the File Explorer or the Windows Photo Viewer). The colors look different, also the sharpness and in Photo Viewer it looks even a little bit cropped.

To test this a little further, I used an online RAW to JPG converter ( 📷 Convert ARW to JPG online with Raw.pics.io ARW free converter and viewer ) and converted the same raw image to jpg and the jpg looks exactly like viewing the raw in Photo Viewer, meaning it looks different than my Photoshop version.

I tried a lot of settings and profiles in Camera RAW but I wasn't able to find out what causes this. Right now all I need is to get the images completely unmodified.

Please know that I'm not too familiar with this stuff, thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer davescm

Hi

There is no such thing as viewing a completely unmodified raw file (outside of specialist raw viewers) . The raw file consists of 3 greyscale images each of which would look very strange indeed if viewed directly. The grey scale green channel has twice the resolution of the greysacle red and the grayscale blue images.  All raw convertors start with an opening conversion from which you are expected to make your own adjustments. You can of course save adjustments as defaults should you wish.

Dave

3 replies

L
Lumigraphics
Legend
March 29, 2019

Have you tried either the Sony RAW software or their version of Capture One? Both are free downloads.

A
Anonymous
March 29, 2019

Thanks a lot for the clarification! I guess I didn't really know how raw photo formats work.

Lumigraphics​ thanks, haven't tried them yet but I think for now I'll stick with Photoshop.

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 29, 2019

There is no such thing as an "original" or "unmodified" raw file. It has to be processed in some way to produce a useful image. It is always modified.

What you see in Windows Explorer/Photos (and the camera LCD) is the camera-processed jpeg. This is done to automatic parameters with no possibility of input from you, according to the camera manufacturer's idea of what the file "should" look like. But it's the same thing ACR does.

An original raw file, if you could see it, would be a very dark, very flat and very tonally compressed grayscale image. You wouldn't like it at all.

EDIT - I thought I was fast there -

    A
    Anonymous
    March 29, 2019

    Thanks a lot for your answer. Is there a way for me to open the raw image in Adobe Camera Raw with said parameters from the camera manufacturer? This information is probably stored in the file or something. Or am I doing this by selecting the profile or space in ACR? Then how can I find out what profile or space to choose?

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 29, 2019

    Even if the settings were there in the file, they wouldn't mean the same thing, because the processing algorithms are very different. They wouldn't produce the same result.

    That said, Adobe have provided "camera-matching" profiles that shouldn't be too far off. But to be clear, this is just reverse-engineering to produce a roughly similar result. It won't be identical. These profiles are made for Nikon, Canon and Sony cameras. Look under the profiles tab (I always use Lightroom for raws, can't recall where they are in ACR)

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 29, 2019

    Hi

    There is no such thing as viewing a completely unmodified raw file (outside of specialist raw viewers) . The raw file consists of 3 greyscale images each of which would look very strange indeed if viewed directly. The grey scale green channel has twice the resolution of the greysacle red and the grayscale blue images.  All raw convertors start with an opening conversion from which you are expected to make your own adjustments. You can of course save adjustments as defaults should you wish.

    Dave

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