Garfield
Fanboy
Reged: 19/12/2007
Posts: 116
Loc: London
|
|
Hi all
As you've probably worked out, I'm having problems with Capture NX2.
For the last couple of years I've been taking photos on my D50 and now a D300 in raw NEF format.
Until recently I've been using the Picture Controls on my D300 as I quite liked the effects of the monochrome filters, the Fuji Velvia setting currently doing the rounds, and previously set everything to Vivid.
Then I found out, much to my surprise, partly cause I never thought to question it, that only Capture NX/NX2 are capable of reading the Picture Controls from the NEF files. Adobe Camera Raw can only read the white balance and nothing much else.
So I decided to give Capture NX2 a try and I have to say it was better than I gave it credit for.
However, I now have a few problems with various formats and programs that I hope someone can help with.
My workflow used to involve Photoshop and Camera Raw, importing the NEFs and tweaking them individually before saving the best ones to JPG and uploading some/most of them to Flickr.
Now that I understand the picture controls aren't taken into consideration I've no choice but to trawl through each file and alter the brightness/contrast/hue/saturation etc on an individual basis to achieve what the picture controls should do.
I don't really want to have to do this - so I could use Capture NX2.
The image manipulation tools and picture control system work wonderfully but the problem I have come to involves the conversion of NEFs to JPGs. The only way I have found to convert a series of images is by using the Batch Process function. However, this converts a full folder. If I only want to convert a handful of photos then this is impractical. Furthermore, and on a slightly minor note, altering a NEF in Camera Raw created an XMP file with the adjustments. Capture NX2 seems to overwrite the NEF file, changing the modified time and date with it. It's quite useful to know the original time and date for me so I don't like this.
The ultimate solution I thought I had found is by using JPGs in-camera. No raw files, just straight forward JPGs.
This time the problem is that I'm rubbish with white balance, hence why I like NEFs so I can correct my mistakes. Using JPGs means I can't realistically change this at a later date.
So what's the solution?
- Use JPGs and to hell with white balance?
- Use NEFs and Photoshop CS3/Camera RAW and set the photos individually to match the picture controls? or
- Use NEFs and Capture NX2 and put up with its quirks?
For the record, my photography is mainly street-based walk-around etc where I tend to use ISO 200 or auto-iso on my D300 and aperture priority, so I can snap photos pretty quickly - hence the white balance issue.
So, any suggestions?
--------------------
Please read the rules on Signatures
|
El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
|
|
Quote:
Capture NX2 seems to overwrite the NEF file, changing the modified time and date with it. It's quite useful to know the original time and date for me so I don't like this.
Image parameters are a 'sidecar' file contained within the NEF and it's these parts that are being amended. The image data from the sensor remains unchanged and the original capture parameters are also preserved.
As a result of this you have modified the file therefore the date and time of modification will change. The original capture date can always be accessed via the EXIF data or Windows Explorer (and I guess Mac too) can be set to display the create date (of the file) and the 'Date Picture Taken' info as well...
--------------------
Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
|
Gromit
enthusiast
Reged: 03/06/2008
Posts: 255
Loc: Sunny Swansea, UK
|
|
Not exactly the solution you might be looking for but have you ever tried Lightroom. Although it's an extra program I think it will do everything you want. Version 2 has just been released and you can download a 30day trial from Adobe.
|
Meredith
enthusiast
Reged: 23/10/2006
Posts: 290
Loc: Coventry, UK
|
|
You could create a preset in ACR to mimic the Nikon picture control effect.
--------------------
Meredith Lewis
http://www.meredithlewis.co.uk
|
Garfield
Fanboy
Reged: 19/12/2007
Posts: 116
Loc: London
|
|
Thanks folks.
I'm going to attempt to continue with Camera Raw and use the presets to mimic Nikon's Picture Controls.
Fingers crossed it works :-)
--------------------
Please read the rules on Signatures
|
Garfield
Fanboy
Reged: 19/12/2007
Posts: 116
Loc: London
|
|
Quote:
Thanks folks.
I'm going to attempt to continue with Camera Raw and use the presets to mimic Nikon's Picture Controls.
Fingers crossed it works :-)
Ignore the above
I'm now trying Lightroom 2 and it seems to be brilliant so far 
--------------------
Please read the rules on Signatures
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
