4 Replies Latest reply: Jan 4, 2010 7:31 PM by Deep Woods RSS

    Using the Camera RAW interface for JPEG images

    Deep Woods Community Member

      I realize JPEG's don't have the information level of RAW files, but does the convenience and speed of the RAW interface not make it worth using rather then going to the usual tools like Levels and Hue/Saturation? I discovered that you can open JPEG images in the RAW interface by choosing File > Open As...and selecting "Camera RAW" as the file format. Here you can not only use the RAW interface but also change the image to 16-bits. I also understand that upscaling an image from 8 to 16-bits doesn't add more information, but would working on it in the RAW interface at 16-bits not produce more subtle changes and give you more control over the outcome.

       

      Looking forward to some intelligent feedback.

       

      Deep Woods

        • 1. Re: Using the Camera RAW interface for JPEG images
          Don26812 Community Member

          From a mathematical perspective, it would seem that using the extra information in the up-sampling interpolation calculations would be better. The question is whether or not the extra digits in the calculation would produce a difference in the image. I suspect that it would be quite image dependent. Easy enough to test, with the right kind of image, whatever that is?

           

          Don S.

          • 2. Re: Using the Camera RAW interface for JPEG images
            Deep Woods Community Member

            Very good point Don. If we resort to measuring ones and zeros the difference could very well be obvious, but maybe not so when looking at the final outcome of an image. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who applies this method in their workflow.

             

            Your thoughts are much appreciated.

             

            Deep Woods

            • 3. Re: Using the Camera RAW interface for JPEG images
              dj_paige Community Member

              It is my understanding that changing an image to 16 bits in the Raw editor doesn't really change the results of the editing that you do. There is still only 8bits of information, or 256 distinct colors in a channel. This cannot work as well as images that are truly 12, 14 or 16 bit, which of course have more distinct colors in a channel. With more distinct colors to start from, the algorithms have more data to work from.

              • 4. Re: Using the Camera RAW interface for JPEG images
                Deep Woods Community Member

                This is something I had not realized. It doesn't surprise me that when selecting an option to change the fundamental building blocks of an image, nothing really happens. Painting additional squares on the individual bricks of a building does not increase the amount of material that went into the buildings construction.

                 

                Thank you for your thoughts.

                 

                Deep Woods