| My
workflow is
thusly:
1.
Transfer the images from the CF card to the computer using
Nikon View 6.2.7
2. Push the image into Nikon Capture 4.4 from within Nikon
View.
3. Twiddle the image until it is to my liking and then save
it out as a 16-bit 71 megabyte TIFF.
4. Open the TIFF in Photoshop and crop, touch up, etc.
5. Save as TIFF or PSD from within Photoshop.
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| Little
Pigeon River - Smoky Mountains National Park
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Most
of my well-composed images stop at step 3 above. The not so
well composed ones go the full 1 through 5. I realize that
this requires using three programs, but I get great results.
That's hard to argue with!
I
find that this workflow creates superior looking images over
and over again. I have tried other workflows and programs,
and just did not get the results. I believe that images from
most other postprocessing software are not as good looking
as NC's results. That's my opinion anyway.
Also,
the batch functionality in NC is superb. I can dump a huge
pile of NEF files in a folder, open the batch function, modify
the first image until it meets my specs, and then have NC
apply the same changes to all the rest of the images, while
converting them to TIFFs or JPEGs, and renaming them. Afterward,
I examine the images, and if any do not look good, I redo
them. Often it is only two or three images that need work
after the batch is done.
NC
is slower than some applications out there, but I strongly
believe that Nikon has secret goodies imbedded in the software
that NO other software has. Otherwise my images would not
come out with that "look" that I am after. I call
it the "John Shaw Look." NC helps me get there!
Who is best qualified to know how to convert a NEF to something
else? Surely it is the creator of the NEF. If you are unhappy
with your current images try using the new NC 4.4 for a bit,
you may be surprised.
There
are TRIAL versions of Nikon Capture and full versions of Nikon
View available from NikonUSA here: Nikon Software Downloads
I
first discovered how incredibly sharp the D2x could actually
be by playing around with the RAW settings in NC. I used to
leave my camera on NORMAL sharpening in-camera, and would
then switch it to HIGH in NC. But, since I shoot RAW files,
I can easily remove any in-camera sharpening effects in the
NC program. The RAW file does not become a real image until
you save it as something besides an NEF file. Until you do,
you ALWAYS have the CMOS or CCD data available to use over
and over. (Consider NEF files as digital negatives, to be
protected and cherished.)
Once
you've pulled the image into NC and you think in-camera sharpening
on HIGH does not fit it well, then simply set it back to NORMAL
or LOW and you will have the exact same result as you would
have had if you had used NORMAL or LOW originally in the camera.
NC works with the underlying RAW sensor data. It applies the
original camera settings to the RAW data, but not permanently.
You can modify it at will. Then when you save your file as
a TIFF or JPEG, you lock in the settings you desire. But,
you always have that original RAW data there in the NEF file
to do it again later.
Since
this is such an important point, I am going to repeat it!
No camera settings are applied to the RAW image data. The
settings are included with the file as "markers"
so that NC will know how to display the image initially. But,
if you change the settings in NC, the image immediately looks
like you took the picture using those settings originally.
Many
people forget that one reason we use RAW files in the first
place is that we can later change our minds about how we shot
the image in the first place; and then change it to how we
SHOULD have shot it, after the fact. No RAW file even exists
as an image until a conversion program converts it to a final
form.
This
applies to things like exposure, color balance, hue, sharpening,
individual RGB channel saturation, shadow detail, vignetting,
etc. I can't imagine trading away any of the superior control
I have in NC for other programs. It is written by the creators
of the NEF format, so will always have superior knowledge
of Nikon camera internals and give the best results.
Speed
is not the primary concern in my eyes; I want quality in my
images. I work HARD to take sharp images, and I'll not throw
that away in someone else's RAW conversion program. Others
do okay, but will never be able to give the results that NC
will. Most reviewers of the software admit the same, they
just complain bitterly about NC's memory hoggishness and slow
speed.
I
simply know that I get incredibly sharp and colorful results
EVERY TIME on well exposed images, and can rescue badly exposed
ones without too much damage, such as noise.
Give
me Nikon Capture, or give me...uh...film!
Keep
on capturing time...
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