I am fairly new to this site so please forgive me if this topic has already been covered. I have just got interested in RAW photography but am having lots of problems getting a programme for the editing. I have a Fuji S9600. I have tried the following programmes. S7Raw - it won't open the files saying they are an unknown file type. I have Photoshop Elements 3 but I can't open my pictures in it. I tried Picasa (which I don't like anyway - it takes control of all of my pictures, which I don't want). I also tried GUI/GIMP but again no luck. I also tried Irfanview without success. I have two other people in my class with the same camera and we are all struggling. I finally managed to view my pictures from my computer on CS3 and can manipulate them with that package but of course it is a professional one. I have it on a 30 day trial but then it costs over £700 to buy. I don't understand about bugs and plug-ins and all the other twiddly bits! Please can anyone help me in simple terms that I might understand. Incidentally, initially I could only view my pictures direct from the camera. I have the files on computer now as I needed the card. However, I could not view the pictures from the card if I used a card reader. Many thanks. Tricia

Hi Tricia,

The problem with RAW converters is they are in a state of constant catch-up with new cameras. Each new camera comes along with an ever-so-slightly different spec for its RAW files (often merely a new camera name in its metadata) and the software company has to issue an upgrade to its existing software.

You have a copy of Photoshop Elements 3 and its Adobe Camera RAW converter does not support your camera. Adobe Camera RAW 4.0 and later support the Fuji S9600, but Adobe Camera RAW 4.0 only works with Photoshop Elements 5 (or Photoshop CS3). Fortunately, Elements 5 is nearer £50 than £700.

There is an even cheaper option. Download the free Adobe DNG (Digital Negative) converter and use this to translate the Fuji's RAW files into Adobe-standard DNG files that can be read by your copy of Photoshop Elements.

www.adobe.com/products/dng/

Thank you so much Alan. At last - information I can understand. I will certainly try the free Adobe download you mention. And, hey, I have a birthday coming up next month so I will start the hints about Elements 5 now!! Thank you again. Tricia

Tricia

Alternatively have a look at http://www.photo-freeware.net/raw-shooter-essentials.php

This is what the latest Adobe RAW converter was based on and if memory serves it will handle your camera and best of all it is free. My wife has the 6500 and that came with a RAW converter on the CD that came with the camera.

Elements 5 is a great programme with significant benefits over your V3 so if a present is in the offing you would have a great package.

Colin

Thank you Colin.

I will indeed have a look at the site you suggest.

I must say my birthday present is looking better and better!

I (and a couple of friends) had the CDs with our Fuji (theirs are 9500), and we are not at all impressed with the software - apart from being able to mail photographs already in a 'photo frame'!!. In fact we have all deleted the programme. Even with their RAW converter I couldn't open any RAW photographs - had to convert them to TIFF to view on screen.

Again, many thanks for your help. This is a great site, isn't it? Tricia

If you can get Raw Shooter still then give that a try, I used to use Raw Shooter Premium which was really nice. After Adobe bought them out though that package was killed, so I wasn't aware you could still find old versions floating about!

Fortunatly Adobe gave me a free copy of Lightroom and I am a convert!!! Took a while though!

Thanks for your reply Rob. Out of interest I looked through the Lighroom site you mentioned. Lucky you to get their package for free! However, there are some super photographs there for a budding amateur to aspire to.

So now, I decided that I would celebrate my birthday early this year and my family agreed to indulge me. I am now the proud owner of Elements 5!! It's up and running and I am thrilled with it - thank you all so much for your advice. Just one thing though - I can't seem to get a Print Preview with this package, or have I missed something?

Just wondering if my family will have forgotten about my August birthday when the end of September arrives!!

Thanks again,

Tricia

Tricia

Adobe's RAW converter is now at version 4.1. Now you have Elements 5 download the new RAW converter is is much better than V4. I find that I do nearly all my editing of photos in the RAW converter and just use CS3 (Elements in your case) to save the changes and to print from.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Colin

Thank you so much for this swift reply Colin. Yes, I will download it now. What useful help I have had, and no-one has before (from my group of friends) suggested that I use a RAW converter for the editing - they are all doing it in Photoshop 3. Yes, I will let you know how I get on. I am so grateful for the prompt help the members of this site have given me.

Tricia

Tricia

There is an Adobe video for free download on their site if I remember correctly that talks you through the use of it, if it isn't there let me know and I will try to find it for you. The advantage of the RAW converter is that it doesn't actually alter the original photo it saves the changes separately in a meta data file so you never end up altering the original by mistake which you can do in CS3 or Elements. Remember it is always better to start your editing on a copy of the original with the original saved somewhere safe.

Colin

What a great video, although I have only taken a very quick look for the moment. And another excellent tip about working through the RAW converter, thank you Colin. I can well see that all this information is going to add a whole new dimension to my life now! And I shudder when I think back to a month ago when I felt in a rut and wondered if I had done the right thing in upgrading my camera. So glad I didn't throw it out of the window after all!

Tricia