Two questions ...
I just downloaded a trial version to see if I "need" to buy it. ;) One of the classes I took in LA, the guy used it and it looked awesome. I just need to watch the tutorials as I can't remember everything but it is supposed to be great when it comes to RAW processing.

I find RAW processing so frustrating so I don't shoot RAW. I don't know what I am doing when it comes to RAW so ... and I am having issues with getting the RAW images off of my camera. I get so frustrated that I just give up but I am really wanting to master RAW. :confused: Ugh! (how many times can I say RAW in one paragraph? LOL)

I guess I want to know what your process is and what program do you use? :)

I "tried" shooting raw a number of months after getting my first dSLR in '03 and again early last year. Decided it wasn't for me as I do not like to do post processing and still do only minor tweaks to the jpegs. That's time I'd rather be out shooting. I'm sure there'll come a time or a photo I'd wished I had shot RAW but then again, maybe I should have shot it in large film format ;)

There are people that shoot EVERYTHING in RAW mode, even the snapshots they take ... to each their own!

OMG girl switch to RAW right now!!! I cannot believe you don't shoot it! Raw holds so much more data and once you figure out how to edit it you will never go back. I never shoot in JPEG!

I use Camera Raw Converter right now to edit my raw images. I almost never do anything to them in photoshop because I can do everything I want to do (adjust contrast, saturation, exposure, etc.) in Camera Raw. I generally only use photoshop for things like pimple removal. Lightroom is 10x better than Camera Raw but I'm still trying to figure it out. That's actually something I'm going to try to accomplish very soon. But Camera Raw works really well, actually - Lightroom just has more features, plus you can organize your images with it.

I shoot RAW and use LightRoom.

I tend to use CS3 more for PPing the RAW images. LightRoom is good because everything is right there on the right panel where ias n CS3 you have to click on individual tabs to get to the different adjustment panels. LR also has a couple of cool tools that I use once in awhile, but not too often.

What bothers me about LR is the catalogs. I use Bridge for all my photo management but I like LR for downloading the images - rather than Bridge's Version Cue.

I'm at a point now though where I may dump LR because all I'm using it for is downloading my images from the cameras. CS3 has most of the same tools and I'm comfortable using it.

RAW is great but remember that each image is 12 - 14 megabytes. This means a 4 gig card will only hold about 200+ JPEGs and RAW files. It also eats up a lot of HD space if you don't cull your files.

Some great tutorials on LR at www.lynda.com (http://www.lynda.com) too.

Cheers, Shayne

RAW and Camera RAW which comes as part of CS3, wouldn't do it any other way now. I was recommended Light room not that long ago, but it's really just a basic version of CS3 as far as I am concerned.

So much to learn!!!! Sometimes I feel very overwhelmed! LOL I feel like now that I have taken some workshops in PS I can now move on and learn something new ...RAW. I don't know if it is my computer or what but I have had a HECK of a time getting the images off of my camera.
So today I will go out and shoot RAW ... and then I may have a few questions for ya all!!!! LOL

So much to learn!!!! Sometimes I feel very overwhelmed! LOL I feel like now that I have taken some workshops in PS I can now move on and learn something new ...RAW. I don't know if it is my computer or what but I have had a HECK of a time getting the images off of my camera.
So today I will go out and shoot RAW ... and then I may have a few questions for ya all!!!! LOL

The best feature I enjoy is the Synchronize button. If you have a few images that need the same adjustments made to them (say exposure, contrast, brightness, etc) just adjust the first one, leave it selected then hold CTL and click on the ones you want the same adjustments made to and hit "Synchronize". Voila, all done.

It's really quick to go through your photos. I have PS open with Bridge, select my RAW files in Bridge then drag all the photos into PS and Camera Raw automatically opens and shows your files with the thumbnails on the left side of the page.

Have fun!

Shayne