Using RAW Files

[Majestic FPV Flights]

Hi, I sometimes use the "exposure compensation" and "HDR tone mapping" checkbox options for non AEB panorama (I.e., single shot automatic exposure shots for the pan).

Question - Would it be better to take all my photos and import to PTGui using RAW files rather than individual JPEGs? Or would this create image problems?

Thanks.

[PTGui Support]

Hi,

If you have the raw file it's generally better to use a dedicated raw
converter such as Adobe Camera Raw since it will give you more options
for making adjustments. But if you're happy with the way PTGui converted
your raw files you can of course use that.

Jpeg has only 8 bit per channel dynamic range, while most cameras
capture 12 to 14 bits of dynamic range in the raw file. To avoid loss
it's best if raw files are converted to 16 bit tiff.

Kind regards,

New House Internet Services BV
Joost Nieuwenhuijse

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PTGui - Photo Stitching Software

www.ptgui.com
For support see: http://www.ptgui.com/faq/
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[ekbmuts]

For what it's worth, I convert my original RAW files to 16-bit TIFF files in Photoshop before I import to PTGui.  I handle chromatic aberration at the same time.  The drawback with using straight RAW files in PTGui is you can't do much with them, meaning, you can't handle any aberration, can't adjust exposure, etc.,etc.

Jon

[Majestic FPV Flights]

Thanks. How do you convert to 16bit TIFF in photoshop? Just save As? Does this create any color issues without using a
JPEG converter first?

[ekbmuts]

You open your RAW files in Adobe Camera Raw.  Then adjust accordingly and yes, "Save As".  You have to set your output preferences in the plugin but that's easy.  I haven't noticed any colour issues myself.  As far as using a JPEG converter first, I'm not sure why you'd use one of those.  JPEG would be the last format I myself would want to use in creating a panorama.  It's too lossy and compressed.  You lose a lot of detail.

Jon

[Majestic FPV Flights]

Thanks! When setting your preferences in Adobe RAW is there any particular output setting that works best for RAW files when saving as TIFF. Or is it all personal preference?

[ekbmuts]

What works for me (and what most people on this forum seem to agree on) is using 16-bit TIFF files in PTGui.  When you open Camera Raw, you can adjust this setting by clicking on the small blue text at the bottom of the screen that is underlined and says something like this:

"Adobe RGB (1998); 16 bit; 4752 by 3168 (15.1MP); 300 ppi"

That's what my screen says but it will vary based on the camera aspect ratio and other things.  Clicking on this link takes you to a dialog box where you can adjust settings such as colour space, bit depth,etc.  You can also turn on sharpening (I don't believe this is needed, nor do I think that it helps PTGui in doing its work) and a few other options.

Before you ask about the colour space options, I'm going to say that I have my Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) set for Adobe RGB.  But I could just as easily set it for sRGB (which is some people's preference) or ProPhoto RGB.  This setting (colour space) is highly subjective but for me Adobe RGB works just fine.

When you have these settings finalized and saved, every time you click on "Save Image(s)" once you have completed processing your RAW files, that is how they will be saved. 

For sure, capturing RAW and processing to 16-bit TIFF and feeding those files into PTGui works like a bomb for me and for many other people doing  panoramic photography based on what I have read in these pages.

Jon

[Majestic FPV Flights]

Thanks!!

[Majestic FPV Flights]

If you have bunch of RAW files and want to convert them all quickly to 16 bit TIFF is there a quick way to do that? For example, suppose I have 30 RAW files? Thanks!!

[ekbmuts]

Yes!  It's called "batch processing" and you just drag them all into ACR at once and before doing anything, click on "Select All" in the top left-hand corner.  Then any adjustment you make will affect them all.  You will also notice that the "Save Image" button in the lower left has now become "Save ImageS" and when you click that ACR just cycles through all of them, one after the other until they're all done.

[John Houghton]

As usual with Photoshop, there is more than one way do batch conversion. As an alternative to opening all of the images in ACR and running the Save option, you can select all the required images in Bridge and then go to Tools->Photoshop>Image Processor.  That can generate tiff AND jpeg files, say, at the same time, and also apply an Action.  The conversion settings applied are those that are specified in each file's sidecar file (.xml). You can copy/paste the conversion settings from one image file into one or more other files by right clicking the file(s) and selecting Develop settings->Copy or Paste.

However you do the batch conversion, beware of Auto settings.  For ease of blending in PTGui, it is generally recommended that Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance are both avoided by setting a specific (or custom) setting.  Setting Auto parameters for the batch will give you different settings for each image, just as setting Auto in the camera will do.

John