I Purchased A Nikon D90, Now What Is The Best Place To Send and Edit My Photos?

[shopgirl1960]

Hello,

With your help I have chosen the Nikon D90. I am very excited to start playing with my camera. I have seen that many of you send your photos to Photo Shop to edit your photos, but someone where I purchased my camera told me that I cannot send my raw photos there.... but that I must use the Nikon Photo Editing Site. Is that correct?
Help ..... Pretty Please! :>) What prices can I expect? Do you have a web address to simplify my search for either choice that you might recommend?

AND... this is such a newbie question... but one must learn.
What is the difference from say Kodak Easyshare and PhotoShop or the Nikon?
(It's okay to laugh at me.... I have been a newbie upgraded to professional in other areas. )

Thankyou Bunches!!!

[Frog]

Did you get any editing software with your camera?
Photoshop is a program you buy and install to edit your own photos.
You cannot send raw files and they must be re-formatted to jpeg, tifff or something to be sent.
The purpose of shooting in raw is to get all the info you can from your photos and to have more editing capability. I use photoshop elements 6. You can also use Nikon NX2. Many of us use both, starting with the NX program and finishing with photoshop.
Using editing programs is a whole new ballgame but every photographer that wants the most out of their own photos, does their own editing. Why let someone else decide what your photos should look like?
Picasa is a free editing program but rather limited and I don't think it will do raw format.
Better experts than I will chime in here I'm sure.
Yes, I did have a little laugh but mostly I was a little sad that no one told you this before.
I'm also happy that you have all the enthusiasm of a novice and hope it will lead you to a life long passion.
BTW, photoshop elements is about a $100 program as is NX. There are more advanced photoshop programs, I think CS4 is the newest but they cost more too.
There is also Lightroom and others.
Research, research, research.

What lens did you get with your camera?

[Photo-John]

Welcome to the site! I see this isn't your first post and I'm happy that we were able to help you choose a camera. And I think you made a great choice. For the money, I think the Nikon D90 is the best camera available right now. There are lots of variables involved in buying a camera. But if you don't already have an investment in another brand and you can afford it, the D90 is absolutely the best camera available.

So you need to know what to do with your photos. If you were shooting film before, then this indeed a big, new, confusing world. We actually have a Photography Software Forum you might want to peruse a bit. That will give you an idea of what all we're doing and using to process our images.

Frog gave you a nice little overview. He did make one misttake, though. If you have a recent version of Adobe Photoshop Elements, you can open and process your RAW files. That software includes a module called Adobe Camera Raw that you can use to adjust and then convert your RAW image files to a format you can then process more, print, or share. Since you're just getting started, I recommend Photoshop Elements. Like Frog said, it costs about $100, compared to hundreds for the full version of Photoshop. Plus, the full Photoshop CS4 will just be overwhelming to you right now. Elements will get the job done and won't have too much of a learning curve.

You could also use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. I use Lightroom and Photoshop together. And then there's also the Nikon software. I am not a fan of the software that comes with the Nikon cameras. Some people like the more sophisticated Nikon Capture NX. But I've also read a lot of people think it's clunky and awkward. So again, I think investing in Adobe Photoshop Elements is probably the best thing for you to do. And definitely shoot RAW! It offers the best image quality potential. And you might as well get started shooting RAW now. There's a bit more effort involved. But if you start now you won't develop any lazy habits you'll regret later

Please write a review for your D90. Don't think you need to be an expert to write a review. We need reviews from all types and levels of photographers. There's someone out there right now who's just like you. That person needs to read your review to learn why you chose the D90 and what you like and don't like about it. We have a review contest now, too. So every review you write counts as a review entry.

Camera Review Contest >>
Write A Review >>

I hope that helps. I'm sure you have lots more questions. Please don't hesitate to ask - anything. That's what we're here for

[Len J]

Welcome to the site! I see this isn't your first post and I'm happy that we were able to help you choose a camera. And I think you made a great choice. For the money, I think the Nikon D90 is the best camera available right now. There are lots of variables involved in buying a camera. But if you don't already have an investment in another brand and you can afford it, the D90 is absolutely the best camera available.

So you need to know what to do with your photos. If you were shooting film before, then this indeed a big, new, confusing world. We actually have a Photography Software Forum you might want to peruse a bit. That will give you an idea of what all we're doing and using to process our images.

Frog gave you a nice little overview. He did make one misttake, though. If you have a recent version of Adobe Photoshop Elements, you can open and process your RAW files. That software includes a module called Adobe Camera Raw that you can use to adjust and then convert your RAW image files to a format you can then process more, print, or share. Since you're just getting started, I recommend Photoshop Elements. Like Frog said, it costs about $100, compared to hundreds for the full version of Photoshop. Plus, the full Photoshop CS4 will just be overwhelming to you right now. Elements will get the job done and won't have too much of a learning curve.

You could also use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. I use Lightroom and Photoshop together. And then there's also the Nikon software. I am not a fan of the software that comes with the Nikon cameras. Some people like the more sophisticated Nikon Capture NX. But I've also read a lot of people think it's clunky and awkward. So again, I think investing in Adobe Photoshop Elements is probably the best thing for you to do. And definitely shoot RAW! It offers the best image quality potential. And you might as well get started shooting RAW now. There's a bit more effort involved. But if you start now you won't develop any lazy habits you'll regret later

Please write a review for your D90. Don't think you need to be an expert to write a review. We need reviews from all types and levels of photographers. There's someone out there right now who's just like you. That person needs to read your review to learn why you chose the D90 and what you like and don't like about it. We have a review contest now, too. So every review you write counts as a review entry.

Camera Review Contest >>
Write A Review >>

I hope that helps. I'm sure you have lots more questions. Please don't hesitate to ask - anything. That's what we're here for

For a newbie...I'd actually recommend Nikon NX2.

1.) It automaticially converts Nikon in-camera setting when converting RAW and rendering the initial picture. This makes for a seamless relationship between what the Photographer is doing in the camera with what they see on screen. IMO, this aids in learning. With other programs (even lightroom (which I use BTW), there is a difference between the rendering in camera and the initial raw rendering.

2.) Because they don't know and never learned Photoshop, the interface is not kludgy at all. It actually is pretty easy to master.

3.) As a newbie, they are probably only editing one picture at a time. This is NX2's strength.

It's actually a very powerful program. I use Lightroom for my cataloging, but NX2 is used whenever I have a special keeper. I'll just export it from NX2 as a TIFF and catalog the TIFF in Lightroom.

IMO

In addition...you say: "And you might as well get started shooting RAW now. There's a bit more effort involved. But if you start now you won't develop any lazy habits you'll regret later "

I'd suggest that learning how to maximize pictures in-camera first actually develops better habits up-front than shooting RAW and fixing it later. Obviously YMMV.


Len

[shopgirl1960]

I can't tell you what it means to me to have gotten such wonderful replies.
Whew... there is SO much to know and understand. Hopefully some day I will be
of great help to others, as you have been to me.

I have only read your replies once, but intend to read them several more times.

I JUST downloaded the program that Nikon gave me with my camera. I am thinking it is NOT what I want already. :>( And my old photos went there.... so NOW I have to figure out how to get them onto PhotoShop when I add it instead. Heck... I am still trying to figure out how to load the few pictures I have already taken with my new camera. It looks like the camera has to be on and also on a specific setting (????) Good heavens .... it takes baby steps to make ANY accomplishments with the professional camera. I am rethinking that I have as many "noodles" as I thought. ~Ha

I will definitely write a review on my camera. I promise!!!!

I can already tell you that the battery took 10 years to get out of it's holder! lol lol It should have come with a flat screw driver! ~ Ha Ha~

You guys are AWESOME!!!!

[Franglais]

Hello,

With your help I have chosen the Nikon D90. I am very excited to start playing with my camera. I have seen that many of you send your photos to Photo Shop to edit your photos, but someone where I purchased my camera told me that I cannot send my raw photos there.... but that I must use the Nikon Photo Editing Site. Is that correct?
Help ..... Pretty Please! :>) What prices can I expect? Do you have a web address to simplify my search for either choice that you might recommend?

AND... this is such a newbie question... but one must learn.
What is the difference from say Kodak Easyshare and PhotoShop or the Nikon?
(It's okay to laugh at me.... I have been a newbie upgraded to professional in other areas. )

Thankyou Bunches!!!

One thing crosses my mind - by "raw photos" she might mean the JPG's she gets out of the camera..

By default the camera produces images in JPG format (file extension .jpg). This format can be read by just about any modern computer and if you need to modify and correct the image, there are hundreds of programs available. It's what 99% of photographers use. However the file is compressed and each time you edit it, you degrade it a little.

Advanced digital cameras like the D90 have the option to produce RAW files (file extension .NEF on the D90). A NEF file is much bigger than a JPG and it contains all the information that came in from the sensor before treatment by the camera. It gives you the ability to replay the conversion done by the camera, with new settings, on your computer - as many times as you want. However as the file format is known to Nikon only (and changes often) there aren't many programs that know how to deal with it.

If I were you I would stick with JPG for the time being. Perhaps invest in a photo printer to do your own printing so you have control, rather than the lab.

RAW wiould be useful to you one day. Some of the wedding photos on your web site have blown out whites from the flash being too close, and that's one of the things you can correct in RAW (sometimes).

[Frog]

PJ, I do know you can open raw files with photoshop. What I said was that you cannot send them.

Shopgirl, if you are downloading your pics, directly from the camera, I would invest in a card reader. They are quite cheap now days or perhaps you have a card reader on your computer? Our computer has readers and though I've heard they frequently go bad when already on the computer, I have had no trouble with ours.
When you get photoshop, just right click any of the images on your hard drive and find 'Open With' and it will give you the options you have and you can then click photoshop.
Charles has a good point that you may be actually shooting with jpeg and not raw but if that is the case, you can also shoot raw,(NEF) + jpeg.
Be aware that raw files are much bigger and you'll get fewer shots on a card. I get 265 on a 2 gig card with my D80.

[Photo-John]

Sorry about that Frog. I think there's a lot of misunderstanding going on in this thread. However, if I misunderstood it, someone else probably did, too. So hopefully my post is still useful

[Franglais]

Keep going. I think this post may be useful to a lot of people out there who are starting out. I might be wrong anyway. Shopgirl (Della?) might be talking about RAW.

One thing I don't know - what's Kodak Easy Share???

[shopgirl1960]

Hello My Friends,

Thankyou for your post.

I will try to be more specific in what I originally meant.
When I was buying my camera there was another gentleman who didn't work there but owns the D300 and D90. When I asked what program was best to use to edit my photos (to the person working there) he chimed in and said that you cannot download "raw" photos to PhotoShop and that it would be best for me to go with the software that Nikon offers and that it would be much easier for me to work with also since it works easier with my camera type as well.

I can see now that he was wrong and that I CAN download "raw" or "jpeg" photos into PhotoShop. ( IF I am reading right.) I do understand that "raw" photos will take up more space on my memory card. I only know that because the other gentleman there explained that as well. I will mostly use the jpeg until I become more familiar with....
well...... everything!!!! ~ha ha

Soooooooooo.... it sounds like you guys would recommend going with PhotoShop, right?
Also, can I not download my photos with my usb cable that was provided?
I need to re-read what was written, hopefully I didn't miss that.

Franglais- I'm sorry, I should have said Kodak Easyshare which is a program provided free from Kodak. I really like it alot for it's simplicity.

I do hope I hear more from you all regarding what I should do.

Best Wishes To You All~
Della

[Frog]

Without trying to add to any confusion, yes, you can download with your usb cable.
Just easier and I think faster, but not sure, with a card reader.

[shopgirl1960]

P.S.


Frog, are you saying that I can download raw onto Photoshop, but cannot send them... meaning until they are put into a jpeg format? (Just guessing here).

Oh boy am I confused. ~lol~
However... for now I would be happy to be able to download some pictures with the usb cable for now! ~ha

[shopgirl1960]

Oh YAY!!! We were posting at the same time! Woohoooo!
Does the camera have to be on Frog?????
*************
Okay... I see now that it does! That is where I went wrong.

[mattbikeboy]

Oh YAY!!! We were posting at the same time! Woohoooo!
Does the camera have to be on Frog?????
*************
Okay... I see now that it does! That is where I went wrong.

Yes, the camera needs to be on to download the images. Like mentioned above -- you should buy Abobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Lightroom to edit your own photos. Both programs will edit your camera's jpg files or the your camera's RAW images (once you learn the benefits of shooting RAW files).

mbb

[shopgirl1960]

Yes, the camera needs to be on to download the images. Like mentioned above -- you should buy Abobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Lightroom to edit your own photos. Both programs will edit your camera's jpg files or the your camera's RAW images (once you learn the benefits of shooting RAW files).

mbb

Thankyou for your helpful reply Matt, it is MUCH appreciated!!!!

[Len J]

My .02

When taking up digital photography there are 3 things that need to be mastered:

1.) General Phorography, Light, exposure, composition etc,
2.) The Camera. Todays cameras are mini computers with an incredible number of options and choices.
3.) Photo-post processing. Raw conversion and cataloging, color-spaces, and a myraid of software tools.

IMO, I would learn 1 & 2 first.............take your time (& BTW, if you were a film photographer than youonly have to elarn the camera). Therefor, I'd shoot JPEG initially and do minor editing. Only when I felt very comfortable with 1 & 2 would I complicate my life with post processing. In addition, learning how to optimize in the camera actually makes post processing easier because there is less to fix.

IMO

Len

BTW...if you want to print your photos, just take your card to Costco.....you'll get reliable reproduction at a cheap price.

[byjamesderuvoDHQ]

Two sites ... FLICKR and SMUG MUG. I'd post them there and then let everyone pick and choose what they want. I like flickr because you can upload the largest quality and they will downgrade it to smaller images, leaving you always with the choice of the largest size. Pretty cool.

For learning photography, I have three words ... RULE OF THIRDS. Tha'ts a great place to start.