Why Shoot in Raw Format?
One of the most popular features of Raw files is that they are capable of holding 16-bit of color data compared to JPEG’s 8-bit. However, most digital cameras only produce 12-bit Raw files. Some newer and advanced cameras can produce 14-bit, and many highly advanced cameras shoot even at 16-bit! Is it really that big of a difference? Lets have a look at the comparison table below:
| Raw vs Jpeg | 8 Bit (Jpeg) | 12 Bit (Raw) | 16 Bit (Raw) |
| Tones per channel | 256 | 4096 | 65536 |
| Colour | Over 16 million | Over 68 million | Over 281 million |
As you can see from the above table, there is really a big difference between the bit levels in terms of colour and tones. With that said, however, 8-bit is still produces good results and is usually good enough for most candid photos (unless they contain delicate colors that need adjustments.) Raw format can produce the most detailed image because it can see the differences in tonal range within a wider selection of colour . This is closer to the subtleties that you eye can see.
Here are few advantages of the Raw format:
Exposure:
Raw files can provide greater exposure adjustments than JPEG files; over 50% more exposure detail (depending on the sensor capabilities). When adjusting exposure in a JPEG file, the highlights and shadowed areas get clipped resulting in lower detail in these areas. Working with Raw format allows you to recover the detail in highlights and shadows. Here is the example:
[beforeafterpics id='1' image_before='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Exposure-before-over1.jpg' image_after='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Exposure-after-over.jpg' animateintro='true' introdelay='' introduration='' showfulllinks='' /]
White Balance:
Because Raw files contain a wider gamut of color, the white balance can be corrected without any noticeable loss in detail or distortion of the image. Using Raw converters, such as the Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in, Lightroom, Aperture, or others to do this is easy and produces a better result. On the other hand, the white balance of JPEG files cannot be easily corrected without much noticeable loss in detail Due to Jpeg’s compressed format. Often, too much colour correction on a Jpeg image makes the photo look distorted and unrealistic.
[beforeafterpics id='2' image_before='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Whitebalance-before1.jpg' image_after='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Whitebalance-after1.jpg' animateintro='true' introdelay='' introduration='' showfulllinks='' /]
Dynamic Range:
Jpegs have less tones per channel, which is why you cannot bring out details from shadows and/or highlights. Raw files contain more tones per channel so you can restore the details without compromising the photo quality (you have more information to work with.)
[beforeafterpics id='3' image_before='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Dynamic-Range-before3.jpg' image_after='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Dynamic-range-after3.jpg' animateintro='true' introdelay='' introduration='' showfulllinks='' /]
Noise Management:
You can achieve a more natural looking result if you adjust the Noise level in Raw format, due to its wider tonal range.
[beforeafterpics id='4' image_before='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Noisereduction-before.jpg' image_after='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Noisereduction-after.jpg' animateintro='true' introdelay='' introduration='' showfulllinks='' /]
Fine Tweaking Selective Colour:
Just look at the sample below to see how one colour can be selected and adjusted without changing the overall result.
[beforeafterpics id='5' image_before='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Selective-color-before2.jpg' image_after='http://omnilargess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Selective-color-after2.jpg' animateintro='true' introdelay='' introduration='' showfulllinks='' /]
Other services
We other image editing solutions. Here are some of the popular services that we offer:
Noise Reduction
We all know that no matter what we do, once in a while we get noisy images! It is one of the most time consuming post processing.
The process: You send us your noisy images and our trained staff and state of the art software will take care of the noise for you to the point that your images don’t look digitalized (the plastic, Barbie look). We use Dfine 2, Noise Ninja, and Neat Image.
For the best results, please send us your TIFF files or large JPEG’s.
Conatct us for more details.
Optimum Editing Package
This service is available only for RAW files and is the best value for your money. It saves you a lot of time so you can enjoy other things instead of worrying about your projects.
The cost is $1.50 per image and turn around time is 4 to 6 business days.
Here is how it works:
Send all the photos of one event to us and tell us how many final images you want. This is an example:
1.You send us 800 images from a wedding and want 200 photos for your client.
2.You pay for 200 images only.
3.We will Rough Edit the 800 photos and select the best 200 for you.
4.We edit the 200 raw files and if necessary, will pass them through the Noise Reduction and Dust Removal software.
5.Your final images are ready and you are done with your project!
Contact us for your image editing and photo retouching services and one of our team will help you to find the right services.
