Why can't I get a RAW with PSP to be as good as in-camera JPG?

[Bruce in Philly]

Hi! I am new to this board.

I am using PSPXI and am having trouble getting my pics to look as good as the JPG created in the camera. I have allways understood, that if you want the best picture, you shoot a RAW, then manipulate it in s'ware such as PSP. What am I doing wrong? Any tips?

Challenge: Below are links to a single exposure. Make the RAW look as sharp and pop like the in-camera JPG. Then tell me how the heck you did it.

This is one exposure. My Canon XTi was set for RAW+JPG (it makes 2 files with one click) and style to Standard w/ sharpness up 2 clicks from default. The cropped "E" JPG is after I tweaked the RAW in PSP. I used a Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 zoom with a 12mm extension tube (if you care about this stuff).

Camera JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~brucedebonis/misc/IMG_1839.JPG
Camera RAW
http://home.comcast.net/~brucedebonis/misc/IMG_1839.CR2
RAW processed in Corel
http://home.comcast.net/~brucedeboni.../IMG_1839E.jpg

Notes 1: I have always found in-camera white balance to be off so not all aspects of in-camera processing is great. But sharpness, contrast etc., the things that make a pic pop, well, I just can't match in the in-camera processing. Oh and the butterfly is a Cabbage White (that is its name!).

Notes 2: While I don't remember the setting in PSP I used for this pic, I can describe my typical process: 1) Crop, 2) adjust color balance, 3) Smart fix but turn everything to 0, tweak shadow/highlights/bright/saturation with black and white usually at 0 and never use the sharpness tool here, then 4) adjust sharpness where I usually use unsharp mask or high-pass depending on how much fine detail is in the pic.

[steve.ledger]

Hi Bruce, Welcome to TG forums.

OK, I'm downloading your files now.

However, before I start I will say this. I do not consider Corel PSPX to be a RAW developer at all.

I Use LightRoom as my first choice, SilkyPix as my second choice.

I'll post back once I've looked at your files.

[steve.ledger]

OK - here's the link to the result from RAW using Lightroom and exported at 1920x1280 and one at full resolution of 3888x2592

And here's a crop of the same image shown at 100%



My advise is that you should be as serious about the choice of software as you are about the choice of camera and your photography.
You have bought a very good camera, your photo's deserve better handling.

[Bruce in Philly]

You did a great job. Thank you very much for your time.

I suspected my PSPXI just wasn't doing it. So, another question:

Why not Photoshop Elements? I am getting pressure from some friends to move to this. My requirement is simply get the best without breaking the bank.

Note, I am not requesting a detailed response; simply that "one is better because is produces better results" is fine.

[steve.ledger]

You can try the freeware version of SilkyPix developer Studio

Or the freeware RAW developer RAWTherapee

You may however need to first convert your .cr2 files to Digital Negative (.dng) in order to use these developers. (The DNG converter is free from Adobe).

PS Elements?
Again - not the right tool for the job in my opinion.

[Trev]

Firstly I agree PSP is not a good Raw converter as It does not allow post conversion adjustments. Everything has to be done after conversion.
Never the less I have done practically nothing Just a little sharpening with the Digital noise reducer See what you think
http://www.trevorbowden.co.uk/Test/cropped%20jpeg.jpg

and my settings where
http://www.trevorbowden.co.uk/Test/settings.jpg

So what did you do to it ?