Recently we discussed why professional photographers shoot RAW, not JPEG. As we know, RAW format requires additional processing for converting the image to JPG or TIFF. This can be done by using RAW converters. In this article, we’ll discuss a few important points about selecting a RAW Converter.

Adobe Camera Raw screen shot

When you bought your camera, (remember, we are talking only about cameras which support RAW format; usually that’s any Digital SLR cameras) you had a software CD with manufacturer’s native RAW converter (DPP from Canon, Nikon Capture from Nikon etc.).  However, these converters are not the best way to work with RAW images. They have limited possibilities, slow speed and poor functionality.

So, I suggest using third-party software, such us Adobe Lightroom, AcdSee Pro Photo, ArcSoft PhotoStudio, Apple Aperture, Bibble Labs Pro, DxO Optics Pro, Lightcrafts LightZone, Nikon Capture NX, or Phase One Capture One.

The most commonly used RAW converters are:

- Adobe Photoshop CS, with Camera Raw plug-in
- Adobe Lightroom
- Apple Aperture (only for MAC)
- Phase One Capture One 4

 
Before and After RAW image processing
 

Adobe Lightroom – With this software you can polish and process your images, create a web gallery and upload it to your web site.  You can then print your photos, while staying in the same program.

Adobe Photoshop CS and Adobe Lightroom use the same RAW converter.

If you already have Adobe Photoshop CS, you should have Camera RAW Converter as a part of the Adobe Bridge.  You can download the latest version of The Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in from Adobe and follow the instructions to install this file where necessary.

Phase One Capture One 4 – This professional RAW converter has the best algorithm for image processing with maximum accurate color rendering. Most professionals work with Capture One 4. Through our own experience, it does a great job, but the output has a bit less detail than what Adobe Photoshop produces.  On the other hand, it is faster and more convenient to use when you have hundreds of files to convert.

If you are shooting for your family albums and want your images to look professional, I suggest using Adobe Lightroom. It is really an “all-in-one” software.

If you are a fan of Mac and like their perfect style and quality, your RAW processor is Apple Aperture.

I prefer to work with Adobe Photoshop CS plus Camera Raw, because I don’t have a Mac and I like the smooth integration of Camera Raw Converter with Photoshop.

If you are looking for more detailed reviews, I can suggest DIGITAL CAMERA RAW CONVERTER COMPARISONS from Steve Hoffmann.