How do I submit RAW format images to the gallery? (1 Viewer)

[OrnithologyDevotee]

I can't figure it out. I tried to use a free online RAW to jpg converter but It makes my images dull. Sorry if this is the wrong area to ask this. Remove or move if needed.

 

[Mono]

You can't!
RAW images are exactly that, the raw data from your camera. They need "developing" in a software package, a browser is simply not able to do this. Besides that the different camera manufacturers all have different RAW formats and it is often different between camera models.

What software do you use for post-processing your RAW images, it will have a "save as" function to produce a jpg version. It is also worth resizing the image to screen size (1500ish) pixels before uploading to the gallery as that is how folks view them.

 

[MiddleRiver]

RAW images typically do look 'dull'. But the value is in that it gives you control over how to edit them. JPGs are simply RAW data that has been subjected to the manufacturer's idea of what tweaks should be (brightness, tone curve, sharpening, saturation, etc.).
Tell us more about your equip and workflow and I'm sure someone can figure out what's happening. As @Mono suggests, I suspect you are not retaining edits when exporting file.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I can't figure it out. I tried to use a free online RAW to jpg converter but It makes my images dull. Sorry if this is the wrong area to ask this. Remove or move if needed.

You may be converting RAW to JPG one-to-one. I.e. with no edits. If so I suggest either 1)find an editor and adjust images to your liking before exporting/saving-as-jpg, or if you don't want to spend time editing, just 2)shoot in jpg.

 

[seaspirit]

Faststone Image Viewer handles RAW files.

• It has some basic editing features
• It allows "save as" as jgp format
• It's installed on your computer
• It's free

FastStone Image Viewer, Screen Capture, Photo Resizer ... (Windows Only)

However, to get the most out of your images get a processing software and learn how to use it.
There are free options out there that are quite powerful.
RawTherapee is one of those (Home), and on youtube there is no shortage of instructional videos to get a beginner started.

This is just one of several, Google will come up with a few more.

 

[OrnithologyDevotee]

Thanks for the replies! I did use a basic editing software to edit brightness and small errors. But after watching another tutorial I realized I've been accidentally choosing the unedited files because the names are the same except for the numbers at the end. I'm really bad at using technology. Probably worse than most of you! Sorry about that!

 

[Ignatius]

I can't figure it out. I tried to use a free online RAW to jpg converter but It makes my images dull. Sorry if this is the wrong area to ask this. Remove or move if needed.

Why not just set your camera to shoot jpegs instead of raws, and avoid all this palaver? No learning curve, no issues with uploads, instant gratification.

 

[OrnithologyDevotee]

Why not just set your camera to shoot jpegs instead of raws, and avoid all this palaver? No learning curve, no issues with uploads, instant gratification.

Probably going to do that from now on. I have a birding friend who always talks about how RAW is much better than jpeg and if I use jpeg I'm just wasting my own time. For my low level of editing shooting raw isn't worth it in my opinion.

 

[ChrisMc1957]

As others have said, just change your camera settings to shoot in jpeg, I don't use RAW never have and if you click on the link in my signature you can see some of my photos with very little touching up or major editing.

 

[MiddleRiver]

TBH, I shoot jpg most of the time. But for difficult lighting/subjects, there's no question RAW is better. I recently shot some stuff underwater (fish not birds) and the RAW's were lifesavers - jpg's blew out a lot of highlights. But I agree that if you're mostly posting to social media, screensavers, the occasional modest-sized print, jpg is a lot easier.

 

[njlarsen]

Depending on what you see yourself do in the future, there is also an option of shooting both. This could be beneficial if you think you would get the hang on working with the apps in the future, you would have the Raw to go back to just in case.
Niels

 

[Oldnintheway]

Raw is better if you're going to edit as it contains more data to work with. But it would seem, at least for now, you'd be better off shooting jpeg as others have advised. If you're shooting Nikon their free software, NXStudio, is simple and the best raw converter for Nikon raw. It is rudimentary compared to more sophisticated software like Lightroom or photoshop, but it's simple and it's all that I use. Download it and give it a try.