being really daft...how do i open NEF???

[mally]

i have been experimenting in PS with tutorials advised upon from previous thread and also DVD tutorials i have from magazines and i have been researching on net. all is going quite well except i cant find the answer to one fundamental question and think i am being REALLY stupid.

i really want to start experimenting with RAW. i have a Nikon so it shoots NEF. can someone just talk me through how i put that onto my computer (via camera as left card reader in UK) and then open it up so i can work with it in PS? I have tried to open NEF when i have been in bridge but it would not let me.

what i have:
windows vista
Nikon transfer
Nikon View
CS3 extended
ACDSee (think it is Pentax that someone gave me to import files)

I have asked google, but cant find a satisfactory answer. do i need new software? would appreciate help. thanks guys.
Mally

[TimC]

Download the latest Camera RAW file from Adobe. You'll have to replace the old one with the newer one. There should be instructions on Adobe's website.

[mally]

is that the only way?? dont mean to be difficult but i am visiting Oz from the UK and we cant get internet on my laptop as dont have installation CD.

sorry i should have said that on first post about lack of internet.

can i buy it in a shop? i am back in december to UK where i can download it, it is just a shame now that i am out here with such spectacular views...anyway thanks for your help. i'll try internet way.
Mally

[TimC]

It's a free DL from Adobe and it's not too large of a file. When I get home I'll see if I can get the file and directions and email it to you. Are you able to download attachments from your location? It's really a simple process to execute. PM me your email address and I'll get it to you as soon as I can.

[mally]

you are a star tim. thanks.

[ALexD]

I think the newest version of camera raw you can use with CS3 is 4.6. You didn't mention what Nikon camera you have but, if it is a newer model, version 4.6 of camera raw may not work with your NEF images.

[KmH]

Nikon View can display .NEF files.

[blumesan]

i have a Nikon so it shoots NEF. can someone just talk me through how i put that onto my computer (via camera as left card reader in UK)

The instructions for transferring images directly from camera to computer are in your user's manual. It requires a special cable. No doubt you have left both of these at home as well.

However, if you do have these items then no special software is required to transfer the NEF files to a folder on your computer. Opening them for editing is another matter. Lots of good answers above, all of which do require software.

Excuse my ignorance, but where the hell is OZ. I know it's not in Kansas.

[erozier2]

As another tip, Nikon DSLRs have an in camera option to convert RAW to JPG.

[mally]

thanks guys. i have d300. i can get NEF files onto computer (i use cable attached to computer to USB port in laptop) and can see them with nikon view, but i cant open them in PS bridge (message comes up to say file incompatible). i know i can convert NEF in nikon transfer to jpeg, but is that defeating the object of working in RAW in photoshop, or is that what you are meant to do??

oh, Oz, is Australia!

thanks again, and sorry for being daft - it has something to do with my hair colour!!

[blumesan]

OK mally. Here is the quick and easy (not necessarily the best) way to solve your problem for the time being. You have to find a way to get to Adobe's internet site and download a copy of their "DNG Converter". If you have to download it to another computer first, then make a copy and transfer it to your laptop; that will work. It is a simple stand-alone program that requires no installation. Open that program and point it at the NEF files you wish to convert. It will convert those NEF files to DNG format which can be opened by any version of PhotoShop.

[mally]

thank you blumesdan, you are very kind. i shall try that over the weekend. i do have internet access through my sister's laptop. but i shall make a copy and put it on mine. when i get back home in december i shall download the upgrade from adobe.

it is very good of you to give me a temporary solution. much appreciated. thanks for everyone's advice. have a great weekend!
Mally

[Arved]

If you can open the file in Nikon ViewNX, you should be able to do a "Save As" to a TIFF file. I recommend a 16-bit TIFF. It wil also do 8-bit TIFF, and JPG, but if you're going to be doing any curves adjustements, you'll want the 16-bit TIFF. For the same reason, save any edits as 16-bit TIFFs or PSDs, and resort to JPGs only when producing final output (post to web site, e-mail, or send to commercial lab for printing).

There are some minor tweaks you can do in Nikon ViewNX. It's not as powerful as any of the other RAW converters, but it's not bad at all. Another RAW newbie asked me why not use all the tools in PSCS3 instead of a dual processing inside ACR (or any other RAW converter), and then continuing in PSCS3. I've been scratching my head over that one, and I've been a long time RAW shooter. I may be drastically reducing my workflow here shortly, too.

If you're already familiar and comfortable with tweaking images in PSCS3, you may not have a reason to anything more than the most simple of RAW conversions, in which case you have all you need in Nikon View NX.

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by Arved

Another RAW newbie asked me why not use all the tools in PSCS3 instead of a dual processing inside ACR (or any other RAW converter), and then continuing in PSCS3. I've been scratching my head over that one, and I've been a long time RAW shooter. I may be drastically reducing my workflow here shortly, too.

If you want all the benefits of shooting in RAW, there are a number of good reasons to do as much editing as possible on the 16 bit linear data of the raw file using ACR or other full function raw conversion software, before opening the image in PS. There's a ton of information on the web on this subject.