Panasonic RAW files help

[MeadsMan]

Hello,I hope someone can advise.I have just purchased a second hand Panasonic FZ50.Is it legally o.k for me to register the Panasonic software,keeping in mind it is second hand and so likely has been registered allready ? And do I actually need to,as I have elements 7,is there any advantages ? My most important question,is that I don`t seem to be able to locate,and open the Panasonics RAW file photos I have taken,on any of the software I have.With my Canon 400D,I normally adjust the white balance ect in Canons own DPP software,save as a high quality Jpeg,and then do any further adjustments in elements.I am new to using Elements,so there is lots I need to get my head around.

[Lance Morgan]

Hi
with regard to drivers and any bundled software you have been supplied with it should be ok as it will be freeware or as regards driver It will be available free from support on their site. If you try to register your camera using the same serial number or details as the first owner it should recognise that and you will get error message or email telling you it has already been registered. this will relate mainly to the guarantee for the camera when it was bought etc. If it was registered by the previous owner and of course they want your email addy so they can send you all the other 'junk'. depending on whether you want it or not. With regards RAW files a digiphoto member will be able to help. I point press download and auto improve myself.

[Ed Tyler]

Hi There,

I found that with Elements 6 on my new computer I still need to install the camera driver for my Canon 40D in order to download the images. So I would expect you still need to do the same.

As for recognition of the files I'm not to sure about that, maybe other Panasonic users can advise you or email Adobe for advice.

I did notice that you say about saving your files as Jpegs then doing post processing afterwards. I don't know if your aware but everytime you press the save button with a Jpeg file you will lose quality. Better to save your files as TIFF files if you can. These are bigger than Jpegs but do retain the image quality better than Jpegs. All image processing can be done as per usual.

Hope this is of some use.

Ed

[MeadsMan]

Thank you,oddly if I open the folder that my photos from the panasonic were loaded into,the raw files do not show,however if I open the panasonic simple viewer,the raw files are there,although you can not see the photos,if I then click on open the folder,the raw files are listed,with a little flower icon and the letters PSD,I assume these are photoshop related ? I can then from the actual open folder drag the raw files into elements 7,and work on them.Not the easiest or quickest way.But if I go straight to elements and open that same folder,the raw files are not displayed I have also loaded Panasonics silkypix developer version 3,this will open the raw files,but I need to play around with that alot more,before I can save things ect.Would be happy to hear any other tips.

[ron1863]

I don't understand why Photoshop cannot open a PSD file as it is Photoshop that creates them.
When you try to open them what does the box marked file type say. If it is JPG. just click on it and change it to PSD to open the file.
Or you could change the PDS to JPG in Photoshop.

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Ed Tyler

Hi There,

I don't know if your aware but everytime you press the save button with a Jpeg file you will lose quality.
Ed

Isn't it the case that as long as you use the 'save as' button to keep the changes separately and not save over the original that the original will stay as it was ?

I do agree with the TIFF thing tho, If I've got any half decent photo I tend to Tiff as asap.

[MeadsMan]

Originally Posted by ron1863

I don't understand why Photoshop cannot open a PSD file as it is Photoshop that creates them.
When you try to open them what does the box marked file type say. If it is JPG. just click on it and change it to PSD to open the file.
Or you could change the PDS to JPG in Photoshop.

Thats the very thing,if I go straight to the folder from elements 7,the RAW files will not show,the jpeg files will.If I open the folder with Panasonics simple viewer,I can then see the above mentioned PSD files along with the jpegs,wich are I assume the actual RAW files.If I then click on open folder,I can again see the Raw files in the actual folder,and drag them into elements,to mess around with.What I find bazar,is that the only way I can locate the Panasonics RAW files is through Panasonics simple viewer,I don`t understand how they remain apparently hidden from all other programes,including Windows XP it`s self.