Before starting photo editing: convert RAW files into DNG or JPEG
Let’s start our photo editing tutorial for beginners with method: how to convert RAW images into files that your photo editing program will accept?
As beginner photographer, you might not know yet the ‘RAW’ issue. It actually becomes a real question when you start asking yourself how to edit photos using photoshop (or most other softwares). First things first: what are RAW files? What are DNG or JPEG images?
Difference between RAW and JPEG
Shooting in RAW is a setting you should turn on in the camera you chose, as soon as you want to go from occasional to more professional travel photography. By definition, RAW files are non-refined images. Meaning, the camera renders all details and light information you captured. On the contrary of RAW, JPEG files are lighter and ‘ready-to-use’ by any device – images refined inside the camera. But the picture might lose information.
So, shoot in RAW… and convert the files on your laptop.
Convert RAW to DNG with Adobe DNG Converter
What is DNG? Digital Negative files are simply ‘formated’ RAWs. It’s a format developed by Adobe, aiming to use RAWs in Adobe suite. If you edit with Photoshop, it’ll go quicker to convert the RAW directly into Adobe DNG Converter to open it then into PS.
1. Download either Adobe DNG. It’s a free open-source tool.
2. In Adobe DNG: select the folder to convert, choose a new file location and new folder name.
3. Click on ‘Extract’. That’s done!
Convert RAW to JPEG with Lightroom
1. Add Lightroom to the Adobe suite, from Adobe Creative cloud. Free only if you have already Photoshop installed.
2. Export the RAW files following this path: File > Export > Preset JPEG
3. Choose new file location and name: Export location / file naming
4. Click ‘Export’. Your JPEG files are now ready to open in Lightroom library!
Congrats! Now, the photo editing tools can open your cool travel photos. And we’ll jump to step 2 of our photo editing tips for beginner.
