Newbie: jpeg processing
I have a basic, newbie level understanding of shooting in RAW, and then processing to an output state. I will be doing this as I have a Nikon camera that can shoot RAW.
However, I have years of jpegs from other digital cameras (non-DSLR), that need organizing, etc.
I have used Lr5 and Digikam, and earlier Adobe variants for consumers.
I really like the organizational capabilities of both Lr and CO, and even Digikam.
But, here is my newbie question for sure:
I understand that one can take a camera generated jpeg and apply "Camera Raw" adjustments to it in Lr. My weak understanding is this attempts to treat the jpeg as a 'raw' starting point and adjust from there. (just a guess).
The question is, can I do the same in CO?
Can I input a camera generated jpeg image to CO, and improve it, similarly to the "Camera Raw" approach in Lr?
If so, I can proceed with signing up for CO, and believe that I can 'process' any of my images, past or future.
I do understand/hear that the learning curve is steeper with CO, but that is exactly what I am looking for. It usually means a bigger payoff in the end ....
Note, I do see the front page statement in CO that says, "You don’t need an image editing software which offers RAW conversion or RAW processing – JPEG files can be uploaded straight to social media or the web without using image editors or a single adjustment tool."
I don't *need* such a tool for jpegs, but can I *use* such a tool is the question.
However, I have years of jpegs from other digital cameras (non-DSLR), that need organizing, etc.
I have used Lr5 and Digikam, and earlier Adobe variants for consumers.
I really like the organizational capabilities of both Lr and CO, and even Digikam.
But, here is my newbie question for sure:
I understand that one can take a camera generated jpeg and apply "Camera Raw" adjustments to it in Lr. My weak understanding is this attempts to treat the jpeg as a 'raw' starting point and adjust from there. (just a guess).
The question is, can I do the same in CO?
Can I input a camera generated jpeg image to CO, and improve it, similarly to the "Camera Raw" approach in Lr?
If so, I can proceed with signing up for CO, and believe that I can 'process' any of my images, past or future.
I do understand/hear that the learning curve is steeper with CO, but that is exactly what I am looking for. It usually means a bigger payoff in the end ....
Note, I do see the front page statement in CO that says, "You don’t need an image editing software which offers RAW conversion or RAW processing – JPEG files can be uploaded straight to social media or the web without using image editors or a single adjustment tool."
I don't *need* such a tool for jpegs, but can I *use* such a tool is the question.
0
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Yes you can edit jpgs with C1 and also several other file formats.
There are some restrictions on for minimum and maximum files sizes (by pixel dimensions) that C1 will work with. See the Release Notes for details.
Jpgs are files that have already been processed from RAW data and, being then compressed, a potentially significant amount of data will have been discarded. So there is much more data to work with in a RAW file and this can be an important factor but need not be a disaster. Just know there will be limitations and in some cases they may be challenging for what you are trying to achieve. A general observation about editing jpgs rather than a comment about C1's ability to do so.
An example.
In a JPG file the White Balance will be embedded and although changing appearance by change White Balance tool settings is possible the effects are very likely to be compromised compared to RAW processing.
A RAW file does not have a preset White Balance (other than in its internal camera generated and jpg based preview rendition) and so the WB values can be changed in any way you like with the full and correct effects using the whole data and not the compressed and reduced data what already have values changed by burned in settings ex-camera.
Sometimes for some subjects and some results none of these things matter enough to be an issue.
Sometimes they do.
HTH.
Grant
ETA. Check the Preferences > Image tab to make sure that you have jpg editing ticked as an option.0 -
You certainly can use Capture One to make adjustments to jpg files. Though you have to accept that there will be some things that will not work as well as they would for a raw file. For example you won't get much success in recovering blown highlights with a raw file, you won't get such good results in adjusting the white balance etc. But you could adjust exposure, saturation, contrast and so on. You could remove spots and blemishes. You could use layers to make local adjustments to some parts of the image.
Ian0 -
Excellent. Many thanks for the comprehensive replies. This is the logic I had expected.
I guess it's off the the CO store ....
Stan0
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