User,software,or camera error?

[gdwikoff]

I'm a lurker in this forum and value all the knowledge I've gained from following each post. I am in need of some assistance at this point. I purchased Adobe CS mainly for the raw plugin. I've used Elements but felt I need CS to continue my parttime endeaver with portraiture. I don't have the EX converter so I've never shot in raw mode. I have not figured out how to open the raw file. If I start CS and open my CF card in an internal card reader, click on the file, it opens as a jpg with no raw box. From reading the manual I expected the raw converter box to open when I open the pic. Am I not doing something? And yes, I have changed the setting in my camera to CCD-Raw. I installed CS but do I need to do something else to run the raw plug in? Is it me, my camera, or the software? I'm hoping it's me and the kind people that frequent this forum can steer me in the right direction.:D

[Tom V]

It may be a camera setting. It doesn't sound like you even have a RAW image to open. Photoshop would see it if it were there.

SET THE CAMERA FOR RAW:
On the SET UP menu you have two options regarding the TIFF-RGB or CCD-RAW setting. Which ever you pick, the camera can STILL shoot JPG depending on your setting of the third button above the LCD (Function Menu). To shoot in RAW mode, you have to set the shooting menu to CCD-RAW, as well as set the third button in the Function Menu to H (not F or N), and in which case the icon above the forth button changes to RAW. Normally, the fourth icon shows 1440, 2304, 3024, or 4256). If you don't see RAW in the window, you aint shooting RAW.

DON'T OPEN / EDIT FILES ON THE CF:
Don't open your images directly from your memory card. Doing so can cause non-camera files to be written to it, with a great chance of corrupting the file and/or card. Always copy your files from the card to your computer hard drive before opening them in Photoshop (or any other program).

OPENING THE RAW FILE:
Photoshop CS will recognize RAW files on your hard drive just as it recognizes JPG and TIF files. When you select a RAW file to open, the RAW file palette opens automatically to let you configure how you want your RAW file to be processed.

Let us know if that solved the stumbling block.

[gdwikoff]

Aha, sometimes the obvious eludes me!!!! Thank you so much Tom, I must say I have gained the most knowledge from your posts!!!! I can finally play with my new toy. I was beginning to feel like a kid with a great new remote control car but no battery:( I had thought I'd get to bed but now I have to play!