Converting RAW files to TIFF

[Mark T]

I would like to shoot in RAW but copy each file to a TIFF once they're on the computer. Then I would have one set of NEFs for archival purposes, and a set of TIFFs for viewing/post processing.

What I would like, however, is the same creation/modified date on each TIFF as its corresponding NEF. Is this possible? Obviously, when I use Nikon Capture to batch convert each NEF, it gives each file a date being the date of conversion, not the date of the original photo.

Any ideas?

Mark T

[Nnnnsic]

Buy a D100.

[stubbsy]

Mark

I'm puzzled why you need the TIFFs - why not 2 NEF copies. The NEFs can be viewed in thumbnail form by most new software (PSCS, Nikon View, ACDSee, Thumbsplus are a few that come to mind) and likewise for PP work (PSCS and NC both allow this, for example)

[gstark]

Mark,

I think that using NCE you can set up a batch process that would do this, including retention of the original timestamp.

[Killakoala]

Also, if you create the TIFF (or JPEG) you can convert it back to a NEF again and do things to it without destroying the copy. Such is the beauty of NEFs. No matter what you do to it, you can always go back to the start, even after you've saved it as it saves the things you did to it as layers. (Or something to that effect - Someone correct me if i'm wrong)

(Does that make sense??? I think i confused myself.)

[Matt. K]

Killa
I'm not sure if you can get your NEF back once it has been converted to a TIFF or JPG? If that were the case I'd save all my files as highly compressed JPGs to save space. My understanding is that you can mess up your NEF as much as you like and always get back to your original file but once converted then that's it.

Someone more knowledgable than me like to confirm or expand on this topic?

[sirhc55]

Killa
I'm not sure if you can get your NEF back once it has been converted to a TIFF or JPG? If that were the case I'd save all my files as highly compressed JPGs to save space. My understanding is that you can mess up your NEF as much as you like and always get back to your original file but once converted then that's it.

Someone more knowledgable than me like to confirm or expand on this topic?

Absolutely right Matt - and if you have worked on the NEF in PS with curve layers etc the only way to save it to keep the layers is as a TIFF or PSD. Once saved all history is lost. You can’t save back to NEF in PS

[digitor]

Any adjustments applied to a NEF are really a series of tags which describe what to do to the output of the raw converter - the actual file is not altered. At any time, you can go back to your original NEF and apply a different set of adjustments, or use a different converter to produce a new output file.

However, after saving the NEF as another format, if any adjustments are applied and the the file is saved, the file is irrevocably altered.

So, the best plan is to keep your NEFs, back them up as you see fit, and do a "Save As" at the time you want to do some PP.

Cheers

[xerubus]

this is my workflow if it helps in anyway.

-take the shots.
-download the raw files to pc.
-copy raw files to 2 dvds before opening them(just incase media is dodgy), and copy raw files to my main fileserver.
-open raw files in pscs, edit them, and save output as tif files.
-blow away raw files from pc once finished.
-copy tif files to secondary file server.

i do not delete the raw files on the cf until i have the nefs copied to the 2 dvds and the fileserver. if i am on location shooting a wedding, i just use multiple cf cards and do not transfer until i get home.

hope this helps...

cheers

[W00DY]

-take the shots.
-download the raw files to pc.
-copy raw files to 2 dvds before opening them(just incase media is dodgy), and copy raw files to my main fileserver.

Is your Fileserver a seperate machine? or a seperate drive?

-open raw files in pscs, edit them, and save output as tif files.

Are you just opening and editing the keepers? Do you delete the ones you are not going to keep?

-blow away raw files from pc once finished.
-copy tif files to secondary file server.

Is this a third PC

I am STILL trying to work out the best way to store / organise my images on the PC

W00DY

[MattC]

Mark,

If viewing the Exif data in the PS browser or NV, the original time stamp is preserved in the TIFF file. It is only file creation dates that change. That is a Windows thing and cannot be changed.

Cheers

Matt

[xerubus]

woody...

yes the fileservers are different machines... used for other tasks for work as well as photography....

yes.. opening and editing the keepers, as well as deleting some from the pc... never delete any that i initially take as you never know what the future holds in regards to fixing shots that aren't perfect...

[MattC]

Xerebus,

I do something similar, but not so thorough. Download to laptop which is updated daily to my file server with redundant drives and backed up to an external hdd daily. I backup to DVD weekly.

I open in NC for image corrections, I may open in Curve Surgery Pro, save as TIF, then open in PS for further manipulation/alterations. I prefer NC over ACR - it suits my needs and workflow.

Cheers

Matt

[Mark T]

stubbsy: I think I will go the 2 NEF copies route. I have upgraded to iPhoto 5 which will display the NEFs.

Gary: I had used the batch process to convert my NEFs to TIFFs and it worked well. It does retain the EXIF data but the new file’s creation date is different (as Matt pointed out). In the Batch dialog there’s a “Periodically check for new files in this folder” option. I would love to get this option working but I can’t select it (it’s greyed out). Anyone able to get this to work?

xerubus: I like your methodology and think I will follow a similar path. So you keep three copies of the original NEFs, two on DVD and one on main fileserver? Had any experience with bad DVD media? I keep imagining that in 5 to 10 years when I go to retrieve some old family photos the media will be unreadable.

Thanks for all your help,

Mark

[xerubus]

xerubus: I like your methodology and think I will follow a similar path. So you keep three copies of the original NEFs, two on DVD and one on main fileserver? Had any experience with bad DVD media? I keep imagining that in 5 to 10 years when I go to retrieve some old family photos the media will be unreadable.

Thanks for all your help,

Mark

Correct... haven't had any bad media yet... the theory is two dvds, atleast one should be okay unless the entire batch is dodgy... i make sure i can read the dvds once copied... the reason for the ones on the file server is that they are catalogued so that i can bring them up anytime i wish. server is backed up nightly and tape sets rototed in weekly batches. every 4th weekly set is stored offsite to please my paranoia. if my house burns down, i should be okay in theory.

cheers