I just learned something new?

[scottvd]

Nikon D80 shot RAW + Fine, image saturation is set to + vivid in camera.

First photo is the JPG right from the camera, second is NEF opened in CS3 and saved as JPG - nothing else done to the NEF at all, why the vast difference? I would expect the two shots to be practically identical.. Perhaps the vivid just applies to the JPG? News to me.

Thanks in advance for any insight..
`S

[stubbsy]

You are correct - vivid applies only to the jpeg. When you shoot raw the image is just that - raw - no in camera processing is applied after you click the shutter button. Of course the upside of raw is you have more latitude to play with (like deciding that vivid is TOO vivid perhaps)

[scottvd]

Wow, thanks for the super-fast reply. I read somewhere the D80 was a bit flat on saturation so you should adjust the setting to + vivid. I guess it's up to personal interpretation, but which photo do you think looks better - is the RAW closer to reality, or do you agree D80s shoot a bit desaturated?

`S

[surenj]

Peter has answered your question.

Nice portrait. Very relaxed looking subject. Watch where you put those hands though...they look a tad awkward..

Background looks better on vivid, subject skin on natural.

[ATJ]

If you use camera profiles with Adobe Camera Raw and you were to choose the vivid profile the processed raw image would look like the JPEG by default. You can change the processing later if you like (as Peter points out) but if you prefer the look of the vivid, it is possible to easily make the raw look like that.

[radar]

As an extra bit of info, if you use a tool like Nikon's ViewNX or Capture NX2, those tools do know about the camera settings and the NEF's should look very similar as the JPEG.

[Greg B]

To continue Peter's response, the Jpeg is a RAW image which has been processed. The camera started
with something the same as the second image, and processed it according to your settings, some vivid,
some sharpening, whatever else you have set, and then converted the image to Jpeg.

Working with RAW enables you to make those same adjustments, one step at a time, probably using
adjustment layers for maximum control and flexibility. Then, you can save your adjusted layered NEF,
and also a Jpeg.