Use JPEG files in Camera RAW

Terry White answers the question, "How do I open up a JPG file in Camera RAW?" and shows how to take advantage of Adobe Camera RAW's ease of use and non-destructive workflow.

In a 2009 Creative Cow video, AE Quicktips #8: Camera Raw Sequences, Carl Larsen showed a similar way to import a .jpeg or .tiff sequence into After Effects with Camera Raw development settings applied. There's more on using RAW files in After Effects Help; things will work smoother if app versions are in sync.

Update: on the AE-List November 2011, Chris Prosser (software engineering manager for After Effects) said "Alas, RAW is just slow. The engine highly optimizes quality over speed due to its heritage. I often will convert them to a better intermediate format (some kind of 16 bit format)."

New Camera RAW features in CS5 + RAW B&W

In her new podcast, New Camera RAW features in CS5, Julieanne Kost goes over refinements and enhancements like noise reduction and image sharpening in the latest version of Adobe Camera RAW. Scott Kelby also discussed the new Camera Raw Process Version at NAPP.



Also: at TipSquirrel Justin Seeley has a video overview of the new CR, and a Photoshop Quicktip showing why Camera RAW is well-suited for creating black & white photos.

RAW Black & Whites from Justin Seeley on Vimeo.

Lens Correction in Camera Raw, Lightroom, + Photoshop CS5

Lightroom Journal, a blog from the Lightroom team, has new information from Tom Hogarty in Preview of Lens Correction Solution for Camera Raw 6 and Lightroom 3:

"Below is a preview of lens correction technology that will be included in Lightroom 3 and the Camera Raw 6 plug-in that's part of Photoshop CS5. This is an exciting development for our non-destructive editing technology and is designed to address lens correction via two methods: Lens Profiles and Manual Correction. The easiest application of lens correction is to apply the lens profile technology that encompasses geometric distortion(barrel and pincushion distortion), chromatic aberration and lens vignetting characteristics."

Read more... at the Lightroom blog. By the way, Photoshop CS5 will need to be updated after install for Camera Raw 6.1.

For more info, CS5 Help is live. Here's the preview of CR and LR lens correction along with a look at the Lens Correction tool in Photoshop CS5: