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So if I open the original jpg file, then make an edit but save it as a psp, and the original file is not resaved, it would not lose anything, right? I have thought about trying raw just to have the extra flexibility to correct weaknesses in an image.

Thanks again, Diana



Diana,

I second Jim's comment. I would add a couple of points.

With regard to using PSP. While I use PhotoShop occasionally, I have to admit that I still use PSP for quick things like cloning and layering manipulations just because I like the interface so much more than PS. However, you did mention that the version you are using is older. I wouldn't use a version of the program less than version 10. I use 11 but I have had to disable the browser because it is so slow it makes the program unusable. If you are editing jpegs, PSP is fine (with the above caveats). However, if you are going to shoot RAW, the raw converter is sup par in my opinion. For raw conversion you will be much better off with PS-ACR or the raw converter for your particular brand of camera. I wouldn't really recommend large scale storage of images in PSP format. If you do switch processing software eventually to something else, odds are the new software will not read the PSP format. TIF is a much better format because it keeps all the data and is a standard that most programs recognize. The is however real storage-shock when you go from jpeg to tif so get ready for that. You can use LZW compression on tif which helps a little but it still nothing like jpeg compression.

The other point I would make about switching to RAW is that processing it can depend on the type of camera you are using. Canon and Nikon use proprietary RAW formats that are completely different formats. Both manufacturers make their own software to convert and render images and PS uses the ACR program to convert it. The web is loaded with info about which converter is best which you can look into if you want. It can really be a paper or plastic, pc or mac type of controversy. Personally, I shoot Nikon and I use there software to convert my RAW files. Besides excellent conversions, the software allows you to save non-destructive edits in the original RAW format which can really keep the storage overhead down while preserving the original file. Whatever RAW format you use, the advantages are as Jim mentioned in that you really have a digital negative that you can always come back to to as technologies improve.

Hope this helps.

Geo

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