Programs that come with Rebel XTi - do you use them?

[jcanon701]

I just got the canon rebel xti and it comes with a cd full of software.

who actually uses these programs? and which ones?

Aside from the ones given, what other programs do you guys might use as a substitute for the ones given with canon? or just in general

[griptape]

DPP (digital photo professional) is actually the easiest software I've come across for processing a thumbnailed batch of raw files (although Lightroom is probably superior). I can correct white balance and/or exposure on 100 pictures at a time if I want, and save them in whatever format I want with just a few clicks. And I've played with Remote Capture, and it's extremely cool, but I don't personally have any practical use for it. It's really not bad software though.

[cwphoto]

I use DPP extensively and almost exclusively to process over 100k images per annum.

[The Mangler]

I use DPP all the time, and Zoom Browser occasionally.

I plan on getting Lightroom in the next month or two, after that I'll probably use DPP a lot less.

I do very little editing in Photoshop, and the editing that I do can be done just as easily in DPP - white balance tweaks, minor cloning, sharpening, stuff like that. Now that I think about it, the only thing I really use Photoshop for is resizing.

[coldrain]

I use DPP as RAW convertor too, and then let DPP send the image to PhotoShop. I guess me using DPP is CW's fault :p
DPP gives very good results, nicer than most other RAW convertors.

Very sometimes I use Canon's photostitch to quickly stitch some photos together.

To import photos from my camera I use Apple's Image Capture.

[DLugassy]

And don't forget to check Canon's website for software updates to DPP. I just recently downloaded it and it makes the "Trimming" tool more user-friendly, among other features.

[Honest Gaza]

I use Zoom Browser for initial transfer and viewing....and DPP for basic "auto correction"

[D Thompson]

I used to use DPP to process my RAW files and it does a very good job. However, with the release of CS2 and Adobe Camera Raw I started using it and liked the results better. With the release of CS3 it got even better. I can import and back up in one click with Bridge, select the ones I want and bring them into ACR. For the final tweaks they come on into Photoshop. I am finding that with the latest version of ACR that I'm doing less in PS.

Bottom line, DPP is a good converter. It just doesn't fit into my workflow as well anymore.

[GaryS]

I use DPP for my RAW converter too.

I sometimes use one of the other programs (I can't remember which one it is) for checking which focus points were active on a particular shot. It helps me to figure out mistakes....

[nqjudo]

I used to use the Canon software till I discovered Adobe Lightroom. There is nothing wrong with the Canon programs but for my personal use I found that Lightroom allowed for a more efficient work flow.

[GaryS]

Lightroom is where I will eventually migrate. I tried the demo, and I thought it was fantastic. But I just don't have the time (or interest) to learn a new program now... maybe in the winter.

[Gintaras]

i use DPP too for basic processing and converting RAW. i got PS7 but i find this user unfriendly or it takes time to learn.

[jcanon701]

i've been interested in shooting in raw and using DPP to mess around with the photos but can someone point me to the right direction as to what i need to do after i'm done editing my raw file?

I know you need to process it...

Many people have mentioned CONVERTING - does this mean converting the raw file into a jpeg file? this is my main question because i don't know what file to save it as and what settings i should use when i save them

also - many people mentioned adobe lightroom - what other programs are good? i heard adobe photoshop cs is good too?

[coldrain]

RAW conversion does not mean converting RAW in JPEG, but it actually means converting the RAW data into an image.

Suppose the image looks like this:

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The RAW data might look like this:

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So that is what the "convert" actually means... making sense of teh RAW data, that looks just plain weird to us. And when you have converted the RAW data into an image, you have to save that image into an image file format (or send it to photoshop or something) like JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PICT, PNG or something.

Good RAW convertors are Canon Digital Photo Professional, Adobe Camera RAW (for photoshop CS2/3 and photoshop essentials 5), Bible, Adobe lightroom, Apple Aperture (Mac only), and a whole list of others.

[Spookonthe8ball]

Jcanon
Just go to the file tab at the top left and select "Convert and save". The default is jpeg and I usually save the image quality as 10 (default). You can also resize from that tab if you wish, but I usually do that later with another program. Your Raw file will still be there and you can edit it again. Just think of that raw file as your photo negative:) I hope this answers your question.
Spook

[Rhys]

I just got the canon rebel xti and it comes with a cd full of software.

who actually uses these programs? and which ones?

Aside from the ones given, what other programs do you guys might use as a substitute for the ones given with canon? or just in general

Contrary to what many say, Zoom Browser is excellent - I use it to import all my files from card to computer.

DPP I use to edit and convert my RAW images. It seems to work better than Zoom Browser.

Once I have some decent JPEGS from DPP I edit them with PhotoShop Elements 2. That works pretty well.

[The Mangler]

And don't forget to check Canon's website for software updates to DPP. I just recently downloaded it and it makes the "Trimming" tool more user-friendly, among other features.
What is the latest version? I have 2.2.0.1.
The last time I updated DPP it took forever & tons of searching to find the English update (the link on Canon's website wasn't working for some reason).

[DLugassy]

Mangler: The downloaded file is called DPP320X.dmg
I downloaded it within two minutes from Canon's website. To find the newest version, I based it on the date it was uploaded on Canon's site. The site tells you the date they uploaded new files.