Is it possible to be able to convert an image to either the RAW or TIF image formats using the built-in'Convert Image' when you right-click a supported image file
I want to convert a BMP to a choice of RAW or TIF so I can load the image into PhotoShop Camear RAW or PhotoShop LIghtRoom for further editing
I can convert my images from my Samsung 1730 that saves as a JPG to BMP very easily and quickly, but the drop down menu for filetype to save as doesn't support RAW or TIF. This is what I am trying to enable or add as a plug-in, without having to use an external program
Answering this requires some background explanation:
[ul][li]Raw format(s)
First, raw isn't a format; it's a name that covers hundreds of proprietary digital camera formats which (generally) save extra data, direct and unprocessed, from the camera's hardware (e.g. full-precision sensor readings). That data is lost when the image is converted to a standard format like BMP or JPEG.
Because that extra data is lost, you cannot meaningfully convert to any raw formats, only from them. (I guess, technically, you could calculate a raw file which would, given certain settings, result in the same bitmap data but there would be no point; it would never contain more information than the original image and you would gain nothing from it.)
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[li]TIFF format(s)
TIFF is a container format rather than an image format. You can store just about anything within a TIFF file; they are actually more like ZIP files than BMP files. Usually when people talk about TIFF images they mean ones using one of a handful of "standard" image formats within the TIFF, but that is just a convention. Other image formats can be stored within TIFF containers, and that includes raw formats. In fact, many of the raw formats use TIFF but with different file extensions to avoid confusion with traditional TIFF files.
Some raw formats do (unfortunately) use the .TIF extension and I suspect that is why the Adobe raw tools can load them. I doubt the Adobe raw tools would do anything useful when given a traditional (i.e. non-raw) TIFF image. If the raw tools could do useful things with traditional TIFF images then they'd be able to do the same with BMP and JPEG images and would accept them directly. If they don't accept BMP and JPEG then they won't accept a traditional TIFF image, either.
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[li]In summary...
Once you convert to BMP, JPEG, etc. the raw data is lost and you cannot get it back (unless you have a copy of it somewhere). There is no way to convert from BMP, JPEG, etc. to any raw format (including "raw .TIF", which should not be confused with traditional .TIF files and is really just another raw format).[/li][/ul]
Leo is right about TIFF being a container, but still... I also found myself needing TIFF instead of PNG, for Adobe Lightroom.
I created a button that uses ImageMagick (google for it please, I don't have a link handy) to automate things.
This script will convert the files you have selected into TIFF and keep them selected for easy deletion afterwards:
Hmm, yes, very strange choice by Adobe not to support PNG in Lightroom. I found lots of threads of people complaining about it for years, all ignored. It's odd as it would not be difficult for them to support it. (Sometimes I think Adobe get a kick out of ignoring their customers! ) Perhaps the issue is how to store metadata, which is one area that PNG falls down in (although I bet someone as big as Adobe could define a defacto PNG metadata standard or just use sidecar files like they do in other places).
ImageMagick is a great tool for making Opus buttons to do image conversions & manipulations that Opus doesn't support internally. I use it myself from time to time.
) Perhaps the issue is how to store metadata, which is one area that PNG falls down in (although I bet someone as big as Adobe could define a defacto PNG metadata standard or just use sidecar files like they do in other places).