PEF Raw File Converter for Photoshop 7 - Help Please???

[elcahall]

I recently decided to give shooting RAW a try. Now I have several pics that I would like to work with. I have Photoshop 7 but it doesn't see the PEF files. Is there a plugin I can get for Photoshop 7 that will let me open my PEF files so I can manipulate them and save them as JPGs when I'm done?

 

[Marc Sabatella]

I don't know if it would be possible to find a compatible RAW plug-in for such an old version of Photoshop. My guess is it would be far easier, cheaper, and more effective to simply use a different program. And if you want to really see the advantages of RAW, it shouldn't be one that forces you into the oldfashioned model of doing your processing then immediately converting to JPEG. You should try a more modern application like Lightroom, Aperture, ACDSee Pro, or others that simply keep track of your changes, allow you to apply settings in batches, and don't force you to convert until absolutely necessary.

--
Marc Sabatella
http://www.marcsabatella.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsabatella/

 

[Zaldidun]

Other than the software provided by Pentax, the answer is NO.

My advice is to upgrade ASAP. As soon as Photoshop 11 (CS4) is formally announced on September 23, Photoshop 7 will cease to qualify for ANY upgrades.

 

[Zaldidun]

…You should try
a more modern application like Lightroom, Aperture, ACDSee Pro, or
others that simply keep track of your changes, allow you to apply
settings in batches, and don't force you to convert until absolutely
necessary.

Adobe Camera Raw hosted by Photoshop does all of that too, non-destructively. It even works on TIFFs and JPEGs, non-destructively too.

 

[elcahall]

Other than the software provided by Pentax, the answer is NO.

My advice is to upgrade ASAP. As soon as Photoshop 11 (CS4) is
formally announced on September 23, Photoshop 7 will cease to qualify
for ANY upgrades.

How do I find out about upgrades? Do you have a link or is it on Adobe's website?

 

[Fraulein]

I recently decided to give shooting RAW a try. Now I have several
pics that I would like to work with. I have Photoshop 7 but it
doesn't see the PEF files. Is there a plugin I can get for Photoshop
7 that will let me open my PEF files so I can manipulate them and
save them as JPGs when I'm done?

Yes, I used to have the same predicament as you are having. Photoshop 7 does not read PEF files but works wonders with TIF files. You need to change your PEF files into TIF files. To do this, I used the Pentax Photo Browser that came in the box with my K10. It is pretty easy to do but kind of long and repeatiting process. Its been over a year since I used it. I do not recall the program been able to process multiple files at the same time.

Then I got Lightroom. I find it so easy and intuitive that I removed the Pentax Photo Browser from my computer. Lightroom can also do PEF to TIF files transformation and you can do over 80% of your post processing using only lightroom. Or you can also get Photoshop Element #6, which have no problem with PEF files .
--

 

[darkgenius]

If you're going to go the convert to tiff first route, I suggest trying Raw Therapee. It's a free raw converter and it does a very good job. Do your initial tweaks in Raw Therapee and save them to a folder as 16 bit tiffs. Then open the tiffs up in PS7 and work on them.
Dave

 

[Bich]

you can buy the last version of photoshop elements, save in TIFF 16 bits and reopen in PS7. Before saving, you can also use a few interesting 16 bits features of elements which are not in PS7 like "dark-clear tones (tons clairs, tons fonces in my french version).
--
Jacques Bijtebier

 

[Zaldidun]

How do I find out about upgrades? Do you have a link or is it on
Adobe's website?

Yes, the Adobe site.

 

[Zaldidun]

you can buy the last version of photoshop elements,

Note that ACR is brutally, massively limited in Elements, by design.

 

[sensingsys]

Will Photoshop 7 open .dng files? If so all you need is the free Adobe DNG Converter.

 

[ozbrit]

A couple of years ago I bought the K100D and was disappointed that my old copy of photoshop couldn't handle raw. I was advised that I needed CS2. Despite being a total amateur I splashed $$$$ on CS2 and sure enough raw editing was available.

I now have a K200D and guess what, yeah you guessed it, raw support for K200D is only available with CS3. Do Adobe really think I'm going to splash almost as much as I did on the camera did to go raw? This is a nonsense in my book.

 

[awaldram]

Or you could just buy Bibble pro which has a plugins for Adobe.

This operates the same as ACR but supports adobe photoshop 7,8,cs,cs2,cs3

it supports ALL Pentax's to the k20d

get off adobes gravy train.

 

[Bich]

new camera's demand new versions of ACR, new versions of ACR demand new versions of PS or PSE. But you can still use the old version if you convert your PEF files with adobe DNG converter.
--
Jacques Bijtebier

 

[Rod Herdman]

Hi

I use Photoshop 7 and there is a plug-in for it to read Pentax RAW files. I don't know what models it will support up to but I use a *istD so I'm a bit behind the times as it were. I have no idea if it will import K10D or K20D etc RAWS correctly.

After installing the plug-in you have to go File > Import rather than File > Open.

I can't remember how I located it on the net but it was a freebie so if you are still struggling let me know and we can sort out e-mailing it to you.

Cheers,

Rod

--
All I want is a digital back for my trusty K1000 . . .

 

[PSHPhoto]

As was mentioned above, Raw Therapee works, and is free. You can also use Picasa, also free, although more limited. Irfanview will also work, I believe and is also free.

I would recommend trying any of those to see how you like editing/converting with RAW before shelling out more money.
--
'My favorite subject to photograph is the dark side of the sun.'
Paul

 

[Russell Evans]

I believe what you have can be found here:
http://www.pentaxcanada.ca/digital/digital_slr/istd/raw_plugin.php

Pentax is pleased to introduce a Photoshop plugin module that will allow the direct importation of Pentax *istD RAW images into Adobe Photoshop.

• System requirements: Windows ME/2000/XP, MacOS 9.0 or later, MacOS X 10.1.3 or later.
• This plugin will only recognize Pentax .PEF files (*istD RAW data).
• Usable with Adobe Photoshop 5.0 or later.
• Add custom processing of RAW picture data during import.

Thank you
Russell

 

[Marc Sabatella]

Adobe Camera Raw hosted by Photoshop does all of that too

True, but as far as I know there is no way to get that with a version as old a 7. But indeed, the current CS version should have been n my list too. Elements too, for that matter.

--
Marc Sabatella
http://www.marcsabatella.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsabatella/

 

[awaldram]

Adobe Camera Raw hosted by Photoshop does all of that too

True, but as far as I know there is no way to get that with a version
as old a 7. But indeed, the current CS version should have been n my
list too. Elements too, for that matter.

--
Marc Sabatella
http://www.marcsabatella.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsabatella/

As I've already stated Bibble plugin offers the same functionality as ACR but supports photoshops from 7 to CS3.

Bibble plugin comes free with Bibble pro (so not really free)

http://bibblelabs.com/

 

[elcahall]

Russell,

The install worked and I can see the PEF files now but when I select one to import I get an "Unable to display preview" error. Any ideas?

I believe what you have can be found here:
http://www.pentaxcanada.ca/digital/digital_slr/istd/raw_plugin.php

Pentax is pleased to introduce a Photoshop plugin module that will
allow the direct importation of Pentax *istD RAW images into Adobe
Photoshop.
• System requirements: Windows ME/2000/XP, MacOS 9.0 or later, MacOS
X 10.1.3 or later.
• This plugin will only recognize Pentax .PEF files (*istD RAW data).
• Usable with Adobe Photoshop 5.0 or later.
• Add custom processing of RAW picture data during import.

Thank you
Russell