Picture Control - does it affect RAW? (and vice versa)

Still getting to grips with the D3100 settings.

I've set Image Quality to RAW.
Picture Control is at Neutral, mainly because I set it there when I first began configuring the Menus, and a Gary Fong video seemed to indicate that this was a good idea.
However, after I'd learned a little more about post-processing, I changed Image quality to RAW.

Question: If I were to set Picture Control to say, Monochrome or extremely Vivid, but left Image Quality at RAW, I assume my stored data is not affected in any way. I mean, that's basically what I have now.
But what would happen if changed Image Quality to say, JPEG Fine?

I ask because it occurs to me that this would be a quick way to change from creating a large file that requires post processing to a smaller, specifically enhanced image that would be more attractive to show children or a gathering of relatives.

I hope I've framed this query so that it makes sense

Edit: Here are a couple of links that might be relevant:
Advanced tips for mastering your DSLR camera
Is raw affected by in-camera picture controls? - Nikon D3100 Forum

If you changed Image Quality from Raw to JPG, it will of course affect future images, but no previous images. You seem to know the answer, so I'm unsure if I understand the direction of your question.

Raw file data is not affected by any camera setting other than exposure (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, and Compensation).
Camera profiles like Vivid or Monochrome, or white balance, or sharpening or contrast, do not affect the raw file data. Raw is raw. All such settings do affect JPG files however.

Ifs and buts:

All raw files also include a Large Jpg file embedded in them. The camera rear LCD (is RGB color) and cannot show a raw file, and also the Histogram is 8 bit gamma oriented, so they are shown from the embedded JPG. Plus this lets you zoom in to see magnified view on the camera rear LCD. So what you see on the rear LCD or histogram does have those settings in them. However, the image from the raw file will not, unless you add same settings later in raw. So if the settings are greatly wrong, you can see a wrong view on the rear LCD, but the raw image file data is not affected. In my own case, I set Auto WB just to see a halfway proper view on the LCD, which is actually unimportant, since I will handle it in raw later. BTW, we can download a Nikon codex for Windows that will show thumbnails from that embedded JPG in raw... but again, this is not the same as seeing the raw version.


The Exif data in the raw file does show all those settings, even if the raw file data is not affected by them.

The Nikon raw software can recover those settings from the Exif, and can apply them to the processing of the raw data. Other raw software don't/can't, but one exception is that Adobe raw software can recover the white balance info, offering it called "As Shot" White Balance. Of course, the overall point of raw is to defer these decisions until we can actually see the image, to KNOW what it needs, and what will help it.

If you use the various Nikon softwares, the picture control will be shown as a starting point with your raw file, but you are free to change things, the raw data is still intact and unaffected. Even if you shot monchrome, the color data is still there. Other software like Photoshop or Lightroom will not show you the camera picture control changes. However, if you shoot jpg it is a done deal, no going back.

FYI, with your processing software you can quickly spit out jpg from the raw file without thinking much. The Nikon software as I said will show the camera picture settings right from the start. In lightroom, you can set it up to automatically apply similar settings. There is benefit as you mention for those instant jpgs. On the other hand, its nice to always have the raw in case you messed up a great shot and need to fix it.

Thanks guys. I suspected I could have framed my question better :culpability:. I was trying to confirm my guess that, with these configurations...

Image Quality set at RAW.
Picture Control set to produce an enhanced image, say, vivid.

...then I'd only need to click one Menu setting - Image Quality > RAW to JPEG - to instantly change my camera's output to a simpler form.
Then, another click - JPEG to RAW - sets the camera output back to where it was. And so on, a repeatable setup.

Thing is, I'm not sure I'm always going to want to post-process RAW files. Occasionally I might be quite happy to snap off a few simpler images that'll be quite acceptable to my family.

The above seems to be a simple way of moving from one to another (and back) without a lot of fuss.

Is my assumption correct?

fotofanish said:

Thanks guys. I suspected I could have framed my question better :culpability:. I was trying to confirm my guess that, with these configurations...

Image Quality set at RAW.
Picture Control set to produce an enhanced image, say, vivid.

...then I'd only need to click one Menu setting - Image Quality > RAW to JPEG - to instantly change my camera's output to a simpler form.
Then, another click - JPEG to RAW - sets the camera output back to where it was. And so on, a repeatable setup.

Thing is, I'm not sure I'm always going to want to post-process RAW files. Occasionally I might be quite happy to snap off a few simpler images that'll be quite acceptable to my family.

The above seems to be a simple way of moving from one to another (and back) without a lot of fuss.

Is my assumption correct?

Click to expand...

Yes, switching between Raw and JPG will switch between no camera settings involved in Raw data, or full setting are used in JPG. Or, you can select the Raw + JPG choice, and get both files.

Of course, the actual idea of raw is that you can always process the raw, and then save a copy as a better JPG.

Thanks Wayne. I'll try that setup and see how it goes. Cheers