Microsoft is organizing a contest to celebrate the release of the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack. It is giving away 10 Nikon D5000 DSLR cameras as prizes. Microsoft is giving 10 extra points for contest entries that use a RAW original and edit it in Photo Gallery using the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack.
We had posted earlier, that Windows Live Photo Gallery now supports RAW file formats and the way to get started is by downloading the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack.
It is indeed welcome news for those who prefer RAW file formats. Even if you are not a Photo Gallery user, after installing this pack you can view the RAW format images within Windows Explorer of Windows 7 and Windows Vista SP2.
For Microsoft Camera Codec Pack to work correctly with Windows Live Photo Gallery, you must have installed QFE2 update for Windows Live Essentials 2011, that is make sure you have the latest Build 15.4.3538.0513 of Photo Gallery installed.
If QFE2 update is installed and if you have photos in any supported RAW photos formats, Photo Gallery will detect and alert you that a codec pack is available for download. Please note if you already have any third-party RAW codecs installed such as from your Camera manufacturer then Photo Gallery wont alert you.
Before editing the RAW image in Photo Gallery, it will advice you to make a copy of RAW format into JPEG or JPEG-XR. You can also add various tags such as people tags, geotags, captions, etc, to RAW photos & this data is preserved when you make a JPEG copy.
The idea behind the contest is to submit a photo essay comprised of “before and after” photographs that map to the contest theme of “Summer Fun” as well as a short paragraph that showcases how Windows improves your photo editing experience.
For more details and contest rules visit the contest page.
As usual, Microsoft has forgotten that it has users in other parts of the world too! Sadly the contest is only for US residents only.
Microsoft, please make your various contests worldwide!
