Use Neat Image after converting Nikon RAW to TIFF ?

[Guest]

I use Nikon Capture 4 to convert Nikon RAW and tweak the file before converting to TIFF for editing in PS CS. I normally apply some USM and sharpening in Nikon Capture as well as applying White Balance adjustments and other adjustments Capture will do for me. Should I just convert the RAW file after adding or subtracting EV to the exposure and not apply any sharpening at all with Capture? It seems I'm sacrificing some of the functionality of Capture by waiting to sharpen or apply USM until after the RAW file is converted to a TIFF for PS CS editing?

[NITeam]

Yes, you sacrifice the functionality but you gain higher quality of the noise reduction and of the overall result. Also, normally sharpening is applied in the end of workflow, so applying it in a RAW converter doesn't look right even without noise reduction, provided you do some post-processing in Photoshop.