Does RAW converter make a difference?

[ho_co]

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Often the differences between one and another RAW converter are quite subtle, but not always.

 

Case in point: an M8 DNG file. (See first image below.)

 

Using three different RAW converters, I made approximately 200% enlargements from the upper left of that file,.

 

First part-example is from a Capture One TIFF. It has the most natural color, though I would likely pep it up a bit before printing.

 

Second part-example is from PSCS2, with horrid purple lines around tree branches and ironwork. (This is the file that prompted me to run this comparison.)

 

Third part-example is from PSCS4. Even though it still shows a bit of the purple fringing, I find it the most visually pleasing without adjustments.

 

These are all from the same DNG. In C1 (new to me), I think all auto adjustments were disabled. In the two versions of Photoshop, no adjustments were made other than choosing "Auto" in the opening pane of ACR.

 

Part of the purple fringing is likely due to the fact that "Auto" in ACR gave a little more exposure than C1, but the later version of ACR is clearly quite different from its predecessor.

 

Interesting, isn't it? I was quite surprised how great a difference the choice of RAW converter can make!

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[jamesmd]

hi , yes I think they make great differences , but I think that in ones you have to retouch some things and in other some other things , and you always get to the point yo want .

 

I personally use aperture 2 , and I am very happy with it .

 

cheers

 

James

[farnz]

Howard,

 

Did you use an M8 profile when you opened the DNG in CS4? I'd assume that you would get closer results to C1 (which presumably knows about the M8 through the Phase One connection). Just a thought ...

 

I'm surprised that there's quite so much blooming in the CS2 version though.

 

Pete.

[Guest farbtupfer]

There are some additional camera raw profiles from Adobe for Photoshop CS3/CS4 and Lightroom to use in camera raw

 

 

DNG Profiles - Adobe Labs

 

Download Mac:

 

Adobe - Resume downloads

 

 

Download Win:

 

Adobe - Resume downloads

[ho_co]

Did you use an M8 profile when you opened the DNG in CS4? I'd assume that you would get closer results to C1 (which presumably knows about the M8 through the Phase One connection). Just a thought ...

Good thought, Pete! No, I didn't. Where do I get profiles and what do I do to install them? (I'm bad about learning new tricks.) Oops--I see that's what Farbtupfer's post concerns.

I'm surprised that there's quite so much blooming in the CS2 version though.

I was amazed. Looking at the DNG in Bridge (CS2 version) there's none. But it's there on the screen once the DNG is opened.

 

BTW, thanks for "blooming." I knew there had to be a term for this!

 

 

There are some additional camera raw profiles from Adobe for Photoshop CS3/CS4 and Lightroom to use in camera raw

 

DNG Profiles - Adobe Labs

 

I will check it out! A Farbentupfer is definitely a voice to be reckoned with on a topic like this.

 

Thanks. The profiles are a new thing for me. This looks like quite a helpful step forward.

[Hacker]

Thanks for the comparison. I prefer Capture One these days for the M8 though I have been using ACR for almost 15 months. It appears to squeeze out a little more details also.