Raw Processing

[straya]

What software is everyone using for Raw File Processing?
Is one better than another?


Adobe just announced they are going to deliver a Raw Conversion Plugin (For Various Digital Cameras) for Photoshop.
Will the S2 be included? :confused:


http://www.robgalbraith.com/diginews/2002-11/2002_11_01_adobe.html

[jknights]

Straya,

The Adobe plugin looks interesting.

I use Bibble and the RAW LE from Fuji. I also have QImage but have not used it as I find the interface strange.

I understand that you have the HyperUtility. Is this so.

Please can you email (jonathan@jknights.freeserve.co.uk) me if you have as I would like to do a comparison of S2 RAw files processed by Bibble, QImage FujiFilm RAW Converter LE and HyperUtility.

[SSonnentag]

straya, have you had a chance to compate the Fuji RAW Converter LE with Qimage and Bibble yet? I'm looking for a faster, better option to using the limited Fuji LE converter. I'd be happy to help you make the comparison by converting files using Fuji's LE software if you haven't done that yet.

I like the idea of using PhotoShop to directly do the conversions, but I don't think we know whether Adobe is going to support the S2 right away or not, or how long it will be before they release their update.

Anyway, I'm really curious as to what you discover with your comparisons and am willing to help out in any way I can.

Also, if anyone has used both Qimage and Bibble, I'd be grateful to hear your likes, dislikes, comments, etc. Maybe you could write up a mini-review. :)

Shawn

[jknights]

Shawn,

I am now in a position to do the comp[arison of Bibble, QImage Pro, Fuji HyperUtility and Fuji RAW Converter LE.

Initial results are in my opinion as follows:

Bibble v3.04
Nice results , bluer more Ektachrome like than the Fuji HU but mabe just a touch sharper. I am very familiar with Bibble so I am maybe slightly biased.


Fuji HyperUtility
Lovely colour, warm, bold and very Velvia like. Not so sharp as Bibble. Fair control over the end result. NO stop processing if you make a mistake and want tot stop and adjust. well you can but you have to kill the process in Task Manager.
Nice of Fuji to make it free in US and a costed item in Europe but would have been better to make it a free download worldwide along with Raw Converter LE.



Fuji RAW Converter LE
Similar to above but totally lacking in control over end results. Nice of Fuji to make it free but would have been better to make it a free download worldwide along with HyperUtility.


QImage Pro V2.48
Oh dear Iam baised here as I still don't like the interface even though Mike Chaney has doen a lot of improvements.
Shadow areas are poor with loads of noise which when compared with Bibble and Fuji HU are pure black.
However for custom printing you will need to go a long way to find a better utility.


I would like to post a series of results showing direct comparisons when I have made so more tests.
Moderator how can I do this in the easiest/best way for you/all.

[SSonnentag]

When you're ready to post the images or a review page, let me know the total size in MB and I'll decide the best route to go from there. It might be best to just add a software review area to the site and let me post your review for everyone to read.

Shawn

[jknights]

Shawn,

Will contact you in about two weeks (10th Dec) when I have done the initial tests.

QImage seem to be releasing a lot of new versions at present.

[memobug]

It's always releasing a lot of versions. Best (and worst) thing about it. I stopped using it because I couldn't keep up with the weekly change to the user interface.

Now that I have dumped the Nikon I may try again. It did seem to work well once you figured out where he'd moved everything.

Regards,

Matt

[jknights]

I've been doing a test of all the RAF file converters.

Bibble, QImage Pro, Fuji Hyper Utility and Fuji RAW FILE CONVERTER LE.

I will be publishing results in new 10 days.

FYI.
Hyper utility outputs 16 bit TIFFs in either sRGB or Adobe 1998 (your choice)

Fuji LE outputs an 8 bit TIFF in sRGB only .

As far as I can tell Bibble and QImage output in 16bit sRGB TIFFs only.

[xmale]

Any news on which program is best?

I'm in the UK and I am not willing to pay £130 (Sterling) for the Hyper Utility.

I have looked at QImage, but find the interface cumbersome!

I'm now looking at SharpRAW.

All I want is something to quickly view the RAW data and convert to tiff, any alterations, I will do in Photoshop.

Out of the 3 utillities I've tried so far, none have the flexibility I had with the Dimage converter for my old Minolta Dimage 7!

I'm new to this, so any help would be appreciated.

[jknights]

Try Bibble. This willl allow you to do loads of stuff and is fairly cheap $99.

I have used it for 2 years and still like it.

You can get a test version that is active for 30 days.

I've downloaded SharpRAW. I will take a look and run some test similar to those I did for the previous comparison.

[jknights]

I've installed SharpRAW and am testing/getting used to its interface and controls.

First pass results are interesting.
Can create PSD files which can then be saved via Photoshop or other softwares as TIFF. JPG are also saved.

First impression is that there is something (can't put my finger on it) about the images. The colour is not right but this may be the options that I have as default and there may be tweaking needed.

I like it but its results are not as good as Bibble.
I'll keep trying and using until temp license runs out. Only 15 days :(

I'll publish my results in the early Jan.

[xmale]

jknights, thanks for doing this.

I have brought QImage because I do like how easy it is to produce contact sheets and I also like it's other printing capabilities. At the moment, I'm still using the Fuji HU LE for converting the images to tiff.

I am new to digital printing and still can't get my head round how to sharpen my images (what's a good alround setting in Photoshop or QImage?) and colour correction.

[jknights]

I would use Photoshop.

there are loads of good sites with eeach recommending slightly different settings.

Take a look here.
http://www.normankoren.com/
http://www.wildlifephoto.net/articles/darkroom.html
http://www.computer-darkroom.com/epson_print/ps6_print.htm