While you arrange a brand new digicam, and even go to take an image on some smartphones, you’re offered with a key alternative: JPG or RAW?
JPGs are able to submit nearly anyplace, whereas RAWs yield an unfinished file full of further information that permits for a lot richer post-processing. That choice for a RAW file (and even the generic title, RAW) has been standardized throughout the digicam business — however regardless of that, the digicam world has by no means truly settled on one standardized RAW format.
Most cameras seize RAW recordsdata in proprietary codecs, like Canon’s CR3, Nikon’s NEF, and Sony’s ARW. The result’s a world of compatibility points. Picture modifying software program must particularly assist not simply every producer’s file sort but additionally make adjustments for every new digicam that shoots it. That creates ache for app builders and early digicam adopters who need to know that their most popular software program will simply work.
Adobe tried to unravel this downside years in the past with a common RAW format, DNG (Digital Unfavorable), which it open-sourced for anybody to make use of. A handful of digicam producers have since adopted DNG as their RAW format. However the largest names within the area nonetheless use their very own proprietary recordsdata. And there’s no signal of that altering anytime quickly.
Why have some digicam manufacturers adopted native DNG recordsdata?
Some smaller digicam producers have been utilizing the DNG format for years, whereas others like Sigma have adopted it extra not too long ago. The entire level of DNG is to supply flexibility, ease of use, and ideally, a little bit extra futureproofing — for the reason that format is open to make use of and royalty-free.
DNG was created in 2004 by Thomas Knoll, one of many co-creators of Photoshop, and was primarily based on the even older TIFF picture specification. DNG is able to holding further digicam metadata embedded inside it. Whereas different RAW codecs are often coupled with an XMP sidecar file for storing metadata, DNG is barely streamlined because it’s only one file that permits nondestructive metadata edits inside it.
DNG is almost sufficiently old to legally drink (within the US)
No matter which digicam model you employ, a RAW processing workflow is generally the identical: you’re taking an image, import it to a pc, open and course of the file utilizing modifying software program, after which export a “completed” file in a common format (like JPG) for sharing or printing. The place issues usually get the messiest is with software program compatibility.
You possibly can’t use simply any software program or photograph app to edit a RAW file — you usually want specialised apps that assist your particular format. Broadly used shopper apps like Apple’s Photographs and Google Photographs have some RAW assist, nevertheless it’s frankly a bit janky. It’s finest to make use of software program like Adobe’s Creative Cloud, Capture One, Photo Mechanic, or Darktable.
Some digicam producers provide their very own software program. However ask most photographers, and so they’ll possible steer you towards the third-party apps.
And there’s the large benefit for DNG. As a result of it’s an open commonplace, there’s wider third-party app assist. That makes it a extra turnkey resolution for digicam makers. It subsequently is sensible that smaller producers (Pentax, Ricoh, Leica, and so on.) or ones with nearer ties to Adobe (Apple) use it.
What are some great benefits of a proprietary RAW format versus an open one like DNG?
Bigger digicam corporations know that app builders will rush to assist their newest options, letting them persist with their very own RAW codecs. A proprietary RAW format gives tighter management over the picture pipeline direct from a producer’s digicam, from the purpose of seize to the recordsdata you’re modifying in your laptop.
That’s the sentiment I bought from a number of digicam firm reps who gave me suggestions once I requested them why they caught with their proprietary format. Listed below are a few of the solutions I bought when requested why they go together with proprietary choices:
Sony: Michael Bubolo and Ryoko Noguchi of Sony’s product groups inform The Verge that Sony Alpha cameras use a proprietary ARW format “to maximise efficiency primarily based on machine traits such because the picture sensor and picture processing engine.”
Panasonic: “A proprietary format permits higher optimization and helps distinctive digicam features,” mentioned Masanori Koyama of Panasonic’s Lumix division.
Sigma: “Including proprietary information permits the digicam data to be given extra precisely to the creating software program. Nonetheless, it’s much less versatile,” Sigma mentioned in a press release supplied by US PR rep Jack Howard. (A few of its cameras use DNG, whereas others use the proprietary X3F format.)
Canon: “Canon makes use of a propriety RAW format as a result of it permits our proprietary data to be added to RAW with out being restricted by the standardization, and information might be dealt with freely, enabling optimum processing throughout picture growth,” mentioned Drew MacCallum, senior supervisor of product planning at Canon USA.
Pentax: “The benefit of proprietary codecs is that they will evolve on their very own; the drawback is that they will not be supported by third-party purposes,” mentioned Shigeru Wakashiro, Normal Supervisor of Product Planning for Ricoh Imaging Firm (which owns Pentax). After all, Pentax is the lone producer that provides customers a alternative between a proprietary PEF file and DNG. The Ricoh government added, “The drawback of utilizing DNG is that if all producers use the DNG format, will probably be tough to handle the format individually for every producer.”
Nikon: Didn’t reply The Verge’s questions by time of publication.
Fujifilm: Didn’t reply The Verge’s questions by time of publication.
What are all these codecs?
Canon: CR3 (beforehand CR2 and CRW)
Pentax: PEF (choice for DNG)
Leica: DNG (RWL on some point-and-shoots)
Sigma: DNG (beforehand X3F)
Apple: DNG (Apple ProRAW)
Sony additionally says its format lets it provide distinctive options in its personal modifying software program: “We are able to maximize its efficiency to realize even increased picture high quality and improve picture particulars by options reminiscent of Composite RAW and Pixel Shift Multi.”
Sony’s software program for processing ARW RAW recordsdata known as Imaging Edge. Like most first-party software program from digicam producers, it’s horrible and unintuitive to make use of — and ought to be saved for conditions like a high-resolution multishot mode the place it’s the solely methodology to make use of a digicam’s proprietary characteristic. The identical goes for different first-party apps like Canon Digital Picture Skilled and Nikon NX Studio.
The one different time it could be needed to make use of these apps is if you happen to purchase a digicam as quickly because it’s launched and its RAW recordsdata aren’t but supported by Adobe or different software program makers. That second of friction is when a proprietary RAW format is most annoying, primarily affecting early adopters. It’s a restriction that severely impacts digicam reviewers and YouTubers, who usually can’t check out RAW recordsdata in any preliminary hands-on testing.
Getting that software program assist out to customers as quickly as doable takes a bunch of testing and work, and it’s not all the time accomplished as rapidly as new digicam house owners would love. “For brand spanking new cameras, this implies ensuring that we add assist for brand spanking new or modified behaviors in RAW file codecs,” Eric Chan, a digital imaging fellow at Adobe, tells The Verge. “For instance, new compression modes, seize modes reminiscent of Excessive Dynamic Vary and extra. As well as, measuring every new machine sensor for traits reminiscent of colour and noise.”
If all that isn’t executed earlier than a brand new digicam is launched and folks begin taking footage, the interim alternative turns into: shoot JPGs (an inferior format) or quickly use the digicam maker’s software program (an inferior workflow).
Why is that this so messy and complicated?
Even when a number of manufacturers of cameras use the identical off-the-shelf sensor — Nikon, Pentax, Leica, and others use sensors manufactured by Sony — the picture processing pipeline and fine-tuning is all proprietary. It’s what provides manufacturers their signature model, like the colour science that Fujifilm is thought for. However that doesn’t imply it’s not possible to do all of that with an open format like DNG.
“I’ve but to listen to purpose for utilizing proprietary RAW codecs. The underlying information is similar. If a producer comes up with further information that isn’t included within the DNG commonplace, the format is extensible sufficient {that a} digicam producer can throw it in there, anyway.” That’s what Ben Sandofsky, developer at Lux Optics, makers of Halide, instructed me. So possibly some digicam manufacturers are set of their methods and like having full management. Finally, we’re form of at their mercy and whether or not they select to be extra guarded with a proprietary format or use an open one like DNG.
I want it weren’t like this, however in the end, it’s principally advantageous. No less than, for now. So long as the digicam manufacturers proceed to work intently with corporations like Adobe, we will possible trudge alongside simply advantageous with this established order. As a lot as I’d personally want to see all cameras provide a typical format like DNG, so on the very least you by no means have to fret about incompatibilities, it’s unlikely mainstays like Canon CR3 and Nikon NEF recordsdata will ever go away.
Meaning early adopters are caught hoping their software program is up to date on time — and anybody with previous gear must hope their format doesn’t exit of favor.