The public archival format for digital camera raw data

1. Free Raw Photo Editor For Mac
2. Free Raw Editor Mac Os X
3. S7raw
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5. Free Raw Editor For Mac

HampshireIan wrote: Hi folks, I'm after your advice please on the best free software fort editing and converting RAW files. Mac, Windows, or Linux? Version 2.0 is a free update for existing RAW Power for Mac 1.0 users. RAW Power for iOS 2.0 Like its macOS counterpart, this update brings along the same new adjustment tools (some of which are hidden behind a $1.99 in-app purchase) including chromatic aberration correction, perspective correction, a black and white mode, a vignette tool,.

Raw file formats are popular in digital photography workflows because they offer greater creative control. However, cameras can use many different raw formats, the specifications for which are not publicly available. This means that not every raw file can be read by a variety of software applications. As a result, the use of these proprietary raw files as a long-term archival solution carries risk and sharing these files across complex workflows is challenging.

Digital Negative (DNG) is a publicly available archival format for raw files which are generated by various digital cameras. This addresses the lack of an open standard for raw files created by individual camera models and ensures that photographers easily access their files.

Hundreds of software manufacturers such as Apple and Google have developed support for DNG. And respected camera manufacturers such as Leica, Casio, Ricoh, Samsung, and Pentax have introduced cameras that provide direct DNG support. To learn more, see Camera Raw.

In addition to the Digital Negative Specification, Adobe provides the free Adobe DNG Converter (Windows | Mac OS), which easily translates raw files from many of today's popular cameras. Software developers and manufacturers can download the complete DNG Specification (PDF, 742 KB). DNG is supported by the following software versions: Photoshop CS to Photoshop, Photoshop Elements 3 to Photoshop Elements 12, and all versions of Lightroom.

For photographers:

• DNG format helps promote archival confidence, since digital imaging software solutions will be able to open raw files more easily in the future.
• A single raw processing solution enables a more efficient workflow when handling raw files from multiple camera models and manufacturers.
• A publicly documented and readily available specification can be easily adopted by camera manufacturers and updated to accommodate technology changes.

For hardware and software manufacturers:

• DNG removes a potential barrier to new camera adoption, since raw files from new models will be immediately supported by Photoshop and other applications.
• The DNG format allows R&D savings by reducing the need to develop new formats and by simplifying camera testing.
• A common format allows greater control over the quality of conversions by third-party applications.
• The specification allows the addition of private metadata to DNG files, enabling differentiation.

The Profiles SDK provides resources for creating enhanced profiles introduced in Lightroom Classic CC 7.3, Lightroom CC 1.3, and Camera Raw 10.3.

Download the specification, which describes a nonproprietary file format for storing camera raw files that can be used by a wide range of hardware and software vendors.

The DNG SDK provides support for reading and writing DNG files as well as for converting DNG data to a format that is easily displayed or processed by imaging applications. This SDK can serve as a starting point for the addition of DNG support to existing applications that use and manipulate images or as an aid to the inclusion of DNG support within cameras. Download: Mac, Win

The DNG Profile Editor is a free software utility for creating or editing camera profiles.

Read more (PDF, 3.93 MB)
Download: Mac, Win

(Valid for Adobe DNG Converter 5.4 and later)

Adobe® Lens Profile Creator is a free utility that enables the easy creation of lens profiles for use in the Photoshop family of products, such as Photoshop, the Camera Raw plug-in, and Lightroom. A lens profile describes the types of optical aberrations that exist in a particular lens and prescribes how to correct the lens distortions in an image captured from the same lens. For more information, read the user guide (PDF, 1.64 MB). Download: Mac, Win

Note:

As of 1/1/2018, the Adobe Lens Profile Downloader is no longer developed and is unavailable for download. Adobe's development team adds new lens profiles every release. You can also request for specific lenses here.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software is essential for today's digital photography workflow. Now you can quickly import, process, manage, and showcase your images — from one shot to an entire shoot. World-class correction tools, powerful organizing features, and flexible printing options help speed you along. With Lightroom, you spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens.

Edit, manage, and showcase your images in Lightroom and roundtrip back to Photoshop for pixel-level editing and compositing. Together, Lightroom and Photoshop offer the most complete digital photography solution.

The Adobe DNG Converter, a free utility that converts files from more than 600 cameras to DNG, enables you to easily convert camera-specific raw files to a more universal DNG raw file.

Digital Negative (DNG) Specification patent license

Adobe is the publisher of the Digital Negative (DNG) Specification describing an image file format for storing camera raw information used in a wide range of hardware and software. Adobe provides the DNG Specification to the public for the purpose of encouraging implementation of this file format in a compliant manner. This document is a patent license granted by Adobe to individuals and organizations that desire to develop, market, and/or distribute hardware and software that reads and/or writes image files compliant with the DNG Specification.

Free Raw Photo Editor For Mac

Grant of rights

Subject to the terms below and solely to permit the reading and writing of image files that comply with the DNG Specification, Adobe hereby grants all individuals and organizations the worldwide, royalty-free, nontransferable, nonexclusive right under all Essential Claims to make, have made, use, sell, import, and distribute Compliant Implementations.

“Compliant Implementation” means a portion of a software or hardware product that reads or writes computer files compliant with the DNG Specification.

“DNG Specification” means any version of the Adobe DNG Specification made publicly available by Adobe (for example, version 1.0.0.0 dated September 2004).

“Essential Claim” means a claim of a patent, whenever and wherever issued, that Adobe has the right to license without payment of royalty or other fee that is unavoidably infringed by implementation of the DNG Specification. A claim is unavoidably infringed by the DNG Specification only when it is not possible to avoid infringing when conforming with such specification because there is no technically possible noninfringing alternative for achieving such conformity. Essential Claim does not include a claim that is infringed by implementation of (a) enabling technology that may be necessary to make or use any product or portion thereof that complies with the DNG Specification but is not itself expressly set forth in the DNG Specification (for example, compiler technology and basic operating system technology), (b) technology developed elsewhere and merely incorporated by reference in the DNG Specification, or (c) the implementation of file formats other than DNG.

Revocation

Adobe may revoke the rights granted above to any individual or organizational licensee in the event that such licensee or its affiliates brings any patent action against Adobe or its affiliates related to the reading or writing of files that comply with the DNG Specification.

Any Compliant Implementation distributed under this license must include the following notice displayed in a prominent manner within its source code and documentation: 'This product includes DNG technology under license by Adobe.”

No warranty

The rights granted herein are provided on an as-is basis without warranty of any kind, including warranty of title or noninfringement. Nothing in this license shall be construed as (a) requiring the maintenance of any patent, (b) a warranty or representation as to the validity or scope of any patent, (c) a warranty or representation that any product or service will be free from infringement of any patent, (d) an agreement to bring or prosecute actions against any infringers of any patent, or (e) conferring any right or license under any patent claim other than Essential Claims.

Reservation of rights

All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

You might think that you need expensive software to take advantage of Camera RAW—something like Photoshop or the more modestly priced Lightroom. Fortunately there is freeware that can help you achieve professional results without professional costs.

Shooting in JPG can be very limiting, so Camera RAW formats can give you superior images, as long as you can process (or develop) your images. Adobe has great tools for developing camera RAW, but, as we know, Adobe products are expensive and sometimes cost prohibitive. Read on to see a great Freeware option, with a simple How-To describing how to properly use it.

Refreshing on Camera RAW

Camera RAW, which is more of a collection of proprietary filetypes than a single filetype, can be thought of as a digital negative. How-To Geek has already done a more thorough explanation of Camera RAW earlier this month, if you care to learn more. However, the thing to keep in mind is that RAW is not simply an image file, but rather RAW image data that needs processing. This is a good thing—because shooting in JPG makes decisions for you that can’t be changed. So that’s what we’re setting out to do… make those changes in our RAW file with free software.

Raw Therapee is a Freeware RAW Editor

The most current version is of Raw Therapee is 2.4.1, and even though it is several years old, it is still an excellent solution for the budget-minded photographer. A newer version is still in the works, as of January 2011, with source code available for compiling unstable versions for Windows, OS X, and Linux.

Unless you are very adventurous, you’ll want to download the older version and simply keep an eye on http://www.rawtherapee.com for version 3.0.

Processing Camera RAW Images

Raw Therapee looks like this upon opening. In order to begin processing our RAW photographs, we’ll have to navigate to find them, using the file tree on the bottom left.

This is simple enough. Find this area on the bottom left and navigate to where which drive your RAW photographs are kept on. Double click your folder to bring up your images in the strip below.

All images in the folder will display in a strip, giving you the ability to browse for the file you want to develop.

Right clicking your image will give you this contextual menu. Click “open” to begin processing your RAW file.

Your image loads in the center preview window. Let’s take a quick tour around this window to see what Raw Therapee offers us.

Locating the Tools of Raw Therapee

Scale: Zoom into your image here. Because the Detail area to the right looks very similar, you’ll want to look here to zoom in and out of your image.

Histogram: A visual representation of the value distribution of your currently loaded image. This histogram corresponds to the earlier image of the “Private Property” sign. The bottom axis corresponds to a value scale, with the leftmost part representing 100% black, and the rightmost part representing 100% white. The vertical axis represents the concentration of the corresponding value. What we can see from this, is that this image is mostly full off gray, as the RGB values are all similar, and are also concentrated into the same general area, a small distance away from pure white. Looking at the loaded image, we can see that is a fair representation of that image.

Postprocessing Profiles: Editing a RAW photograph can be difficult work. Once you’ve spent the time meticulously adjusting the image temperature and exposure, you’ll want to save your settings here and apply them to every picture you took under similar conditions.

RAW Processing Tools: This is the main event, with almost all of your important tools buried here. This area, located on the far right of the application, will allow you to fine tune your Camera RAW photographs with ease. Let’s dive in and tweak that photo.

Setting White Balance, AKA Image Temperature

Cameras have to be set to capture color based on the quality of light that is hitting your lens, and this setting is called White Balance. Some lights are cool, others are warm, and this is sensibly called Temperature. You can learn more about it in other How-To Geek Articles, or simply take play with your settings until you find the temperature setting appropriate for the light you shot your images in.

Most likely your camera will choose an “Auto” white balance if you are shooting RAW. Let’s adjust it to improve our image quality.

Locate the “Color” tab, temporarily ignoring “Exposure.”

A temperature of 5000K is what is considered “Natural Daylight.” As these shots were taken outdoors, 5000 is a decent setting to start with. Less than 5000 will be cooler, over will be warmer. Adjust this according to the environment you shot your photographs in.

Our image is a normal hue again, although it can be adjusted to lean a little cooler, considering the content of the image.

Adjusting Exposure in Raw Therapee

Return to your “Exposure” Tab in your right hand panel.

Adjust your values here as you see fit—each one will affect your image in drastically different ways.

Apart from looking at your image as you adjust it, checking your Histogram as you adjust can ensure that you get the richest possible results. The first histogram is an “enhanced” version of this image, while the second and third are poor versions. The second is too dark, the third too light. Your goal is usually to ensure good detail throughout your image, while giving yourself good value range through lights and darks.

While every part of this process is subjective, you are given the tools to develop your image for the best result possible. Achieving detail in both highlight and shadow areas is a good goal, although you may choose to stylize your image by making either more harsh.

If you’re not sick of tweaking your highlights and darks, there are additional tools for even more control over highlights and shadows. You’ll find them underneath “Shadows/Highlights” on your toolbar on the right. They are fairly straightforward, and will give you good results if you use them after first tweaking your exposure. “Luminance Curve” is also available for an even further level of tweaking.

If you are satisfied with your image after any level of adjustment, you may stop. It is possible to overdo your tweaks to images.

Complete Your Image Processing

Free Raw Editor Mac Os X

When you are pleased with your image and feel it is complete, you can always use the “Save As” button on the right to save your results as a JPG or PNG to use in other programs. However, let’s apply our hard work to our image before closing up shop.

S7raw

You’ll need to find the gear icon above to find the processing panel. Click it to switch to the processing queue view.

Click “Start Processing” to render your image. When it is finished, you won’t get any weird errors about unprocessed images, and you can close the program normally. You will still be able to re-adjust your image from your original RAW settings, or even use a new profile for a whole new look.

Free Raw Editor For Windows

Have questions or comments concerning Graphics, Photos, Filetypes, or Photoshop? Send your questions to ericgoodnight@howtogeek.com, and they may be featured in a future How-To Geek Graphics article.

Image Credit: Negative by ollycoffey, available under Creative Commons. All Other Images copyright the author, Eric Z Goodnight and Brad Goodnight.

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Free Raw Editor For Mac

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