rawformat

Picture Arena 1.2 adds DNG support

Press release here:

Picture Arena 1.2 with DNG and RAW support, mail export, higher speed and numerous improvements

APRIL 22, 2005 - HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY

IOSPIRIT GmbH today released an update to its integrated digital picture management software Picture Arena for MacOS® X offering sophisticated picture browsing, image-processing and presentation capabilities to version 1.2... (more)

Dave Coffin: Encryption solvable, camera manufacturers are blowing smoke

dcraw is a freely distributable (with source code available ) Raw conversion utility that supports Raw file conversion from more than 96 different cameras. David Coffin developed the software with no support whatsoever from any camera manufacturer and single-handedly deciphered the algorithms required to unencrypt, extract and process RAW files.

In an interview on dpreview, he provides some insights into the Nikon vs. Adobe debate.

He says that Phase One, Sony, Foveon, and Canon all encrypt their files, and that decoding is a relatively straightforward process which can take "minutes or months, depending on the complexity of the format". He notes that compression is NOT the same as encryption, and Kodak is only performing compression on their data while Canon, Nikon, and Foveon compress the image data and encrypt some of the metadata.

According to Coffin, the root of the issue is that "Adobe wants to commoditize the digital camera, and the camera makers want to stop them." Although "Photographers have reason to feel scared" about the encryption trend, in Nikon's case, "I'm not so worried. Whatever scheme Nikon tries next, I'll just reverse-engineer it."

Regarding the standard statement by the camera manufacturers that they know how to "best" work with their data files, Coffin asserts that the third party applications often do a better job with the data than the manufacturers software. "Whatever advantage the manufacturer has, it disappears when a camera reaches the market." he claims.

Thomas Knoll recently expressed that legal action by Nikon against de-encryption of the data they produce might be in the realm of possibility. Coffin considers that a self-defeating move: "If anyone sued me, I'd be the biggest free software hero since Jon Johanson."

DNG support status, April 05

Here is a list of the software that do already support the non-proprietary DNG format:

Raw converters:

Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Win, Mac) or Photoshop CS with ACR 2.3 and 2.4
Adobe Photoshop Elements3  (Win, Mac)
Pixmantec Rawshooter Essentials 2005 (Win) -freeware- DNG support only for supported cameras.
Raw PhotoDesk : (Win) Improved support in V1.12
Dcraw 7.0 (multi platform: coded in C)Mac OS X and Windows versions at insflug.org and optimised builds by Benjamin Lebsanft
Iridient Digital Raw Developer V1.2  (Mac)
VueScan from Hamrick Software (Mac, Win) since version 8.2.02
cPicture, with RAW plug-in ( Version2.2.1249.0)
Lasersoft Silverfast DC Pro partial DNG support for cameras with RGB CCD chips cameras since V6.4.0r5 (Mac, Win)
Helicon filters(Win)

Programs that output to the DNG format:

Camera Raw 3.0 from Photoshop CS2 can save edition settings of RAw files inside the DNG.
Adobe DNG converter  (Mac, Win)
DxO Optics Pro v2.2  (Mac, Win)
Imacon Flexcolor v4.0b10 (beta version)  (Mac, Win)

Image Viewers / Digital Assets Management tools:

BreezeBrowser 2.11  (Win)
BreezeBrowser Pro   (Win)
CameraBits Photo Mechanic 4.3.3  (Mac, Win) supports DNG 2.4
Cerious Thumbs Plus7, with the Digicam Raw Plug-in v 1.5 (Win)
dpMagic Plus since version 1.1.010 (add-on to view your DNG in win explorer)
Extensis Portfolio7  (Win, Mac)
Exiftool by Phil Harvey (exif reader-writer)
IrfanView (versions published on and after 4/22/2005
iView MediaPro 2.6.2 by Multimedia (Mac, Win) DNG 2.4 images in 2.6.3
Photools Imatch  (Win) since version 3.4.0.29
Polybytes PolyView : since version 4.20 (Win)
Proshooters DigitalPro 3 : initial support in 3.1
Rawview by through-the-lens (all OS: Java technology) -free for non commercial use-

Operating systems:

Preview, an application included in Tiger, AKA OSX 10.4 will be able to display DNG files
Windows XP needs a change in the registry to display DNG files

DNG support announced:

Leica should support DNG natively in a forthcoming camera
Phase One  Capture one  (Mac, Win) support in 2005
Qpict Media Asset Management: (Mac) in the next major release

 

Please post a comment if you know another program that can open, convert, or write the DNG format.

Helicon filter works on DNG too.

Helicon Filter was designed for advanced users using digital cameras who want to get high quality images without spending a lot of time in their image processing software to do noise correction, exposure compensation, white balance and saturation adjustments, sharpening, cropping...

It supports many proprietary RAW formats, DNG files and also tiffs, and JPEG 2000. A freeware version is available, limited to BMP and JPEG files, and lacks also the expert mode and batch processings options of the full version. The pro version works also as a Photoshop plug-in.

2 new DNG supporters using Dcraw

Hexcat software's Viewit, as its name suggests, ViewIt is a shareware, OS X native, fast and easy to use image viewer that supports most popular image formats: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PSD, RAW, DNG (since version 2.8.2) and more. It is able to do fullscreen views, batch renaming, printing, can be scripted, etc. Thanks to its Plug-in architecture, more functions will be added.

LogicalDesigns program, Rawsharp, is a RAW images developer using Neural Networks to produce the interpolation of RAW files, with the lowest noise possible. Version pro 0.74  uses also Dave Coffins' DCraw code in version 7.15, thus offering support of DNG files.

Optimized Windows DCRaw executables for various processors and other great links

Benjamin Lebsanft has taken David Coffin's library and made optimized Windows executables for various processors.  There are some other great links and tools on his site.  Enjoy.

Nikon's photo encryption reported broken

if you don't want to buy Nikon's RAW editor and want to use your RAW images in other photo editors, check this out...

Canon (and other camera manufacturers) to take the encryption route?

In the the article "ACR 3.0 Ushers In Raw as a Full-Fledged Format",  Edmund Ronald at publish.com makes the case that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act might be the stick that the camera manufacturers could use to enforce their right to control how the files they create are manipulated, and could lead to all manufacturers following Nikon's lead.

ACR seems (according to Ronald) to create better JPEGs than most internal camera software, and that processor speeds are only getting better. This combination could lead to a situation similar to where PC manufacturers make the boxes (and little money) and the software/OS companies reap all the financial rewards. He envisions a situation where the camera manufacturers put out the boxes, and Adobe makes the profit. "the DCMA could be one of the only obstacles standing between them and a future in which Adobe makes the code inside every "prosumer" photo-printing device."

Ronald thinks Nikon and the others fear "A future in which Japanese corporations sell all the hardware and Adobe makes all the software and all the profit."

Nikon losing sales over encryption debacle

Photoshopnews has had exhaustive coverage of the Nikon white balance issue and their non-sensical response to the uproar from professional photographers. The discussion that has followed the coverage has had several consistent themes, but perhaps the most striking to Nikon will be the clear and ongoing assertion that photographers will be voting with their wallets on the issue. Here are some excerpts from the thread focusing on the prospect of lost sales. To get the full picture, we suggest you read the entire dialog here. Our assumption is that Nikon will soon rethink their strategy...

"...contact me if you wish to buy a very slightly used D2x…"

"...I have been a Nikon user for 40 years. I have two Nikon digital Slrs and was about to purchase a D2x when the news of the encryption broke. Tonight, I began to price Canon gear and to examine what my Nikon gear will get on ebay."

"For the time being, I have postponed my decision to buy the D2X, and might not buy it at all, unless Nikon reverts to a user friendly policy."

"I have cancelled my order for the D2X I had been avidly anticipating."

"I was on the fence on what to buy, I am now going with canon… I need long term assurences that my $8,000+ puchase will leave me empowered to process the file that I am in the end really paying for. shame on you nikon!"

"I hope as photographers we understand the threats created by Nikons action and vote with our wallets."

"I’m really sorry I’ve heavily invested in Nikon! When friends ask me to help chose between Nikon and Canon, the decision is now much simplier - CANON!"

"As a loyal Nikon user this makes me wonder about the future and their loyalty to us."

"In the last few days how many pre-orders of Nikon high-end cameras (such as they are) have been cancelled in favour of Canon?"

"I owned Nikon for 25 years and I bailed because nothing you make comes up to Canon specs. Now you want to create one more reason for people to go elsewhere"

"I will not be buying the DX2 that I was considering until Nikon chages their policy on this question. If they take too long they will lose me as long time customer and advocate"

"Don’t buy Nikon…"

"Let the new Nikon go the way of the Betamax"

"...I WILL wait till this is settled before I attempt to buy a camera that nikon can’t even seem to make available in adequate quantities."

More format wars: Forgent suing Apple, Microsoft and others over JPEG compression patent

Accoring to Michael Noonan, director of investor relations at Forgent "If a company uses JPEG, they are using our patents." More than 35 companies are currently paying Forgent over $100 million in licensing revenue for products employing JPEG compression. Current licensees include Sony, Adobe, and Macromedia. Companies that have been sued include Apple, Dell, Kodak, HP, IBM, and Xerox Corp. In 2002, Forgent said it planned to pursue licensing agreements from any company that sells products that compress or store JPEG files. More here.