Digital Darkroom

The new Camera Raw support that is included in Adobe Photoshop CS is a convenient and efficient way to access raw digital camera files. The tools provided, including an effective histogram with global interactive slider adjustments, help produce consistent, effective color interpretation and overall balancing of the primary dimensions of image quality. When done with the raw processing the program opens the image directly in Photoshop's work space. Also, Photoshop's new CS Browser generates thumbnails for all supported digital camera files, making drag-and-drop file management as easy as it can be.

The JPEG Injury
Camera manufacturers only talk about the correlation between image quality and megapixel count in the broadest terms. One reason for this vagueness may be that the great majority of digital cameras sold (point-and-shoot) do not save the information as it is read by the camera's sensor. The sensor information first goes to the camera's on-board processor and automated adjustments are applied to optimize the image gamut, and regulate brightness, contrast, and color to predetermined standards. Then the information is compressed by the JPEG compression method that throws out all "redundant" information.

The JPEG file format squeezes the information into a small file size by dividing the information into blocks of so many pixels. If all of the pixels in the block are similar (but not identical in RGB value), then the entire block is written by a shorter line of information that says that all of the pixels in the block are the same.

To add insult to the JPEG injury, in recent years many of the digital camera manufacturers have adopted the use of the sRGB color space to generate .JPG digital camera saved files. The "purpose" of generating images from the sRGB color space is to make the images more compliant for computer use by means of a "standard" color space profile. Unfortunately, the sRGB standard is a very limited color gamut based on the average of what typical computer monitors are capable of displaying in variations of color.

The SilverFast image-editing and adjustment tools familiar to many scanner users have been available for some years to also provide the same functions with high-bit image files. I found SilverFast HDR was an effective and efficient method to edit and color correct X3F Sigma SD10 files batch-converted to 48-bit TIFF using the Sigma Photo Pro software. SilverFast HDR was a particularly effective way to assure that the fine color differences the Sigma SD10 Foveon chip is capable of recording are precisely represented in the final image file.

The result of a digital camera's post-capture image processing (JPEG compression generated from sRGB color space) is that the color in the file opened by a typical consumer software application with a PC is much more restricted in color image information than what was captured by a digital camera's sensor.

The EXIF 2.2 Standard
It should be noted that some attempt has been to ameliorate this problem. The digital camera industry's EXIF 2.2 standard is intended to preserve the color gamut that would ordinarily be reduced by the limitations of the standard sRGB color space profile. In other words, camera makers who produce cameras that are compliant with EXIF 2.2 preserve the color gamut after post-capture processing in .JPG files. However, for the user to have the advantage of EXIF 2.2, the application used to open, edit, and print an EXIF 2.2 .JPG file must also be compliant with the EXIF 2.2 standard. Major color printer manufacturers do provide EXIF 2.2 support and compliance through their own software, and there are also Photoshop plug-ins available. Be aware, however, that most independent, third-party, image-editing software applications still lack EXIF 2.2 support. (See www.exif.org/specifications.html for more on this.)

A broad selection of files made with different cameras were processed by each of the alternate software and workflow choices covered in the article. Comparing the final edited and adjusted result from the same camera file showed that there were minimal differences in the major aspects of image quality. However, each processing software choice did produce subtle differences. For instance, the image on the left, processed with Photoshop Camera Raw, compared to the same file processed using SilverFast DCPro, on the right, revealed SilverFast's advantage. It was able to remove the color cast, thus reproducing cleaner neutral values in the subject with more separation of color differences.

Enter Raw, And Adobe RGB
Today, every pro and prosumer digital camera, and many advanced amateur digital cameras, offer the raw file format option. Why choose the raw option? One of the main reasons is that it allows you to get all of the information a digital camera sensor captures. But there are other good reasons to work with raw as well. The larger advantage is that it provides you with the ability to make your own choices as to how the resulting photograph should look, rather than have those choices made for you by automated camera post-capture processing. This, of course, assumes that you will be processing, editing, and adjusting raw image files made with a digital camera with a personal computer.

There is yet another option that will enhance your images. Many of the leading brands of digital cameras now provide the ability to choose the Adobe RGB color space. Where that choice is located will depend on which brand and model camera you have. For instance, Canon cameras provide the Adobe RGB option as one of the Parameter settings, however, with the Sigma SD10 the Adobe RGB color space choice is made as an output option of the Sigma computer processing application, not as a camera setting.

The foundation for building image quality is fitting raw image information to completely fill the 256-level gamut of standard computer image space. The black graph area of this relatively low contrast subject captured by a digital camera will not produce either a true black or a true white. Printed as is, it would make a dull, flat, poorly saturated print. Photoshop's Image/Adjustments/Levels dialog provides two manual and one automatic method to expand the image data to fill the gamut of color space available. One is to set the black and white points by using the color pickers in the lower right of the Levels window. Click on what should be a black and a white pixel in the open image, or move the black and white arrows at the outer bottom edges of the histogram window to where the image data begins, indicated by the black graph shape. A secondary function is to remove color cast using the middle gray slider. Choose the middle gray and click on a neutral gray area in the image and any color cast that will be neutralized.

There are two reasons for choosing Adobe RGB for raw file output. One is that it is consistent with the Adobe Photoshop recommended work space profile for working with digital photographs [Adobe RGB (1998)], and second is that it supports effective color management by establishing the raw file as a known, profiled source, even if the Adobe RGB profile is not embedded in the raw file. This makes editing and color correction using a color managed application like Photoshop or Corel's PHOTO-PAINT easier, more effective, and efficient.

What Not To Choose
Just about every digital camera allows you to select options that affect the contrast and color saturation of the image files saved in raw format. Simply put, do not choose such color options. It is easier and more effective to increase contrast or saturation during computer processing and editing the raw file; it is not as easy to decrease either. The same goes for adding sharpening to the raw image file information--don't do it.

One final precaution--some brands and models of digital cameras have manufacturer color management profiles that may be installed on a computer system either by installing the manufacturer's software or simply connecting the camera to the computer via USB or FireWire. When opening or importing raw camera files DO NOT select a manufacturer camera profile as the Source profile. The reason is that those manufacturer profiles usually assume the camera menu options are set at default for JPEG file output. When applied to a raw image these profiles will distort the image characteristics, making them unusable.

The Curves dialog in Photoshop's Image/Adjustments provides the digital photographer with an advantage film photographers never enjoyed--the ability to adjust the characteristic balance of tones (curve) of an image. With this control you can change the image contrast without affecting the image gamut (Levels adjustment), as indicated in the gentle S curve shown in the graph to increase contrast. Other uses include brightening shadow values to bring out detail, or darkening very light highlights. Unfortunately, many contemporary imaging application programmers tend to look down on users and assume they are too lazy or dumb to learn how to use Curves effectively, so the tool is often missing from software made to adjust and color correct raw digital camera images.

Choose Your Tools, Pick Your Path
From a practical and functional point of view, digital camera raw files are like raw files saved from a scanner at the sensor's bit-depth. Some scanner users choose to scan directly to file without adjustment, capturing what the scanner senses and then adjusting and correcting color using an image-editing application like Photoshop. Essentially the same approach could be applied to raw digital camera files, were it not for the fact those files involve proprietary non-lossey compression and specific, imperative color translation processing. This essential processing is facilitated by the camera manufacturer's software. With all of the software I have used there is a facility to view thumbnails, use selection and editing tools and to batch process to high-bit standard image formats like TIFF.

In addition, camera manufacturer software includes an image-editing and correction capability. Again, there is a similarity with scanning software, as both share the same faults and limitations. In most, the adjustments supported are limited to simplistic, global, single dimension changes like brightness, contrast, color balance, and saturation. And, the tools provided are usually restricted to coarse sliders, that are neither intuitive or user friendly. My opinion is that even if these camera manufacturer software raw file adjustment tools are used, many if not most of the image files that result will require further tweaking in an image editor like Photoshop to yield a fully satisfactory print.

Only after the image brightness and contrast is adjusted and established can you make an assessment of the color content and balance in a picture on screen, because color is affected considerably by Levels optimization and Curves adjustment. The Photoshop Image/Adjustments/ColorBalance dialog allows you to shift the balance of colors on three tangents of opposite values on the color wheel. Unlike most color balance adjustment tools that are global--that is, affect the entire gamut--Photoshop's is divided into three levels of Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights. If, for instance, you made photographs under a clear sky early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and you want to preserve the warm highlight but neutralize the blue in the shadows, click on the Shadows radio button. Then move the arrow from the center of the bottom Yellow/Blue slider toward yellow, and move the top Cyan/Red slider arrow a little toward red.

Raw Processing Alternatives
In the last year, digital camera users who save in raw have been provided alternative processing tools and more efficient workflow options. Early in 2003, Adobe released their Camera Raw plug-in for Photoshop 7.01, which I reported on in the August 2003 issue of Shutterbug, page 98 (also see www.shutterbug.com for a copy of this article and others mentioned). That Camera Raw capability has been expanded and is now a part of Photoshop CS, and was described in my Photoshop CS report in the March 2004 issue of Shutterbug, page 70. Although the Adobe Photoshop solution is a convenience to those who purchased the plug-in or upgraded to CS, not all cameras which enable raw output are supported, and Camera Raw has some of the same limitations as camera manufacturer software, still making post-raw processing tweaking necessary.

One of the alternatives I have also reported on is a more sophisticated and efficient alternative--LaserSoft's SilverFast DCPro (see this report in the January 2004 issue of Shutterbug, page 88).

Another new alternative I recently explored is one that is not currently supported by either Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw or SilverFast DCPro. It came about when working with the new Sigma SD10 digital SLR, which was made available for my use and evaluation by its sensor maker, Foveon (see sidebar). Although I did output raw, high-bit TIFF files using the Sigma Photo Pro software without using any Custom adjustment, rather than use 48-bit Mode in Photoshop to adjust and color correct the images, I chose a long established LaserSoft software product, SilverFast HDR 6, to do the final processing.

Once you have established a good overall image color balance it is not unusual to find that a specific color is not ideal. Although the Image/Adjustments/Hue/Saturation tool allows making global HSL adjustments, practical experience has proven to me the greatest value of Hue/Saturation is to work more selectively. I use the Edit drop down and select a color range, like Yellow, and then click on that yellow in the image on screen. This allows me to make selective changes to that yellow while protecting the rest of the colors in the image. This works particularly well with people pictures, as you can precisely adjust complexion tones while not altering the balance of any other colors in a photograph.ž

SilverFast HDR 6 can be run either as a stand-alone application or as a Photoshop plug-in and is designed for editing and color correcting high-bit files output by a scanner. In all respects, HDR functions just like the Ai 6 versions of SilverFast used to drive scanners or, for that matter, SilverFast DCPro to produce fully adjusted, optimized final scans that usually don't need any post-scan tweaking. When I compared the processing done by the HDR software with Sigma Photo Pro and 48-bit, manual Photoshop processing, the HDR had a small edge in refinement and handled the process much more efficiently.

Another alternative means for processing raw digital camera files is the solution available from Phase One, their C1 RAW Workflow Software (www.PictureFlow.com). I must confess that I have not tried this yet, but will in the near future. I am sure that we will see even more players entering the raw camera processing and editing software field as the digital camera market continues to grow.

Different Tools, Same Desired End Result
The tools you select to process and adjust raw files might be chosen for their convenience, efficiency, and price points. Irrespective of your choice, there are four basic functions which must be performed, or at least checked, with every raw camera image before it is ready to be used for any and all kinds of output. The best-known tools for this purpose are those found in Adobe Photoshop and competitive image-editing applications. They include the Image/Adjustment tools: Levels, Curves, Color Balance, and Hue/Saturation, and they should always be used and applied in that order to make initial adjustments and color corrections. (For a detailed description of how to use the basic image adjustment tools you may want to refer to my article "Making Digital Photos Sing--Basic Image Optimization Using Photoshop," in the July 2003 issue of Shutterbug, page 72.)

Conclusions & Recommendations
In preparation for this article I processed many stored raw digital camera files made with four different cameras. I used as many different software options and alternate workflows as are currently supported. I then compared the final image files, which were evaluated on screen and test printed. In addition, I obtained the support of Foveon to borrow a new Sigma SD10 with two lenses, and my friend and colleague James Chen and I test shot a variety of subjects and conditions. These "fresh" images were processed with the Sigma Photo Pro software and color corrected from raw 48-bit TIFF files in Photoshop and SilverFast HDR.

Both James and I were very favorably impressed with the Sigma SD10's finely detailed and high fidelity 10.2-megapixel image files. I was particularly impressed with images made in fairly soft light, where the Foveon X3 sensor chip was able to record and distinguish very subtle subject color differences that required a minimum of post-processing color correction. On the other hand, this exceptional color sensitivity became a color correction challenge when the subject was lit by a mix of natural window light and a variety of artificial sources, including household tungsten, quartz-halogen, and fluorescent lighting.

All of the software options and alternate workflows used to process raw files and covered in this article functioned effectively to produce high quality image results. Each solution tested--the camera manufacturer software, Photoshop 48 bit, Photoshop CS Camera Raw, Lasersoft SilverFast DCPro and HDR--did affect both the look of the final output as well as the convenience and efficiency of the experience. In all, there were only minor distinctions in final output image quality. All produced comparable levels of basic dimensions of image quality including detail, sharpness, saturation, and contrast. The distinctions were primarily based on how each interpreted color in subtle ways, which varied, to some extent, depending on the different kinds of subjects photographed.

Generally, both camera manufacturer software and Photoshop Camera Raw function efficiently to make basic image adjustments, but very often those images, once opened in Photoshop, require further refinement for ideal print output. On the other hand, the Lasersoft SilverFast DCPro and HDR tools support adjusting and color correcting to a finer extent, producing results that seldom required any further tweaking.

Which solution should you use for your work? I don't believe the answer can be generalized on the basis of whether one is better than another. However, if the choice depends on your image style preferences and the kinds of subjects you photograph, as well as workflow efficiency, there are choices to be made. Fortunately, you can try out demo versions of both the Lasersoft and the Phase One options, available at their respective websites (www.lasersoft.com and www.phaseone.com). However, you have to dive in and get your feet wet to find out if Photoshop CS and its Camera Raw options are the way to go. Whatever way you do go, keep in mind that raw provides you the best imaging options, and that more and more raw processing solutions will be coming soon.

The Sigma SD10 Single-Lens Digital Camera System
The new Sigma SD10 digital SLR is a solid, well-balanced, full-size system SLR. It allows you access to the full range of Sigma mount lenses, including two "digital" SD10 only zooms, an 18-50mm and 50-200mm. The latter two digital lenses are available as a kit along with the SD10 body at a street price of under $1600. The Sigma SD10 is set apart from the competition by its use of the Foveon X3 sensor chip. Unlike other sensors, the Foveon has three layers, one each for red, green, and blue light sensitivity, much like the layers of a color film emulsion. The controls, both digital options and camera functions, are logical and straightforward and very easy to use. The proof is in the pudding, of course, and the images produced were very sharp, finely detailed, and had accurate color fidelity. The images I made with the camera produced quite superior 11" wide prints on 13x19" ink jet paper.