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Deriving Hidden Baseline Exposure Compensation Applied by a Raw Converter

Submitted by Iliah Borg on

ACR Process 2010 Default Settings

As we already mentioned in the previous article “Forcing a Raw Converter to Render Tones Accurately”, most raw converters apply some hidden adjustments to a raw shot, often resulting in a bumped mid-tone, clipped highlights, and compressed shadows. This is done to make the shot look good, but can also lead to all sorts of confusion.

Here, we intend to show you how to determine what sort of unseen exposure correction is being applied to your raw shots by your raw converter.

Forcing a Raw Converter to Render Tones Accurately

Submitted by Iliah Borg on

"What happens to my mid-tones? I set exposure using exposure meter; open the shot in Adobe Lr (or Adobe Camera Raw, or some other converter) - the shot looks overexposed and everything starting from mid-tone and up looks very flat. If I shoot RAW+JPEG, JPEG looks OK, while RAW is not. Should I expose lower?"

Df_CT02.NEF in ACR - image looks overexposed and flat on the higher tones

Please don't lower the exposure, you will be underexposing by more than 1 stop additionally to the underexposure due to camera meter calibration. Not a great idea, especially if the light is low and you are already above ISO 400.

Instead, change the default settings in your raw converter (read on for a suggestion) or adjust on a per image basis. Having customized defaults, however, will save you a lot of time down the road.

RawDigger 1.2.9

Submitted by lexa on

Changes/New features

  • Fixed bug in Linearization table processing for Linear (interpolated) DNG files
  • Fixed bug in Sigma Quattro low-sensitivity pixels interpolation for pixel values below black level
  • Camera support added:
    • Sony ILCA-68 (A68)

RawDigger 1.2.8

Submitted by lexa on

Changes/New features

  • New setting Misc Options - Use small fonts in information panels Decreases the font size and shrinks the gaps between the informational panels in the upper part of the program window. Useful for the lower resolution displays.
  • EXIF informational panel re-worked
    • it is not modal anymore, does not stay on top, and a new file can be opened without closing the EXIF panel
    • [EXIF] button opens the EXIF panel; if, however, it is already open, pressing this button brings the panel to the top

RawDigger 1.2.4

Submitted by lexa on

Changes/New features

  • Fixed a bug occurring when reading a damaged .eip files.
  • Keeping the size of the main window: both the maximized statuus and the size before maximization are saved.
  • CSV exporting: integer values like file number, sample number, sample coordinates are now written without quotes.
  • Disable RGB Rendering for files larger... limit is increased to 200Mpix.

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