When I process an NEF, it gets demosaicing to present the image on the screen.
When it is saved as a DNG, how does it get a RAW file again?
When it is saved as a DNG, how does it get a RAW file again?
PureRAW 4 Questions
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When I process an NEF in DxO PureRAW 4, it gets demosaicing to present the image on the screen. When it is saved as a DNG, how does it get a RAW file again?
When you process a NEF (Nikon's RAW format) in DxO PureRAW 4 and save it as a DNG, the image is indeed converted, but it doesn't completely return to a RAW format in the traditional sense. Here's a breakdown of what happens:
1. **Demosaicing**: DxO PureRAW 4 first applies demosaicing to the NEF file to render a viewable image on the screen. This process converts the raw sensor data (which is a mosaic of color information) into a full image by reconstructing the color and luminance channels.
2. **Processing & Corrections**: As part of the raw processing, DxO PureRAW 4 applies lens corrections, noise reduction, and other computational adjustments to improve the image quality, especially in areas like sharpness and noise handling.
3. **Saving as DNG**: When the image is saved as a DNG (Digital Negative), it is not a traditional "RAW" file in the sense that it doesn't retain the full sensor data as it was initially captured by the camera's sensor. Instead, the DNG file created by DxO PureRAW 4 is a **linearized** file that includes the processed image data, along with metadata that allows other raw processing software (such as Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw) to reapply certain adjustments or further refine the image.
- **The key distinction** is that while the DNG file is based on the original raw data, it is not in the same "raw" state as the NEF file. The DNG is an **intermediate file format** that retains some of the raw attributes but also includes the applied corrections and adjustments.
4. **The Effect of Saving to DNG**: When you open the DNG file in a raw processor, it will behave like a partially processed image with the potential for further edits. Unlike the NEF file, which still has the untouched raw sensor data and allows for extensive manipulation (e.g., exposure adjustments), the DNG is closer to a TIFF-like file but still retains enough metadata and structure for further raw-like processing.
In summary, after processing a NEF in DxO PureRAW 4 and saving it as a DNG, you're not getting back the *exact* original RAW file; you're getting a processed version that can be further adjusted, but it's still closer to a finished image than an unprocessed RAW file.
When I process an NEF in DxO PureRAW 4, it gets demosaicing to present the image on the screen. When it is saved as a DNG, how does it get a RAW file again?
When you process a NEF (Nikon's RAW format) in DxO PureRAW 4 and save it as a DNG, the image is indeed converted, but it doesn't completely return to a RAW format in the traditional sense. Here's a breakdown of what happens:
1. **Demosaicing**: DxO PureRAW 4 first applies demosaicing to the NEF file to render a viewable image on the screen. This process converts the raw sensor data (which is a mosaic of color information) into a full image by reconstructing the color and luminance channels.
2. **Processing & Corrections**: As part of the raw processing, DxO PureRAW 4 applies lens corrections, noise reduction, and other computational adjustments to improve the image quality, especially in areas like sharpness and noise handling.
3. **Saving as DNG**: When the image is saved as a DNG (Digital Negative), it is not a traditional "RAW" file in the sense that it doesn't retain the full sensor data as it was initially captured by the camera's sensor. Instead, the DNG file created by DxO PureRAW 4 is a **linearized** file that includes the processed image data, along with metadata that allows other raw processing software (such as Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw) to reapply certain adjustments or further refine the image.
- **The key distinction** is that while the DNG file is based on the original raw data, it is not in the same "raw" state as the NEF file. The DNG is an **intermediate file format** that retains some of the raw attributes but also includes the applied corrections and adjustments.
4. **The Effect of Saving to DNG**: When you open the DNG file in a raw processor, it will behave like a partially processed image with the potential for further edits. Unlike the NEF file, which still has the untouched raw sensor data and allows for extensive manipulation (e.g., exposure adjustments), the DNG is closer to a TIFF-like file but still retains enough metadata and structure for further raw-like processing.
In summary, after processing a NEF in DxO PureRAW 4 and saving it as a DNG, you're not getting back the *exact* original RAW file; you're getting a processed version that can be further adjusted, but it's still closer to a finished image than an unprocessed RAW file.