[Digikam-users] Re: How to use the RAW converter

[Martin (KDE)]

Am Mittwoch, 6. Oktober 2010 schrieb Marie-Noëlle Augendre:
> I have a question for those who use ufraw or another
> non-proprietary tool: have you found the icc files for your
> camera, or do you use the DNG converter provided by Digikam?

Jep, I found the icc files and I used them for testing and for one 
shooting.

I don't use the DNG converter as this brings horrible results from my 
cr2 files. I test it every now and then, but the white balance as well 
as the exposure is a total mess.

I tried Adobes DNG converter as well (on my windows VirtualBox). The 
results are much better but not as good as the original raws.

> 
> I've found a lot of icc files on the Canon CD, but I don't know
> which ones I must use for the EOS 450D.

If you really want to take the step into colour management throw away 
the canon icc files. The results are not as good as the default ufraw 
color-matrix. Only in some strange highlight situations they are 
better.

Default icc files for a camera are not a good idea. Either you 
calibrate and profile your camera under the circumstances you use it or 
the main benefit of colour management - getting a well defined 
reproduction of the colour - is not guaranteed.

BTW: then you have to go the next step and have to calibrate and 
profile your monitor, scanner and printer as well. And you no longer 
can use the cheap photo labs as they don't care about colour 
management.

I bought me an IT8 target for the camera and the scanner and a 
colorimeter to set my monitor (a cheap spyder 2) to have an almost 
calibrated environment. With the IT8 target I create icc files for my 
camera myself and at least with ufraw they are working. With the 
digikam raw converter the results are crap  - so as I don't use it I 
can live with this.

And to my own icc files: I am not always satisfied with them. It is not 
that easy to take a good picture which is usable for calibrating and 
profiling.

> 
> So if you have any hint or advice ...
> 
> Thanks,
> Marie-Noëlle

Martin