Digital BW, The Print

On 11/28/2013 03:37 AM, Paul Roark wrote:
> Ernst wrote:
>
>     __
>     ...
>
>     Is there not something in returning to the original, whether RAW or
>     film, and process, edit again with newer tools and another view on the
>     subject? ...
>
> Yes, definitely.  I try to save the original as well as significant
> drafts of the files I work up.  But I think that a good, as unaltered as
> possible 16 bit Tiff captures most of what the raw file has.  True, if
> there are new methods of decoding the Bayer pattern or the like they
> would be missed, but it would probably not be a huge loss.
>
> Actually, I like the strategy of Leica in having their raw be the *.dng
> format.  It may be the most likely to be supported years from now.  I
> get very annoyed when Nikon and others don't make updated drivers for
> items like the Nikon 8000 scanner when new OS's come out.
>
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com <http://www.PaulRoark.com>

The trend is to shift more editing tools into the RAW development phase 
including more choices in demosaicing and sharpening algorithms.

The definitions of RAW formats in time are probably better preserved and 
kept usable in open source initiatives and small companies than by the 
original creators, whether camera manufacturers or for example Adobe. 
One of Mike Chaney's arguments on the risks of the DNG format is that it 
is coming from Adobe and build on Tiff with the same origin. There is 
even a risk in using Tiff as the implementations of Tiff creation are 
not universal and sometimes proprietary flags are used.  In general it 
is a pity that the PNG format is not fully supported in all 
applications, a compressed 16 bit PNG file is smaller than an 
uncompressed one, in 16 bit Tiffs most of the time not. So I wouldn't 
mind a universal open source RAW format. OpenRaw forum is still 
discussing ........... It is more likely I will see files with the 
rumored Android RAW format coming my way soon :-)

My Nikon 8000 still runs on a Vista system here with Vuescan to drive 
it. NikonScan should work as well but isn't installed. Vuescan does that 
for Windows, OS-X and Linux varieties. A wide range of supported old and 
new scanners usable within one license and usually fast updates to OS 
upgrades. The theoretical limit of use on 4 systems covered in the 
license. Another example where a small company keeps things going in a 
flexible and affordable way.

-- 
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst Dinkla

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2012: 500+ inkjet media paper white spectral plots.