dcraw---how to convert the linear file to a good image?

[PaulN]

I am interested in seeing if doing a linear conversion of MKII files with DCRAW would produce a better image than using typical raw converters. However, I am not so sure about the best way to convert the files from dcraw to a good image. Fred Miranda has a pluging for the 10d, but not for the 1dMKII. So, two questions:

1) has anyone out there put together a photoshop action to convert linear files to a useable image? (I know that the gimp has a converter, but that is still 8 bit, and I want, of course, to use photoshop to take advantage of 16 bit color

2) Is this a pointless exercise?---from what David Coffin says, most raw converters already use dcraw to do their conversion.

-paul

[PacAce]

I am interested in seeing if doing a linear conversion of MKII files with DCRAW would produce a better image than using typical raw converters. However, I am not so sure about the best way to convert the files from dcraw to a good image. Fred Miranda has a pluging for the 10d, but not for the 1dMKII. So, two questions:

1) has anyone out there put together a photoshop action to convert linear files to a useable image? (I know that the gimp has a converter, but that is still 8 bit, and I want, of course, to use photoshop to take advantage of 16 bit color

2) Is this a pointless exercise?---from what David Coffin says, most raw converters already use dcraw to do their conversion.

-paul
Here's what I do:

1. I use EVU to convert from RAW to Linear TIFF 16-bit.

2. Import the TIFF file into PSCS.

3. (Optional) Make a duplicate of the image

4. Create a new Curves Layers Adjustment layer (Layers > New Adjustment Layer > Curves...)

5. Set the curve to something that looks like the one in the attached image. You may have to adjust the curve to suit the image but this is just the general basic shape.

I created an action that does the above which you can download. You will have to tweak the curve to suit your purpose since I just put this together a couple of minutes ago. I'm only going to keep the action up for a week.

http://www.tanseikai.com/pacace/RawLinearConvert.atn

BTW, I created the curve using a sample image from my 1DmkII. It worked fine to convert one other image from my 1DmkII so hopefully it'll be fine for your images too. The curve will need to be adjusted substantially to be useable for other cameras such as the 10D.

[PaulN]

Leo,

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

-paul

[zeus]

I am interested in seeing if doing a linear conversion of MKII files with DCRAW

dcraw + netpbm is the best