Photo RAW support

[diskojerk]

If possible it would be nice to be able to RAW files.

[Alexey Pasumansky]

Hello diskojerk,

Most of RAW formats are proprietary, so we recommend to convert them to TIF using lossless conversion prior to importing photos to PhotoScan.

[Wishgranter]

RAW is a raw image data , you need "DEVELOP" it?s data in externall app like Pshop or Lightroom or other.... 

[Subunderground]

Hello!

I was wondering if there is any way there could be support for RAWs in photoscan? Instead of converting them to tiffs?

Big Thanks

[vlanger]

being able to import .raw files direktly would be great!

cheers,
Vincent

[Wishgranter]

Windent, RAW files are RAW data, they need to be properly tranformed-baked to usable form, like TIF or JPGs. the RAW file contain all pixels unprocesse, unsharp, flat color, RAW convertor make from this "mess" a usable data......

[Marcel]

Windent, RAW files are RAW data, they need to be properly tranformed-baked to usable form, like TIF or JPGs. the RAW file contain all pixels unprocesse, unsharp, flat color, RAW convertor make from this "mess" a usable data......

In my opinion the only real issue with RAW data is the white balance, because the white balance has to be set manually or picked from a color checker card and can vary from photo to photo.
All the other variables can either be done with a single setting (sharpness) or are not so relevant because the images can be imported as 16 bit per channel (exposure, highlight correction, shadow boosting, etc).

Being able to import RAWs directly would be a huge time saver. But I do understand the issues in adding support for this, it would take a lot of effort to support those file formats (and keep them updated and working in the coming years).

[jmsuomal]

Being able to import RAWs directly would be a huge time saver. But I do understand the issues in adding support for this, it would take a lot of effort to support those file formats (and keep them updated and working in the coming years).

Quantity of effort on creation nor upkeep is not really true because there is a ready tool called dcraw by David Coffin that could be implemented here easily. Its free and open interface to practically load any raw file in.

http://www.cybercom.net/~dcoffin/dcraw/

To my knowledge that is also what Photoshop is using! You could get a quite far already with two loading options: load the images in as native 16bit images to produce "16bit raw orthoimage" or load them as indivually scaled 8bits to produce very similar output you would get with automatic RAW->JPG processing. To my understanding practically all stuff like white balancing etc could be adjusted on those "16bit raw orthoimages" also after the photoscan processing is done.

This would be superuseful especially if you are looking for only geometry instead of radiometry.