Trouble With Silkypix RAW Converter and HDR Blending

[Kevin Childress]

The tools involved here are:

Camera: FujiFilm HS10 (raw files extension .RAF)
RAW Converter: Silkypix 3.0.1.0 (version packaged with camera)
Post Processing Tools: Corel Paintshop Pro X3 and Photomatix Pro 3.2

I’m looking for ideas on an issue I am having when trying to HDR-blend images that have been processed by the Silkypix RAW converter.

I regularly blend multiple JPEGs and TIFFs with these programs. I can produce HDR images in both programs without a problem until I process RAW images with the Silkypix converter. It seems that both programs still make an attempt to blend the multiple exposures but what I see is a badly “corrupted” image (…just a mottled mess).

I have experimented with multiple combinations in Silkypix’s development with no change. The problem occurs when the RAW files are developed as JPEG, or TIFF, it makes no difference.

Does anyone have experience in using the Silkypix RAW converter to create JPEGs and TIFFs, and then use those files in Photomatix or Paintshop X3? Are there particular settings or adjustments you know not to use … something that causes an adverse effect in the blending process?
((Maybe this goes for all RAW converters ... I don't know))

I’ll leave it at this for now – hopefully someone has encountered a similar issue. Please ask any questions that come to mind so that I might better explain what’s happening.

Thanks!

Kevin

[brabason]

Kevin this is a strange one. Photomatix Pro 3.2 reads and converts my Canon .cr2 RAW files. It cannot read my Olympus .orf RAW files so I convert them into full sized 16 bit colour TIFFs (in Lightroom) and input these to Photomatix. I have no experience of the Silky Pix and Photomatix combination.

It could be that your bundled Silky Pix is not producing standard files (explore). However I do not remember you saying these could not be read by Corel Paintshop. When I used Silky Pix, I created jpeg files that Photoshop Elements 4 read with no bother.

You may want to test this by inputting the Silky Pix TIFFs to Corel, outputting same (with a minor edit) and inputting to Photomatix.

[Kevin Childress]

brabason,

It is strange indeed.

Regarding Corel Paintshop: I also get a badly corrupted image if I blend the same thre images converted from Silkypix. It looks different from the results I get in Photomatix but a "damaged file" nonetheless.

Here is a visual example of what I am seeing …

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bkDFHhlaEMl4O3P0ZSpAX2q8JjiADvOYQ1z0JHlvMhM?feat=directlink

Both of these images are as seen in Photomatix. The image on the left is from three JPEGs produced by the camera at 1.0 EV steps. No additional edits were made here; this is the program's "initial read" on the files based on my previous settings in Photomatix. The image on the right was originally three RAW files taken from the camera and saved as JPEG through the RAW converter; I made no edits in the converter - I only opened the files and saved the JPEGs. This is also three exposures at 1.0 EV steps. You can see Photomatix has translated the data much differently. The image clarity never improves regardless of moving any of the Photomatix sliders. It looks the same if I were to develop the RAW files as TIFF and import into Photomatix for blending.

I experimented with this a little more this past weekend and have gotten better results (on RAW files converted within Silkypix and blended within Photomatix). I’m beginning to get the impression that Silkypix is applying some sort of sharpening, or other contrast edit when the RAW files are converted, that is not kosher with the conventions that Photomatix uses to blend the three exposures. When the RAW files are being converted in Silkypix, if I set all slider options to “zero” or “camera default”, I get the sort of image I would expect when imported into Photomatix. This troubles me because in my opinion, it absolutely negates any advantage I might have gained from working with the RAW files in the first place!

[brabason]

Kevin about RAW converters. Some just show the converted RAW image as is, others 'optimise' the photo in some way. This is visible in the examples in this link www.twin-pixels.com/lightroom-dxo-capture-one-bibble-5/

Other than the front-end ease of use and some other features, the various converters produce quite different interpretations of the same file. This is one of the reasons why I stopped using Elements for RAW file conversion, what was produced was an optimised RAW file with edits already applied (I had no idea what these were and the various sliders were at zero to start with). I like to think that Lightroom does nothing to the file but I may be wrong.

Perhaps this is what may be happening. The name Silky Pix is explained on their web site, it produces silky smooth photos (whatever this means, it is translated from Japanese).

Alternatively there may be a conversion issue. All manufacturers have different RAW file standards. Some are well defined (like Canon .cr2) which means that the conversion software can be well written. Other RAW formats are well kept secrets (usually so that you only use the converter they supply). In this case, the conversion software is reverse-engineered and every package does its own thing; this leads to highly variable results.

I think your RAW file standard may not be published which leads to the varying performance by different software packages, including the strange behaviour of Silky Pix. Shop around to find a converter that does the job well; most have a try-before-you-buy offer.

[panoramawolle]

@ Brabason

I am astonished that you cannot process Olympus raws with your copy of Photomatix.
I own version 3.2 64 bit and the raws of my E-520 are read and processed without any problem.

Regards
Wolfgang