How can I open and process RAW files from an UltraCam Xp WA aerial camera?
Asked 11/20/2013
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I received an aerial image from a client taken with an UltraCam Xp WA camera. They provided a RAW image file (about 47 MB), a corresponding .dat file, and a camera calibration report. Standard software I tried, including Photoshop CS2 and ERDAS, either displays the image incorrectly with stretched pixels or reports the format as unsupported. What software or workflow is typically needed to open and process this type of camera-specific RAW file, especially if I need to use it for image classification?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
1
RAW data is simply the light intensity values picked up by each photosite. Without information about the shape and color of the photosite, the RAW conversion can't properly interpret the image. It sounds like Photoshop got fairly close, but that it uses a different shape pixel than Photoshop expected. Your best bet is to find out if there is a RAW conversion software made by UltraCam (particularly so you can make use of the calibration file), however if that doesn't work out, you may simply want to apply an aspect ratio correction in Photoshop to account for the difference in pixel aspect.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
0
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This is likely not a generic photo RAW that Photoshop or ERDAS can reliably read on its own. Camera RAW files store sensor data, and proper decoding depends on knowing the sensor layout and calibration. Since your file came from an UltraCam Xp WA and includes a .dat file plus a calibration report, the best option is to use software designed for that UltraCam format so it can interpret the sensor data correctly.
The stretched appearance in Photoshop suggests it is guessing the pixel layout or aspect ratio incorrectly. In some cases, an aspect-ratio correction may improve the display, but that is only a workaround, not a proper decode.
A possible workflow is:
- Use UltraCam-specific RAW conversion software if available.
- Apply the supplied calibration information during conversion if supported.
- Convert the result to a more standard format such as DNG for use in Photoshop/Lightroom, or another standard raster format for classification workflows.
In short: use the camera maker’s conversion tools first; general-purpose editors may not support this proprietary aerial RAW format correctly.
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