Why does a RAW file look different in RawTherapee than in Geeqie or my camera preview?
Asked 8/31/2016
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2 answers
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The same RAW file appears different in different programs. In Geeqie it looks like the preview I saw on my DSLR, but in RawTherapee it appears brighter or flatter, and after changing settings it can also look too dark. Why does this happen, and how can I make RawTherapee display something closer to the camera/Geeqie preview?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
6
It looks like rawtherapee is showing you the RAW image with a very flat base curve
When a program displays a RAW image, it must map the full range of pixel values storable in the 16-bit raw to the lower bit levels (typically 8-bit) which can be handled by your computer and screen. It doesn't necessarily do this with a linear transformation, it will apply a "base curve" (sometimes called something different).
In your case, it looks like RawTherapee is using a different base curve to the other applications, I'm not familiar with RawTherapee but most raw applications will have default base curves for different camera models - it might be that it doesn't have a default for your model of camera.
In the specific case of geeqie it is not applying a base curve itself, it is using the embedded preview image that your camera writes into the RAW file - which explains why it looks exactly the same as the preview on your DSLR.
Originally by user46386. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user46386
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is normal. A RAW file is not a finished photo; each program must interpret and render it. Your camera preview and Geeqie are likely showing the embedded JPEG preview created by the camera, while RawTherapee is developing the RAW data itself using its own default settings.
The biggest difference is usually the tone/base curve and other processing choices. If RawTherapee uses a flatter or different default curve, the image can look brighter, darker, or less contrasty than the camera preview.
If you want the closest match to what the camera showed, the most reliable option is the manufacturer’s own software, since it best reproduces the camera’s proprietary processing.
In RawTherapee, you can instead create or choose a preset/profile that more closely matches the camera preview and set it as the default for your RAW files. Just keep in mind there is no single “correct” look for a RAW image—different software will render it differently by design.
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