Comments on: Adobe taps the power of negative thinking

With its Digital Negative project, Adobe is championing an effort to improve photo quality and longevity. If only it were that simple.
Photos: Cameras that support Adobe project

[dominicsotirescu]

RAW alternative for backup

Instead of using proprietary RAW formats for backup just save all images as TIFF 16 bit uncompressed. This way you are not loosing any color information and TIFF has been around for quite a while now.

[cecilw]

TIF? No...

RAW files from my camera are 6.6 MB, but converted to 16-bitt TIFF these files are now 24+ MB. I take thousands of photos, and I don't want to try to store and backup 4X the number of Gigabytes of photos as I currently manage... I use the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) convertor and NOT DNG. I figure since they both come from Adobe, the chances of losing support for either one is about the same, and IF Adobe stopped support for RAW there are several other companies that provide suitable RAW convertor programs.

[cecilw]

Tif? No...

RAW files from my camera are 6.6 MB, but converted to 16-bitt TIFF these files are now 24+ MB. I take thousands of photos, and I don't want to try to store and backup 4X the number of Gigabytes of photos as I currently manage... I use the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) convertor and NOT DNG. I figure since they both come from Adobe, the chances of losing support for either one is about the same, and IF Adobe stopped support for RAW there are several other companies that provide suitable RAW convertor programs.

[Ellis Vener]

I use 16 bit iamges in the Pro Photo color space but...

I use a 16.6mp camera, and the raw files from it are about 20mb in
size. One of these, when processed and saved as a 48 bit (16 bits
per Red, Green & Blue channels) TIFF results in a file that is around
100mb. Translation: 10 of those TIFFS equals approx 1Gb of
storage to manage. As a professional photographer I can end up
with anywhere from 1 to several hundred frames, and that is after
editing, on a project. keeping up with Archiving is difficult enough
as it is . Can you explain to me why I would I want to increase those
problems 5 fold?

[robertstech]

A Couple of Inaccuracies

First of all this article missed the newly-introduced, 10-megapixel Pentax K10D as an SLR that supports the DNG format natively.

Secondly, the article states "Raw images also let photographers adjust 'white balance,' ... With JPEG, photographers rely on the camera's best guess about the lighting conditions". This is simply wrong:
Virtually all digital cameras permit the photographer to manually select white balance while shooting JPEG's. The problem is that with JPEG you have to set it before taking the shot. The advantage of RAW is that you can set white balance after the fact (non-destructively).

[Heebee Jeebies]

and with Lightroom

You can now change the white balance of JPGs after the fact as well just like with RAW.

Robert

[Heebee Jeebies]

Why no Pentax K10D...

Why isn't this new and now shipping camera listed in this article. It has been the hottest subject since it was announced. Shame on cNet, I expect better.

Robert

[canada-grade]

new image format

I read this story and I found it made such good sense. A standard format which would improve the quality and longevity of digital photos. I know it is a challenge at this point but with technology and it's advances, there will become a point where a standard format should be established among all camera manufacturers. After all digital photography which can capture some artistic as well as historical photos should have a standard format which is cost-efficient as well as effective...I do agree though that it should be an independent source rather that a power house which might like to rule the market in profit, but a format devised working with all the parties involved...can certainly be achieved by taking the proper time and effort

[canada-grade]

new image format

I read this story and I found it made such good sense. A standard format which would improve the quality and longevity of digital photos. I know it is a challenge at this point but with technology and it's advances, there will become a point where a standard format should be established among all camera manufacturers. After all digital photography which can capture some artistic as well as historical photos should have a standard format which is cost-efficient as well as effective...I do agree though that it should be an independent source rather that a power house which might like to rule the market in profit, but a format devised working with all the parties involved...can certainly be achieved by taking the proper time and effort