Actually, a DNG is internally just a TIFF. Just save as a normal 16-bit TIFF and you'll and up with a simplified workflow and no loss of data nor detail. Now, I just wish I could get Apple to add support for Linear DNG (or whatever format Vuescan RAW DNG is which I know contains three colors per pixel rather then one as in Camera Raw) which would provide the additional tools to deal with these DNGs at import.Īs I tried to clarify, there is no benefit in saving as RAW from a scanner. Your post has allowed me to really think through my workflow and I really appreciate the input I've received in this thread. I get excellent results using either and tweaking in Aperture. I've used the included Silverfast SE that came with the scanner but Vuescan just feels a better fit for me. I will still create the scanner profile of the IT8 target which I should then be able to use as a proofing profile to compensate for any color bias in the Fuji Provia film used. If Apple fully-supported the DNG specification, then the RAW Fine Tuning adjustment would be available with its auto-exposure button to get a good starting point for tweaking the images. This should streamline the workflow by making it possible to scan two 4x5s at one without the need to tweak each one in the scan and then do all my processing in Aperture (or Lightroom). If I continue with Aperture, I am thinking that I will save these files as RAW TIFFs and do the gamma adjustment at import.
VUESCAN IT8 TARGET TRIAL
I am using the trial version of Aperture - which I feel really comfortable using - but I think I may take Lightroom for a spin prior to making a final choice of software.
VUESCAN IT8 TARGET FULL
Mind you that if Apple supported the full DNG specification, it would be able to deal automatically with these RAW scanned DNG files (I believe they are linear DNGs) and automatically compensate during import just as Lightroom does. My frustration has been that I am doing the processing twice which is pointless. You are correct in your statement about RAW saved as TIFF. Vuescan offers two options: RAW saved as TIFF or a RAW DNG file. So the above information is based on the difference between a camera RAW file and a TIFF. Note: I've never used Vuescan, only Silverfast. But can you appreciate that this is similar to creating a TIFF file: you let Aperture apply a color profile and do the demosiacing, then you apply a gamma correction with the curve preset. Just create a curve that resembles a gamma 2.2 curve and save that as an adjustment preset. If you still fell like scanning RAW is the way to go, make yourself a adjustment preset in Aperture. So what use is your IT8 target on a RAW file? Also, note that a TIFF file will have a colorprofile applied to the image and a RAW file does not. These operations will not make you loose any latitude. It will be basically the same as a 16-bit TIFF, except that the TIFF has the demosiacing and gamma applied. That said, I don't feel there is a good reason to save a scan as RAW. Vuescan probably adjust the gamma on the fly to 2.2, but when it saves it writes a gamma of 1. If it is a TIFF, and the gamma is 1 then it is normal that you images are dark. What is the RAW format Vuescan uses? Is it a TIFF? Is it a RAW format that Aperture understands? I will see how it goes after profiling the scanner and calibrating the display. More work but more latitude with the RAW files. Then again, I could easily make those compensations while importing the files as long as they are consistent and then just put the final tweaks on each individual scan. It just seems like I am doing a lot more work than if I were to save the Vuescan files as 16/48-bit TIFFs. I've adjusted several of the RAW files compensating for exposure and gamma and am getting excellent results. Hopefully this will address the issue but Ed Hamrick is saying that the RAW files deliver the data from the scanner CCD which has a gamma of 1.0. I've also purchased a display calibrator to make sure that end is covered.
I will be mostly scanning 4x5 transparencies and have purchased a IT8 scanner target from Wolf-Faust to profile the scanner for the Fuji film stock used. I'm a reasonably competent scanner operator having scanned using higher-end drum scanners in the past I have been using Vuescan with an Epson Perfection 700 scanner scanning a few prints (b&w and color) which consistently come in to Aperture looking dark in spite of looking very good in Vuescan (tonally balanced with good range).