RAW processing of digital camera images

[robbat2]

I've been looking at the photos from my wedding - I specifically ask the photographer if I could get a copy of all of the RAW images (and I gave him plenty of DVD-Rs to put them on).

I'd heard there was some difference in processing results, but I'm surprised to see that Linux seems to be huge leaps ahead of Windows in terms of results.

Here's a small sample I put together:
http://tinyurl.com/fkmw2

- One from the wedding photographer (He used either Adobe Photoshop CS2, or the Canon utility)
- UFRAW
- DCRAW (configuration #1)
- DCRAW (configuration #2)

All image were saved/resaved with jpeg-75 compression, so that the files wouldn't be too large for online comparison.

I would suggest that you download all of them, and then compare them side-by-side, piecewise.

Thereafter, could you please vote here (if you don't have a livejournal account, please leave a comment with your vote instead)?

[Poll #814130]

Results of which file was processed by what tool will be revealed in a few days.

Comments

Bad answer

[siuyee.livejournal.com]

I compare them side by side, A & C are just unacceptable to me. I would prefer something between B and D. I like the colours in D, but then there is too much contrast (look at the black napkin). If I have to pick one, I would choose B and then adjust the colours a bit. This is probably a bad answer.

darker gold of d looks better than ...

[ufischer.livejournal.com]

The gold colours came out a bit deeper on ... d .., so that tipped the balance for me in favour of d over b. I agree that a and c are less good, but still acceptable, IMHO.

The monitor says...

[(Anonymous)]

A: Colours are very dull and pale, looking like a blend of Sepia and Black and White, resulting in an aged salmon look...
B: Overall, the image seems a little dark and muted. The colours seem a tad washed out.
C: Contrast is great. Colours are a little dull -- the Babelfish seems greener than it ought to be. Overall, feels like it's illuminated by fluorescent lighting. This may be accurate, but not so pleasing.
D: The colours seem to be very warm, the contrast is decent, and the babelfish is reasonably yellow.

Overall, image D wins out for me, closely followed by C. B follows further behind, with A being summarily disqualified.

Hard choices

[tupni.livejournal.com]

They all looked pretty good to me, but that is here at work, on what is pretty much an average monitor behind a tinted glass panel. Overall, I liked the warmth of D best, I guess..

[dragonmastermel.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your wedding, Robin! :)

vote

[(Anonymous)]

The unqualified vote by me says:
B over D because of the aforementioned napkin. C seemed unnaturally white compared to the others.