SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 3.0SOFTWARE MANUAL
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0.Overview and Introduction


SILKYPIX® enables you to process RAW data of a digital camera and to create an image.(*1) We call this process "development".
RAW data is direct light energy information captured by an image sensor. While it becomes larger than usual JPEG data, it includes a lot of information and enables various images processing at the level of light energy after photographing, which is a benefit of using RAW data.
SILKYPIX® was created to maximize the benefit and potential of RAW data.
*1 ... JPEG/TIFF files can be developed. For more details, please refer to '2.3 How to Handle JPEG/TIFF Image'.

In this software, you can adjust various parameters of development procedure.


(1) Exposure bias

You can adjust parameters at the development process with SILKYPIX® and obtain the same effect as by using the function of the camera.
Also, you can use a high-precision "automatic exposure bias" feature, which makes it possible to drive into correct exposure quickly.

(2) White balance adjustment

You can adjust parameters at the development process with SILKYPIX® and obtain the same effect as you may get on a camera by specifying a light source in advance or by using a color conversion filter.

(3) Sharpness Adjustment

You can emphasize the outline of a shot image, or change the noise reduction during the development process.

(4) Tone Adjustment

You can change the tone of the target scene (soft or hard, etc.) during the development process.

(5) Saturation Adjustment

The "color mode" enables you to select an image like as changing reversal film after taking a photograph, and the "fine color controller" function is available to support the color creation of a picture.

(6) Lens aberration correction

The "lens aberration correction" function enables you to reduce or correct the aberration for each lens to create a high-grade picture.

(7) Rotation/Digital shift

If you find pictures you took with a camera that was tilted, you can adjust the angle by using the "rotation" function after taking a photograph.
In addition, the "digital shift" function has the same effect as using a shift lens which enables you to control the perspective and to shoot a building effectively.


If you store image data as RAW data and use this software to develop them, you don't have to make any adjustment during photographing because you can do them at development process.
Of course, you can use JPEG instead of RAW data to record and adjust with retouching software, but JPEG has only 256-tone, causing degradation of image quality when you make adjustment.
Also, since JPEG includes no light energy value, and JPEG data is created by conversion to colorspace (for example, sRGB), which is appropriate for display or printing, JPEG has narrower range and lower accuracy in adjusting capability.
In order to adjust a shot image with keeping high quality, you have to select RAW data to record images.
The software enables you to adjust the color and the look of the images during the development process in turn is the same as making the adjustments while photographing.
It also provides smooth screen image without noise, which is impossible to obtain with JPEG, to increase the range of photography sensitivity.

The advanced development algorithm of the software also provides the following features:


(1) High resolution, High resolving power

Although it is considered generally that resolution is decided by the type of lens and the number of pixels of the image sensor, a key factor of actual image resolution is the demosaic process during development procedure.
When you select RAW data to record images and use SILKYPIX® to develop them, you can obtain more exquisite picture than the JPEG image which the camera records in taking a photograph.

(2) Advanced color separation

When photographing with a digital camera, the color boundary in high saturation area is lost and becomes white outline, which is peculiar phenomenon of digital cameras.
This white outline makes the picture appear [digital,] and this is caused by lower color resolution compared with brightness resolution.
We have created a completely new demosaic logic and embedded it into the software in order to provide advanced color resolution. This logic allows delicate and advanced color resolution.

(3) Few false color

Most of digital cameras now have sensors with the structure called Bayer array.
The R, G, and B sensor elements are allocated in order of Bayer array flatly. Each sensor can only capture one of the R, B or G, so false color appears on the edge of picture or area including delicate pattern.
The software though, reduces this false color highly effectively with advanced pixel value forecast logic.
Fundamentally, high resolution, high separation capability, and false color reduction are not realized at the same time logically. High resolution causes increased false color phenomenon, and a trail of false color reduction results in low resolution.
However, the software efficiently enables to realize these processes simultaneously to create natural pictures and colors

(4) Color noise reduction at high sensitive photography

When photographing with high sensitive mode for night photography or in a dark place, noise of the image sensor generates color noise spots on the image, which is peculiar to digital cameras
These color noise spots appearing irregularly on the picture are very unpleasant to the eyes, and supposedly many photographers avoid high sensitive photography because of this phenomenon.
The software provides a function of reducing the color noise that surprisingly creates clean pictures for high sensitive photography.
With this software, you can select a wide variety of photographic methods and objects to create a new photograph.

(5) Hue control for highlight area

The software has the function to reduce color reverse or overexposure (bleached-out looking) in the highlight area.
For example, when taking a picture of a person, if you increase a development gain to make a skin color white, color shift phenomenon occurs and highlight boundary area often becomes yellow.
The Highlight controller of the software enables color control in over exposed area and creates fine color in the highlight area.

(6) Real color reproducibility with high linearity

In order to create accurate colors with various types of light sources, we have embedded our unique color matching logic based on multiple color matching data acquired in many test pictures.
Many types of light source with various spectral distributions, such as sunray (natural light), fluorescent light, filament lamp, glow of sunset, electric flash and combination of them are supported, which realizes accurate color reproducibility.
Based on this color reproducibility, you can utilize "3-dimentional color mapping method," which converts colors into 3-dimentional data to create (Memory color) expressing similar colors with the colors in a human's memory, (Portrait color), expressing highlights of the skin, and Film taste expressing colors in a positive (Film)"You can use these color modes according to its utilization or picture image.
Also, '4.10 Fine Color Controller' can change the precise color and to control the delicate color.

(7) Highlight reproduction control by the "dynamic range compression"

The "dynamic range" control function allows you to make the best use of RAW's ability, which has enough "dynamic range" and records whiter energy than the white point.
You can obtain the smooth gradation in highlight area like as a film.


0.1 Difference with Other Photo Retouching Software


RAW development process with SILKYPIX® and image processing with a photo retouching software are similar.
While various types of photo retouching software supporting RAW data are increasingly available in the market, there is a critical difference between them.
Understanding of the difference helps you to use SILKYPIX® to the full.
The important point is that the software is always starting every image processing based on RAW data.
When you change parameters in image processing (for example, changing exposure, white balance or saturation), the software always starts processing based on RAW data.
The parameters you used to change are stored in the separate file instead of RAW file.
Therefore, although load of computer becomes larger, you can obtain a lot of benefits described below.

(1) RAW data will not be changed

Original image data is never changed, so you don't have to worry about losing it even if you make a wrong operation.
The basic concept of SILKYPIX® is "never change RAW data".
If you use a photo retouching software or digital camera software to process JPEG files recorded with a camera, the original image data may get overwritten. However, SILKYPIX® never causes that kind of trouble. (*1)

(2) You can change parameters till you're completely satisfied

With retouching software, you have to process a picture image step by step to change it.
For example, if you want to change brightness and then adjust color balance, you have to create the image with a new brightness level and then adjust color balance of the newly created picture image.
In other words, a change is fixed sequentially when you adjust the image.
If you want to change the brightness at the final sequence, you have to either reset all changes and start again with the first process, or adjust the brightness of the current picture image. These operation causes degradation of the picture quality.

If you change the brightness of the picture image slightly darker again at the final sequence, the details lost in the process will not be restored because other values previously changed have been fixed already.

However, SILKYPIX® always processes the RAW data in an appropriate order, so when the parameters are determined, you can always get the same result.
When changing the white balance and the exposure, you can always obtain the same result whichever you change first.
Therefore, you can change the parameters a number of times until you are satisfied with the result.

(3) Degradation of the quality of the image will not occur

When you adjust data with retouching software, the order of adjustment is important.
You have to decide which one should be adjusted first, brightness or color balance. You also have to consider when you should adjust sharpness, tone curve, colorspace for working or the lens aberration correction.
These decisions require highly advanced knowledge and moreover, you cannot change the order halfway.
Wrong order causes image degradation.
Even if the order is appropriate, a certain combination of processes may cause some pixels clipped in the mid process.

The design of internal process of the software allows appropriate combination of processes with high tone pipeline image process, which can transfer pixels brighter than stark white according to parameters and prevents image degradation that often appears with a photo retouching software.
Therefore, you can always create pictures with the maximum quality even when complicated functions are combined.
In addition, you don't have to care about the order for adjustment and just make adjustment as you want. There is no need to consider an appropriate order all the time.

(4) You can restart adjustments whenever you want

Since parameters are stored in an independent file for every scene instead of RAW file, read automatically and updated, you can easily adjust parameters again later.
You can also easily get the development result after partial changes so that you can use the parameters in other usage.
Moreover, since the parameters are included in the development result (*2), you can take the parameters of the result from the image files of development result later.
What you need are only development result and original RAW when you want to make a slight adjustment.

(5) You can fix the parameters in advance

You can treat image processes (development process) collectively later.
In other words, you can fix parameters in advance, make adjustment, and perform batch image process (development process) later.
This feature allows you to handle a large volume of pictures all at once.

*1...You can configure to change the rotation information tag for JPEG/TIFF/DNG file (Please refer to '9.3.1.1 Saving Rotation for JPEG/TIFF/DNG') In this case, a file is updated but the included image will not change.

*2 ... The development parameters are written in Exif information, it is not embedded(Please refer to '9.1 Setting for Developed Image')

* We have developed this "nondestructive process" (we call "OIP technology") earlier on and have installed this technology in our digital camera software "Daisy Digital Camera Friend" released in 1999 and in other products.
With SILKYPIX®, we have applied the technology to such processes that irregular images like Distortion Correction and, Digital Shift and implemented a completely continuous image processing in those processes.
The process causing rotation and deformation of image must be usually executed after development, however, this software allows users to skip this step and enables a complete set of smart workflow from the basic adjustment, such as exposure and white balance, to lens aberration correction.


0.2 Difference with Previous Version


Wide ranges of additional features were added to version 3.0 compared to the previous version.
Here, the difference with the version stems from the picture quality, the parameter range and the modification make to the recorded address.

0.2.1 Difference of Image Quality

SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 3.0 uses the improved development engine compared to the previous version (1.0/2.0).
It hands the development parameter of the previous version and it provides the development result which is as near as possible but a small difference is expressed.

0.2.1.1 Difference of Tone

The nonlinear processing (for the purpose of the tone, the output gamma and tone curve) has been changed.

The tone is set based on a standard curve of sRGB when developing with sRGB, or standard curve of Adobe RGB when with Adobe RGB.
Therefore, the default value of gamma is changed to 1.15 from 1.35 with this change.

In the previous version, we guided "contrast = 1.0 and gamma = 1.15" is nearest setting as standard curve of sRGB/Adobe RGB.
In the Ver3.0, "contrast = 1.0 and gamma = 1.0" makes completely same tone as standard curve of sRGB/Adobe RGB.
And if you select "Standard" from the "Tone" dropdown list, you can make same tone as standard curve of sRGB/Adobe RGB.

With this new modification, the shaded areas are a bit brighter than the previous version.

0.2.1.2 Difference of Highlight

The repeatability in the highlight area near the white limit is improved.
If you use a camera that records the a bit brighter energy than white point, a difference is expressed when setting "Exposure bias" lower or "DR expansion" higher than 0EV.

0.2.1.3 Others

There is a fine difference in the development outcome because Ver3.0 has new development engine and adopts high gradation sequencing.

0.2.2 Difference of Parameter

Compared to the previous version, the parameter range, dialog position and the name have changed to the following below.

0.2.2.1 "Development" Sub-control

[Save Parameter], [Load Parameter], [Initialize Parameter], and [Copy to cloakroom] buttons are moved to newly created "Taste/Parameter" sub-control.

The name of [Development precision] is changed to [Demosaic sharp], and its range has been modified from 0-99 to 0-100.
In general, the effect of the parameter is almost same. However, the effect for FinePix S2/S3/S5 Pro cameras is something different from other cameras, you can control the resolution for the detail with this parameter.

The [Resolution plus] control is added for FinePix S3/S5 Pro in WIDE mode, it controls the ratio to sample the information of low sensitivity sensor (R sensor).

The [Colorspace] control is move to this "Development" sub-control from "Color" sub-control.

0.2.2.2 "Sharp" Sub-control

The range of [Outline emphasis] has been changed from 0-1024 to 0-100. And control range is quadrupled extended, therefore you can get the same effect at "25" as at "1024" of Ver2.0.
The range of [Detail emphasis] has been changed from 0-1024 to 0-100. You can get the same effect at "100" as at "1024" of Ver2.0.
The range of [False outline ctrl] has been changed from 0-256 to 0-100. You can get the same effect at "100" as at "256" of Ver2.0.

The new Sharpness logic [Pure detail] makes it possible to give stronger sharpness than "normal sharp", and you can make higher resolution for the target scene.

0.2.2.3 "Noise Reduction" Sub-control

The range of [False color ctrl] has been changed from 0-256 to 0-100. You can get the same effect at "100" as at "256" of Ver2.0.
The range of [Noise reduction] has been changed from 0-200 to 0-100. You can get the same effect at "100" as at "200" of Ver2.0.
The range of [Noise level] has been changed from 0-50 to 0-100. You can get the same effect at "100" as at "50" of Ver2.0.

0.2.2.4 "Highlight Controller" Sub-control

The range of [Chroma-Luminance], [Saturation-Hue], and [Luminance restoration] have been changed from 0-256 to 0-100. You can get the same effect at "100" as at "256" of Ver2.0.
Moreover, the [DR expansion] control is added to control dynamic range.

0.2.2.5 Colorspace

The [Colorspace] control is move to the "Development" sub-control from "Color" sub-control.

0.2.3 Others

0.2.3.1 Default Colorspace

When taking a photograph with "Adobe RGB" mode, SILKYPIX® adopts "Adobe RGB" colorspace as the default parameter for the scene.

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