Photo Software to Process Ultra RAW (.dng) Files?

[DUTCH VanAtlanta]

Can anyone recommend a good free or low cost photo editing software to process the RAW .dng files from the S20 Ultra?

I use DxO PhotoLab very happily for my other cameras, but it will not open the Ultra's .dng files.

Any suggestions? TIA!

 

[Mooncatt]

Photoshop Express should open them (and other RAW formats as well). It works fine on my LG V60 and its DNG RAW files. If you want something on your computer, give RAW Therapee a try.

Though now I'm wondering why your program won't open them. I haven't used it, but DNG is supposed to basically be a universal RAW file type.

 

[DUTCH VanAtlanta]

Photoshop Express should open them (and other RAW formats as well). It works fine on my LG V60 and its DNG RAW files. If you want something on your computer, give RAW Therapee a try.

Though now I'm wondering why your program won't open them. I haven't used it, but DNG is supposed to basically be a universal RAW file type.

DxO PhotoLab will only open RAW files from cameras on their list. It will open JPG's just fine, but not all RAW files.

 

[Mooncatt]

DxO PhotoLab will only open RAW files from cameras on their list. It will open JPG's just fine, but not all RAW files.

I see. Any luck with the ones I suggested?

 

[DUTCH VanAtlanta]

I see. Any luck with the ones I suggested?

I just converted a Galaxy S20 Ultra 23MB .dng file to a 34MB .tif file using an older Adobe Photoshop program.

I then opened the .tif file in DxO PhotoLab 2. I then compared it at 400% magnification to the Galaxy S20 Ultra .jpg file taken together with the original .dng file.

The converted .tif file is softer with much less sharpness and detail than the out of the camera .jpg file when compared side by side at 400% magnification.

Maybe I really don't need to mess with the RAW captures from the phone. The .jpg file looks pretty darned good.

I also tried RawTherapee, and the converted .tif was less than half the size of the original .dng file. So much for "lossless", I guess.

 

[Mooncatt]

Keep in mind that a RAW file by default will look rather bland compared to the associated jpeg, much like a raw steak is bland compared to a well seasoned and cooked steak. If you just did a straight conversion from DNG to TIFF, then yes it will look worse than the associated jpeg. RAW files by their very nature require post editing to look proper.

But you are right in that phones often do a great job in auto modes. Unless you are going for a specific look or just really love to do your own edits, the jpeg will be fine in most cases.

 

[DUTCH VanAtlanta]

Keep in mind that a RAW file by default will look rather bland compared to the associated jpeg, much like a raw steak is bland compared to a well seasoned and cooked steak. If you just did a straight conversion from DNG to TIFF, then yes it will look worse than the associated jpeg. RAW files by their very nature require post editing to look proper.

There is no way any kind of post processing would sharpen up and bring back the lost details in that converted TIF.

Until (if) DxO recognizes the dng files from the S20 Ultra, I think I'll just stay away from those RAW files. If the SOOC jpg's are not good enough, DxO PhotoLab can post process them very nicely as necessary.

PS - I was very happily surprised at just how sharp and in focus the jpg was from side to side and front to back.

 

[Mooncatt]

There is no way any kind of post processing would sharpen up and bring back the lost details in that converted TIF.

Those such edits would be done before the conversion, while still in RAW form.

 

[DUTCH VanAtlanta]

Those such edits would be done before the conversion, while still in RAW form.

Agreed, IF you can get the file to open in a good photo editing software.