[Sticky] Which image formats are supported by APP?

Hi Mabula,

unfortunately APP doesn't support Fuji RAF raws. Also APP doesn't support the DNG format. So I have no meaningful possibility to work with my Fuji images in APP. 

I don't want to convert my raws to tiff (file size etc).

It's a pity because I think that APP would be a very good piece of software for me.

br

Paul

Hi Paul,

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Support for Fuji RAF raws and DNG are on my priorities list. You can keep track of this here:

https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/community/development-priorities/current-priorities/

And release info can be seen here:

https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/community/release-information/

Currently I still have some more pressing priorities (like a complete Quick Reference Guide) but soon the support for other file formats will be the highest priority.

Kind regards,

Mabula

Hi Mabula,

I've no luck :-). Have tried to load a set of data made with my Canon 5D Mk iv. No success. Yes, have seen that the Canon 5D Mk iv isn't supported at the moment.

br
Paul

Hi Paul,

That's unfortunate, I will add the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, I have put it on my todo list.

I'll try to have it supported in the next release. 

Off course, your trial can be restarted once it's working 😉 (Just contact me then using support@astropixelprocessor.com)

Kind regards, 

Mabula

Hi Mabula,

Would it be possible, in the near future, for support of the old Canon EOS 300D's CRW file? CR2 file from my Canon EOS 350D loads fine and AAP gives me impressive results. I have many images taken twelve years ago with the 300D and it's sad that AAP cannot open them.

Best regards,

Hi Akaw,

I will have a look at the EOS300D CRW files, I do have such a file in my library so I can test.

I'll let you know if it's possibly on a short term.

Kind regards,

Mabula

Thank you so much and sorry for the typo, with AAP I mean APP.

Best regards,

Wiwat

+1 for DNG Support. I think you could help most customer with DNG support as this is a format that almost all raw files can be converted to without big issues(even manufacturer/model specific color matrix is saved). May I ask why you wanted to avoid a dcraw dependency? Does it lack features or does it collide with your release strategy to have such strong ties to other projects? Best regards,

Ben

Hi @benolry,

Yes, DNG support is important to implement soon, I fully agree. Using Adobe DNG conversion, the camera support of APP will increase greatly 😉

Yes, having the model specific camera matrix is important so that's nice.

DCRAW dependency: simply said, I want to have full control and understand these Raw formats myself. APP can calibrate your DSLR data dynamically, internally in the image loader. A feauture which wouldn't be possible with a DCRAW dependency to load these RAW frames. Furthermore, I know the DCRAW code and it's creator certainly has done a great job, I also know it's taking a shortcut here and there (tremendous bit fidling) and not everything is done properly, at least that's my own opinion. 

Perhaps the most important reason is that I don't want to depend on others to be able to support new camera models, if I know how these files work, I can faster implement new camera models 😉 (almost immediately to be honest, I would need just 1 RAW for testing). The reason that APP doesn't support all DSLR brands yet, is mainly due to my choice of first making an actual complete Deep Sky integration and processing application before working on full camera support. Work on extending camera support will soon start now though 😉 

Cheers,

Mabula

If you need sample files in both .dng and .pef from a Pentax K1, Pentax K3, Pentax K-01, and Pentax 645z I will gladly supply those. I may even be able to dig up a .dng from a Pentax K5.

Actually, here's a link to a shared Google drive with a Pentax 645z .dng file, a Pentax K1 .dng file, a Pentax K3 .dng file, a Pentax K5 .dng file, and a Pentax K-01 .dng file.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wGmqQc3-bFnYJ1sn0vEEJcHj4nX0lmcp

Here is a sample of a Sony A7R mark 2 that is converted from Sony's own raw format to DNG without compression or embedded raw/thumbnail:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Bqehukqlp7awqJtkBeVyYmx6xQ8k8b9Q

Best regards and clear skies,

Ben

I would really like to see XISF support being added to APP.
The format is described and documented here <a href=" removed link " target="true"> removed link including reference C++ code.

-- Hans

Ah yes, Mabula knows all about it, but prefers the fits format as it's a clear standard in the field and amongst scientists. Given the time it takes to develop it won't be a priority at the moment, if ever unfortunately.

+1 on Panasonic RW2 and/or DNG support.  For some reason I have not been able to find a good converter to get TIFF from RW2.  It works OK for lights, but is not adequate for Bias or Darks.  So only able to stack the light frames...  RW2 to DNG converts with no problems.

Thanks, I understand we are all asking for specific needs, so I appreciate you are considering those and putting them in your backlog 🙂

Philippe

Posted by: benolry

Here is a sample of a Sony A7R mark 2 that is converted from Sony's own raw format to DNG without compression or embedded raw/thumbnail:

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Bqehukqlp7awqJtkBeVyYmx6xQ8k8b9Q

 

Best regards and clear skies,

 

Ben

Hi Ben @benolry.

Thank you, I have saved the file with my other DNG files that I have for testing. I will soon implement DNG support as the first step to open APP up for most Raw File formats using the Adobe DNG converter.

Mabula

Posted by: Hans

I would really like to see XISF support being added to APP.
The format is described and documented here <a href=" removed link " target="true"> removed link including reference C++ code.

-- Hans

Posted by: vincent-mod

Ah yes, Mabula knows all about it, but prefers the fits format as it's a clear standard in the field and amongst scientists. Given the time it takes to develop it won't be a priority at the moment, if ever unfortunately.

Hi Hans @hans and Vincent @vincent-mod,

Never say never 😉

but... Vincent is right, XISF support is very low on my ToDo list with respect to development priorities for several reasons:

first of all, XISF is actually only used by Pixinsight who created it. FITS can contain any data that XISF can. A Pixinsight user can simply convert it's XISF data to FITS without loss of data.
No camera maker or capture software supports XISF (as far as I know, let me know otherwise 😉 ) and most state clearly that FITS is the defacto standard in astronomy and that they will not change that. If camera makers were to use XISF over FITS, then the priority to implement XISF support would be of vital importance off course.
I have not seen any technical argument why XISF should be preferred over FITS for storage of astronomical data. FITS can store anything you want if you study the specification... including lossless data, graphs, multiple images etc... The astronomical community worldwide has been using FITS for decades now, the specification has grown significantly and it is actively maintained and used by NASA. Off course, if anyone knows of a feature of XISF that FITS can't deal with, let me know 😉 I like to be surprised.
Last but not least, my current development list is very long with features to implement that APP is currently still lacking and which are needed in a lot cases to make APP a complete solution to process Deep Sky images.

So in due time, XISF support can be implemented, but as it is right now, I see no critical need to implement this before other critical features since XISF data can always simply be converted to FITS.

Kind regards,

Mabula

Posted by: philippe.deschenes@gmail.com

+1 on Panasonic RW2 and/or DNG support.  For some reason I have not been able to find a good converter to get TIFF from RW2.  It works OK for lights, but is not adequate for Bias or Darks.  So only able to stack the light frames...  RW2 to DNG converts with no problems.

Thanks, I understand we are all asking for specific needs, so I appreciate you are considering those and putting them in your backlog 🙂

Philippe

Hi Philippe @philippe-deschenesgmail-com,

Thank you, yes I am making the implementation of Adobe DNG support a high priority now 😉 so I hope to have this as part of APP soon now.

Kind regards,

Mabula

I sent some more Canon and Nikon people your way. I am looking forward to when .dng is supported.

Also, I can definitely supply you with lights, darks, flats, and bias for the Pentax K1, K3, K5, and K-01. I'm thinking of adding a Kp, and I am getting my K1 updated to a K1ii, and if all goes will I will get my own 645z, though I still have some files left from where I borrowed it from a friend.

Hi Mabula, I just bought APP and didn't realize it doesn't support DNG yet, but glad to see its imminent. A further wrinkle is that Pentax DNG format does not include the forward colour conversion matrix so I believe an inversion has to be performed on the matrix they supply. Anyway, are you addressing this Pentax anomaly ? - it seems no other astro processor out there is, including my beloved Nebulosity 🙁 However I continue to use Pentax (K-5II) because it has such a good sensor.

Any idea of when the 1.074.2 version will be released?  I really like this software, but I can't drop 130 Euros on software that requires me to convert my Olympus RAW (.ORF) files to TIFF files as the first step in processing.  Too much trouble, and too much disk space.

Thanks.

P.S.  A modest suggestion:  as you add new camera RAW capabilities, issue interim beta versions.  

Mabula is working on supporting more formats and I think this should be easier as well with the libraw support it has now. I don't have details on the roadmap for this, I do know a new version is currently in the works.

I am using APP on a trial basis on a MAC and have only a few days to go on my trial licence.  So far I have not been successful in processing any picture yet.  I am on Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6.  When I open the working directory, which is on an external SDD (Samsung T5), APP does not show me any file.  The files are all Nikon .NEF taken with a Nikon D850 camera, which is on the list of supported .NEF files.

Thanks for your help.

Best regards,

Kris  

I have been trying out other working directories on my hard drive that contain only .jpg files and the result is the same: 

no file appear under the working directory and on the bar "Files of Type" no selection is possible, no file types are shown. 

That's true, it's just a way to select the working directory. When you've set that, you can pick the images using the Lights button in tab 1.

@vincent-mod

Thanks Vincent.  That seems to wrok better now.  I managed to get the lights, the darks and the bias loaded.  Now will try out the next step.  Sorry for this type of beginners questions. 

No problem at all, we can learn from this as well and make it clearer if needed.

Hi all,

The soon to be released APP 1.076 will have much extended RAW file support, including Canon CR3, Pentax PEF, Olympus ORF, Panasonic RW2/RAW, LEICA RWL, RAW.

I am working now to get the first Beta release of APP 1.076 to be released as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Mabula

Canon R6 raw image:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18-fFsFojvU6hbdZbNIMWRWnIMTGz1ZA5/view?usp=sharing

How soon can we expect to get support for R5 and R6?

Thanks!