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Capture One 8 Display default

Scott Mitchell
Hello All,

Im running into an issue with the display of my images. Was looking for some help to see how to fix.

What I've noticed is that an image taken through capture one displays different color settings than what the camera is capturing. I understand setting white balance on camera and in the software, and how to reset all adjustment settings but the raw file looks different than what I see in the capture one software. Could someone please help me figure out how to just display what the raw file is capturing? Seems like a simple task but I can't seem to figure it out.

Thanks,
Scott
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Paul Steunebrink
    Hi Scott,

    I am not sure I understand the question, but I will do my best to answer. First, how do you view your raw file (besides from Capture One)? Second, the look of a raw image is not fixed, because it is raw, which means not yet processed.

    A raw image can only be viewed with software on the computer's monitor. Capture One is such a kind of software.
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  • Scott Mitchell
    Hello Paul,

    Thanks for getting back to me. I also view my files with Photoshop CC in Camera Raw. This is where I see the difference. I have attached a screen shot of both viewers. Left is Camera Raw for photoshop and right is Capture One.

    I guess my main question would be, can I view just simply the raw shot in capture one? As you can see, the colors are different between the two. Our workflow is set up that the retouchers receive IIQ files that are in the capture folder without any adjustments and work those files. The problem that I run into is that what I am seeing on my "calibrated" monitor is different than what the retouchers are seeing on their end through photoshop. BTW, I like exporting tiffs but I've been scoffed at for compressing the raw info.

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/grouch0/ScreenShot2014-09-30at125343PM_zpsa9f30d43.png
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  • Scott Mitchell
    BTW, if you drag the image to photoshop it will view uncropped. Sorry for that.
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  • Ian Wilson
    Moderator
    Top Commenter
    I think what you mean is that what Camera Raw shows you is different from what Capture One shows you. But whether what you see in Camera Raw is the true appearance of the raw file is perhaps doubtful. What you have in your raw file is the data that the camera's sensor captured. You then need to turn that into a photograph that has the appearance you want. I don't really use Camera Raw other than having dabbled a bit with Lightroom (didn't like it as much as Capture One!).

    But Capture One does apply some characteristics to the raw file in generating a picture to show on your screen. If you look at the Base Characteristics tool on the Colour tool tab, you'll see that you can choose between things like Auto, Linear, Film Standard, and so on. By default you don't get Linear, which may be more like why you are thinking of as the "real" raw file (if such a thing makes sense) but it is unlikely that it would give you a photo you would want to use without any adjustment. I think you can set Linear to be the default if you really want to. The "base characteristics" curve that Capture One applies is just a starting point to get you started. I've sometimes payed around with two variants of the same raw file and applied different base characteristics to them, then tried to see which gives me the result I prefer, or whether I can start from different base characteristics and still end up with a similar-looking final image through the adjustments I make to each one.

    Surely the thing in the end is the output image you get, and whether you start from the way Camera Raw displays it at first, or the way Capture One displays it at first, you'll have to do some things to it to get it looking the way you want.

    More about base characteristics here.

    Ian
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  • Scott Mitchell
    Thank you Ian,

    You are correct in rephrasing my statement that Camera Raw shows differently than Capture One. Which is my point to why I would like to see what the camera's sensor is capturing through Capture One without any of the defaults that it attaches.

    I tried a test by applying the linear curve and all it does is darken the displayed image, it does not effect the raw image. For that matter, any adjustment that is done in Capture One software does NOT directly effect the raw image (to my knowledge). If white balance is set "in camera" it will transfer that info to the actual raw data and effect the displayed image in Capture One.

    Im trying not to beat a dead horse with this question, so feel free to tell me to quit while I'm ahead and just accept the fact that what Capture One Pro displays is always going to look different than what the actual raw file is capturing...
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  • SFA
    [quote="Scott Mitchell" wrote:


    Im trying not to beat a dead horse with this question, so feel free to tell me to quit while I'm ahead and just accept the fact that what Capture One Pro displays is always going to look different than what the actual raw file is capturing...


    Scott,

    The RAW file is just data and maybe an embedded preview (often a jpg) which will have been produced in camera using the camera's image 'style' settings or default values set by the camera's design engineers.

    Whether that is "right" or "wrong" is a matter of personal preference, which is why the camera manufacturers allow people set their own values in camera - usually to make something for people who prefer to use jpgs from the device rather than have to edit starting with RAW files.

    All RAW converters will be doing the same thing but using their own interpretations of the data in the file (different methods and settings, perhaps, depending on the product design philosophy). There is nothing to say flat out that one is right and another is not but most will apply some sort of enhancement, just as the manufacturers do to their in camera jpgs, as a default setting.

    The nearest you will get to an un-enhanced file in C1 would be to use the Linear Base Characteristics as already suggested. There is more to it than just looking darker although that is one of the effects of removing the initial interpretation. Most people most of the time prefer to have some extra tweaking in the interpretation of the RAW data to save them having to make such changes themselves to get an image that appeals to them. (Of course what appeals to one person's taste may not appeal to others ... and there are clear basic preferences differences in different parts of the world.)

    It may be worth observing that White Balance is itself an interpretation by the camera systems and in combination with the sensor design and technology for use as information or as an adjustment in jpg output (including the quick view thumbnail in the RAW file). It is not necessarily an accurate value. Indeed many images are shot in situations where there are multiple light temperature values in play so one overall value could be seen as a compromise anyway.

    Any colour RAW displayed after initial interpretation will have some form of WB setting applied over the top of the RAW data. Conversion programs are not expected to always use the same values so results can vary from application to application on that basis alone.

    In effect you will never see anything that you might be thinking of as "what the RAW file is actually capturing". The information always has to be interpreted, as with all data, to create something that is "human readable form". Abobe Camera Raw, when making a RAW file interpretation, will be going through very similar processes to Capture One - or any other RAW file converter. They may well look different in various details but that is not to say either is right or wrong though you may prefer the results of one over the other for your specific purposes.

    There is no reason, of course, why should not use different programs for different looks if that is what you need to do to get what you want. Many people do just that.

    HTH.



    Grant
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  • Mark Gordon
    We are running into this problem as well and just can't believe the two can be so wildly different. Opening the same file in C1 and Adobe RAW- no settings applied, even "reset" the image in both programs to be sure. Images were shot with strobe in studio on various colored backgrounds, gray cards captured throughout the shoot. We have swatches of the seamless that we are matching in post - the particular image I'm looking at now was shot on blue and C1's rendering isn't even close. It's important for our clients to see a representation on set that is at least somewhat close in color - if there is some setting we're missing here (and none of the options in base characteristics are the answer), please advise.
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  • Paul Steunebrink
    [quote="G101" wrote:
    We are running into this problem as well and just can't believe the two can be so wildly different. Opening the same file in C1 and Adobe RAW- no settings applied, even "reset" the image in both programs to be sure.

    The point is that there is a difference between any two programs, by default, and by their respective design. If you have read the posts in this thread you might get (or have gotten) a better understanding of the issue.

    The real issue is how to get an image on screen while shooting with the client watching. In CO8 there is a wealth of tools, which once applied, can be automatically carried over to the next shot. I think this thread better should be heading in that direction. As long as you still comparing two programs and there respective interpretation of raw data, you are going to make any progress.
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  • Mark Gordon
    Sorry, but you managed to skirt the question all together. Lets take Adobe out of the equation:

    The real issue is getting an image on screen while shooting with the client watching that somewhat accurately depicts what we are looking at - ex: a royal blue background with hints of purple, not a light blue background. Why is C1's color rendering so inaccurate from what is right in front of us, in studio, in a controlled lighting situation? Why do we have to apply settings to correct C1's flawed RAW "interpretation?"
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  • SFA
    G101,

    I think what Paul was suggesting is that to deal with the question of how to adjust something to suit a need one has to know what parameters one is dealing with. Which camera, which file types and what default settings are in play. Absent that it's a bit difficult to identify a potential "flaw" if there is one (and there might be of course) and a way to fix the perceived problem as per the original question.

    Your description of your specific case seems to suggest that things are so bad that the application is unusable and that seems to be unlikely as an experience that all will be sharing. The level of complaints would surely be enormous if it were so.

    When there is a real and evident problem that is not readily amended a support case with Phase One would be the obvious next step.

    HTH.

    Grant.
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