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IPTC Writeback for RAW files?

NN214646UL11
Hi,

I have a trial copy I'm wanting to upgrade to a licensed copy and have a quick question -- How does CaptureOne deal with changes to IPTC metadata? does CaptureOne write back changed IPTC / keyword / etc. data directly to the RAW files? or to a sidecar file? or somewhere else?

I'm comparing CaptureOne to Capture NX2 because both are so much better than Lightroom for rendering my RAW files. Capture NX2 can write back to the RAW files, Lightroom cannot, and instead stores your changed IPTC metadata in its own database. That's not what I want, I want as few separate information stores as possible and want it stored directly in the raw file, complete w/ changes.

I like CaptureOne's raw rendering even better than CaptureNX2's (not day and night like both are vs. Lightroom, but I can see a nice difference nonetheless, CaptureOne is really living up to its reputation) and would like to use CaptureOne for initial raw file processing but this IPTC writeback is an important consideration for me.

Thanks,
Robert
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Paul Steunebrink
    To cut a long story short, Capture One (and in general all 3rd party raw converters) do NOT write to the raw files at all as a safety precaution to maintain its integrity. This is due to the proprietary format of the file. Only camera manufacturers write to their own file in - again - a proprietary fashion. If that works for you, than its great but it is a closed eco-system.

    Capture One can read metadata like IPTC and XMP (both embedded or not) and stores this plus any metadata edits into its adjustments file. All metadata is processed with the file to its output (JPEG or TIFF file).
    Note that from CO 5.1 onwards, all DSLR files can be packaged to a EIP package to glue raw file and adjustment file together for transmission, although that is not what you're after.
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  • Drew Altdo
    Clarification on "EIP":
    http://xchange.phaseone.com/content/sup ... nguageid=1
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  • NN214646UL11
    Drew,

    Thanks. I'll probably have more questions about EIP later.

    Paul,

    Thanks for the explanation. Regarding the closed eco-system you're right, but in reality every software product I know of has some proprietary parts to it. Unless you're doing 'least common denominator' you have to be proprietary to provide really advanced, differentiated functionality. The clear advantage to writing changes to the raw file is that every program including CaptureOne can read IPTC metadata from a single source of truth. That's very powerful. Otherwise you're dealing with sidecar files you have to keep co-located with the raw, or you're moving away from raw entirely. Writing back to the RAW file gives you any of those choices as well.

    For me personally, I have no problem using Capture NX2 for IPTC metadata, then CaptureOne for raw processing then Lightroom for file management if that means I end up with the best image with the least hassle overall. IPTC and Keywording is enough of a pain for me that I'd rather do it in one place first in my workflow, then do the more fun work experimenting with the image.
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  • Drew Altdo
    Just thought I'd offer my .02...

    Writing to a RAW is a dangerous suggestion and a slippery slope. At what point does your RAW stop becoming your original file and start becoming a bloated perversion of its once true self?
    Although there are certainly convenience advantages to your purposed method, no amount of convenience is ever worth the risk of losing your hard earned RAW file to corruption. In my view a RAW file is the same as a Negative and I would NEVER condone anyone or anything messing with my one and only Negative, it's simply too valuable. Then again, I'm a purist when it comes to photography and, yes, I still shoot film.
    Sure it can be argued that one can copy/backup your RAWs but what it really comes down to is a simple philosophy (IMO). Your RAWs should be your RAW Captures and that's it, no ifs, ands or buts. You always need a base to go back to and if that base capture is changed then what are you starting from?
    Really, the hassle of a sidecar file is well worth it to keep RAW safe and sound.
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  • NN214646UL11
    Agreed, certainly in principle. From what I understand there are three sections of a raw file - preview jpeg, metadata and image data. From the little I've looked into it, those sections seem to be containered, though you undoubtedly know better than I do. So replacing metadata doesn't concern me as much as overwriting core image data. For a camera manufacturer to write its own raw files makes some sense given that they invented their raw format. But you're right, even then there's a very small risk of data corruption. But truthfully it's very small risk. Especially if you're writing back only IPTC and keyword metadata and not the core image data.

    Where CaptureOne really shines from what I've seen is interpreting those raw files and rendering them so beautifully wrt color mappings. It's very accurate. Lightroom and ACR re-render my raw previews and impart a very bad color cast in the magenta direction that I just can't completely get rid of. Capture NX2 has a veeerrry slight color cast in a more green direction, but it's hardly noticeable. CaptureOne renders beautiful -- and to me perfect or near-perfect -- color. It does a wonderful job. If it has to use a sidecar file to achieve that, so be it. Thankfully its TIFFs are self-contained and that really addresses my main concern wrt transferring multiple files around.
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  • Drew Altdo
    Are there different parts that make up a RAW? Sure.
    Is editing some easier/safer than others? Sure.
    Are you opening Pandora's box? ... In my opinion? Sure.
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