Found iPad app to develop DNG files

[Timmyjoe]

Found this on Adobe's site where they talk about their App "PhotoSmith" which syncs with Lightroom and is made for organizing and light editing of images on the iPad.

"Leica RAW
At this time, we do not recommend using Photosmith (or the iPad) with Leica DNG raw files unless you shoot RAW+JPG. Apple’s support for Leica’s DNG format is very weak and in most cases will display only a 320×216 thumbnail as it’s largest size. This is because the DNG format that Leica shoots doesn’t contain as much information as other raw formats and in most cases, not enough for the iPad to be able to generate a full screen preview. Since Photosmith relies on Apple’s RAW handling, we are limited by Apple’s support.

However, if you shoot RAW+JPG then we combine both files together to extract all the information we need to display a large preview (up to the max size of the JPG you shoot). In all cases, even if you can’t see a large preview, you can still rate, tag, keyword, etc. and when you sync with LR we’ll sync all the files over including the DNGs."

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

I found that if I shoot DNG + JPEG(Basic) I can load the images on my iPad 1 with the Camera Connection Kit. Did not find a difference between the JPEG(Basic) and the JPEG(Fine) at least with my iPad. I can then go through all my pics when I am on the road and sort out the good from the bad.

No problem loading the DNG and the JPEG from the iPad onto my MacPro with Aperture 2, when I get back home.

Only drawback that I've found so far is that it takes the camera longer to process each shot compared to when I just had DNG selected. But DNG + JPEG(Basic) only adds about 1.9 MB to each image, on top of the 10.5 MB that the DNG file takes up. So it's not too bad.

Plan on using SnapSeed for minor editing of the JPGs on the iPad before sending them off to my editor. Was considering FilterStorm Pro until I read all the negative reviews of the latest update of the software. Have always had good results with the software from Nik, so I hope SnapSeed is the same.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

Just got back from a road trip with the M8.2, the iPad 1, the Camera Connection Kit, and SnapSeed and I can report from first hand experience it all worked quite well.

Shot DMG+JPEG(Basic) with the M8.2 and everything loaded no problem onto the iPad and opened with no problems with SnapSeed.

I can now leave my MacBook Air at home. Yeah!!

Best,
-Tim

 

[mugget]

Okay - unfortunately it seems like nothing can properly process plain DNG. I tried a few shots to see if it would work, but no luck - only small thumbnails in all apps and when viewed in photo library.

So there's the limitation - like others have already found you need DNG + JPG to use the iPad as your mobile solution.

Also I was using DNG + JPG B&W. On iPad this only allows you to use the B&W photos. You can still get your color photos from the DNG on a computer, I was trying this out as a way to quickly see what photos may look good as B&W. But if you want color photos on your iPad you must set it to Color not B&W.

All up it's not a true raw solution I suppose, but for the convenicece of traveling light it's great.

I have been trying to batch upload do Flickr from Filterstorm Pro but I think I may have dodgy WiFi because it says it's timing out... Anyway I'll keep trying on that and post back with my findings.

 

[jaapv]

I'm gobsmacked by this thread. Why don't you guys use the app that was developed specifically for M8 and M9 DNG files?😕😕

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photoraw/id413899112?mt=8

Okay - unfortunately it seems like nothing can properly process plain DNG. I tried a few shots to see if it would work, but no luck - only small thumbnails in all apps and when viewed in photo library.

So there's the limitation - like others have already found you need DNG + JPG to use the iPad as your mobile solution.

Also I was using DNG + JPG B&W. On iPad this only allows you to use the B&W photos. You can still get your color photos from the DNG on a computer, I was trying this out as a way to quickly see what photos may look good as B&W. But if you want color photos on your iPad you must set it to Color not B&W.

All up it's not a true raw solution I suppose, but for the convenicece of traveling light it's great.

I have been trying to batch upload do Flickr from Filterstorm Pro but I think I may have dodgy WiFi because it says it's timing out... Anyway I'll keep trying on that and post back with my findings.

 

[mugget]

Well, the thread was originally about PhotoRaw, but like I said earlier:

PhotoRaw looks like it has some really basic functionality - it does it's job, but there's other options that do the same thing with more comprehensive editing features and even batch/automation features. But kudos to the developers, you can be sure it will read Leica DNG files since it was developed by a Leica user for what seems to be exactly that purpose.

(Obviously my last post was incorrect, because PhotoRaw does handle plain old DNG files, but I'd already looked at that app and passed on it.)

To each their own, but I'd rather shoot DNG + JPG and be able to do batch editing and export/upload. Just because I'm on holiday doesn't mean I have time to individually edit and export hundreds of photos. But I do hope the developers of PhotoRaw take all this info onboard (I'm sure that I'm not alone in wanting some batch and direct upload options).

 

[jaapv]

Next gobsmack: Why try and use an iPad like a laptop?😕 Surely if you want to do some editing and need decent storage space (uncompressed M9 DNGs are not really small) a Macbook Air 11" is far more suitable?

 

[jaapv]

Well, the app has been completely reworked. have you looked at 3.3?

http://sites.google.com/site/iphotoraw/home

 

[furcafe]

Because you don't necessarily always want the extra functionality of a laptop.

Sure, if you're on an assignment or doing a workshop, a laptop or notebook makes a lot more sense for serious editing (or if you're the type that always travels w/a laptop/notebook, anyway), but if you're on vacation & just want to work on a few files to send to friends or post on a blog, the iPad can be a workable substitute. Certainly better than doing it on an iPhone.

I intend to roadtest PhotoRaw & Snapseed on vacation next week (fingers crossed).

Next gobsmack: Why try and use an iPad like a laptop?😕 Surely if you want to do some editing and need decent storage space (uncompressed M9 DNGs are not really small) a Macbook Air 11" is far more suitable?

 

[Timmyjoe]

Next gobsmack: Why try and use an iPad like a laptop?😕 Surely if you want to do some editing and need decent storage space (uncompressed M9 DNGs are not really small) a Macbook Air 11" is far more suitable?

Simple, because I currently have an iPad and don't currently have an 11" MacBook Air. Sure the Air is a better solution but money is tight and I need a solution right now, and Snapseed on the iPad provides that.

When I have saved up enough to purchase an 11" MacBook Air I will use that solution.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

Well, the app has been completely reworked. have you looked at 3.3?

http://sites.google.com/site/iphotoraw/home

While I think it is really exciting that someone developed a program that would allow the viewing and adjusting of the DNG images that are produced with the Leica M8 and M9, in my time using the PhotoRaw program on my first generation iPad, I found it to be unacceptably slow.

I need to be able to send my editor jpg images for the newspaper and their web sites, usually up to forty or fifty images from the different events I cover for them. Using SnapSeed is far less time consuming than using PhotoRaw. It would take me hours to do in PhotoRaw what takes about twenty minutes to do in SnapSeed. And since I keep the images on my card after loading them onto my iPad, I can offload them onto my MacPro computer once I return home, and then I have the DNG files to work with for printing and archiving.

I would love it if PhotoRaw worked faster on the iPad, but maybe processing DNG files with the iPad processor is the bottleneck. SnapSeed only works with the JPG images, maybe that is why it is much faster.

Best,
-Tim

 

[jaapv]

Well, then I revert to my second question: when you are doing this professionally why are you using an iPad for something it is not designed for?😕
A Macbook Air 11 is hardly larger or heavier and there are a number of small laptops that are suitable as well. I have an old Amoi 10" that works just fine with CS4 and Bridge. Quite a nice display too, once I had calibrated it.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Well, then I revert to my second question: when you are doing this professionally why are you using an iPad for something it is not designed for?😕
A Macbook Air 11 is hardly larger or heavier and there are a number of small laptops that are suitable as well. I have an old Amoi 10" that works just fine with CS4 and Bridge. Quite a nice display too, once I had calibrated it.

Again Jaap, it's about what I have. Freelance photojournalism is not extremely lucrative at the moment, and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. I don't have an 11" Macbook Air at this time, nor any other small laptop. I do have a first generation iPad and I need to make that work for the time being. Hopefully by late spring or early summer I will be able to afford to pick up a MacBook Air or something similar.

If you got an extra MacBook Air laying around you're not using, send it my way, would be happy to put it to use. But as of right now, I got to use what I can get my hands on.

Best,
-Tim

 

[jaapv]

You don't need to buy a new one...

 

[Timmyjoe]

Can't afford any right now. But I will save up and eventually buy a new one as I use my equipment pretty hard, and having the warranty, etc. is really important to me.

Best,
-Tim

 

[mugget]

Next gobsmack: Why try and use an iPad like a laptop?😕 Surely if you want to do some editing and need decent storage space (uncompressed M9 DNGs are not really small) a Macbook Air 11" is far more suitable?

Now come on...
Yeah the developers of PhotoRaw must be pretty silly for making an app for iOS. 🙄

I'm not trying to use my iPad as a laptop, I'm try to use it as an iPad. I still condsider it a new technology (it's only the 2nd iteration), so no doubt the capabilities will improve as far as hardware goes and that will allow apps like PhotoRaw to perform even better. No point in having a laptop if you don't need it - and I don't. It's just that some apps work better than others right now for what I need. To be fair I purchased PhotoRaw (I thought it would seem a bit strange for a Leica user to complain about the price of a $10-15 app) and its not unbearably slow, but for me batch processing wins hands down. Batch processing for DNG's will come, it's just a matter of time.

 

[zwarte_kat]

Draw a line of current developments, extend it towards the future, see where you get.

Draw a line of current developments, extend it towards the future, see where you get.

Well, then I revert to my second question: when you are doing this professionally why are you using an iPad for something it is not designed for?😕
A Macbook Air 11 is hardly larger or heavier and there are a number of small laptops that are suitable as well. I have an old Amoi 10" that works just fine with CS4 and Bridge. Quite a nice display too, once I had calibrated it.

Tablet devices like the ipad will replace laptops in the near future for all applications expect some high end computing purposes. Photography is not one of these high end purposes.

I am right now at a shoot where we are for the first time using ipads to manage 10.000s of 16MP photographs coming from 4 studio setups shooting 5000 products from multiple angles (within 2 weeks). Everything goes to the cloud, everything is searchable, including live preview results, on the ipad.

As we further develop this workflow, the ipad will be used for image adjustments and batch output. The ipad will control the camera (including live preview) and the images will shoot straight to the cloud. We plan to stop using laptops altogether before the end of the year. We will JUST USE IPADS AND CAMERAS. Cloud computing makes it possible.

Is this professional enough for you?

The ipad 3 is about to be released and will have a display that is a higher resolution than most peoples laptops. Ipads are being used professionally already all over the place, and it will only increase.

Or, to answer your question in short: Because we are ahead of the curve.

Maybe a more controversial question would be: How much will dedicated PHOTO CAMERAS still be used for professional applications in a few years? 😛

 

[jaapv]

Well, I am unable to use tablet devices for the little semiprowork I do (i.e. wildlife in inaccessible locations) as sattelite Internet connections are too expensive and impractical to use for cloud computing. Horses for courses. Laptop and tablet technology are converging anyway, so in a few years time this discussion will be wholly obsolete. I believe the Macbook Air is an indication of future development. After all, it combines the portability of a tablet with the stand-alone capabilities of a laptop.

 

[zwarte_kat]

That sounds like interesting work.
I think the Air is an intermediate, like the Toyota Prius (Though I know or care little about cars), but in these times very useful.

The Ipad is more of a future indicator I believe, because it's interface is truly digital and and be adjusted in any way. Laptops are still too much like type writers. I am looking at a rather large timeline though. There is no reason to adjust personal purchases to such a far outlook. I just wanted to say that the ipad's professional applications shouldn't be easily dismissed, because those will part of the very near future (the present, even).

Same thing about DSLRs I believe BTW, I think they will disappear, because they are still too analog. They are an intermediate solution.

 

[EXksporry]

Has anyone considered (or tried) the new Adobe photoshop Touch app?? It won't work for 1st Gen iPads, and it doesn't handle RAW at the moment (I don't get this, how pointless is that?)