RAW download from fuji X20 to Macbook Pro Sierra turns muddy

[Rob-F]

RAW download from fuji X20 to Macbook Pro Sierra turns muddy

After downloading a RAW file from the X20 to my Macbook, the color looks good for one or two seconds and then turns dark and muddy. This does not happen with RAW files (or JPEGS) from my M9, D-Lux 6, or Fuji X100. I tried switching the computer's color profile from apple RGB to sRGB but it didn't make much difference.

Any ideas?

 

[jarski]

How do you view it? Mac Finder? Adobe Bridge is free app to browse files, specifically good with photos and videos.

 

[Forest_rain]

Can you post an example? It could be that it is misreading the lens correction profile and applying bad corrections to your image. The RAW file sometimes either embeds the lens correction which is then applied or uses lens correction profile from the computer.

Maybe try disabling lens/color corrections on your camera and see if that helps.

Whats making me think that is because you say that it seems to be automatically applying some sort of correction after you load the image.

I envy those who can shoot Raw, I don’t have the disk space or patience to edit raw files. All my raw files just sit on my computer for years, hogging space. And I get frustrated because I have to convert them if I want to post them online.

My friend who shoots raw produces amazing landscapes with editing, but it takes him months to post anything and people complain about it 😛

 

[Rob-F]

I've been through all the menus on the X20, without ever seeing anything about lens corrections.

Also, I don't suppose there is any mismatch between the camera's color profile and the computer's profile, since to the best of my knowledge a RAW file doesn't have a color profile, e.g., Adobe RGB or sRBG, etc. Nevertheless, I tried changing the computer's color profile, which had been on apple RGB, to sRBG. It looked a little different, maybe better, but it still suddenly snaps from decent color to muddy. In contrasty outdoor shots, the highlights stay good, and the darker areas get darker.

I never saw this happen at all with downloads form my other cameras.

 

[emayoh]

Have you viewed the embedded JPG side-by-side with your raw render?

 

[Forest_rain]

Seems like the person on this forum was having a similar issue. Try selecting a different Fuji color profile as documented there, he used Adobe bridge and it looks like it was not applying the fuji profile correctly:

https://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/3089-loading-fuji-raw-files-into-photoshop-bridge/

Hope that helps.

I've been through all the menus on the X20, without ever seeing anything about lens corrections.

Also, I don't suppose there is any mismatch between the camera's color profile and the computer's profile, since to the best of my knowledge a RAW file doesn't have a color profile, e.g., Adobe RGB or sRBG, etc. Nevertheless, I tried changing the computer's color profile, which had been on apple RGB, to sRBG. It looked a little different, maybe better, but it still suddenly snaps from decent color to muddy. In contrasty outdoor shots, the highlights stay good, and the darker areas get darker.

I never saw this happen at all with downloads form my other cameras.

 

[Rob-F]

Have you viewed the embedded JPG side-by-side with your raw render?

Yes. The JPEG looks fine, and the RAW has the problem I described.

 

[Rob-F]

Seems like the person on this forum was having a similar issue. Try selecting a different Fuji color profile as documented there, he used Adobe bridge and it looks like it was not applying the fuji profile correctly:

https://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/3089-loading-fuji-raw-files-into-photoshop-bridge/

Hope that helps.

Yes, that sounds quite similar. I'm not familiar with Bridge, but I get the same result described in your link.

 

[Rob-F]

I tried installing a new memory card and formatting it. That made no difference.

Just now I tried downloading by using the USB tether cord instead of putting the card in the macbook's card reader. Aperture recognized there was a download waiting to happen; but no images appeared on the screen. Putting the card in the reader, it worked the usual way, with the usual problem.

The darkening happens only after I click on the thumbnail to view it. Until then, the thumbnail looks normal. Sort of like Schroedinger's cat. Not dead until you look.

One more thing: Once the image is finalized, Aperture displays, " Proofing profile: Adobe RBG (1998)" with the thumbnail. Is that a clue? The camera is supposed to be sRGB only. It doesn't give you a choice. But then, I don't think RAW files have a color profile, do they?

Edit/Update: I was able to change the proof profile to sRGB. No improvement. It does the same thing.

 

[willie_901]

I'm not clear on what application you are using to view these raw files.

 

[Bill Clark]

the image is finalized, Aperture displays, " Proofing profile: Adobe RBG (1998)

Try setting Aperture to adobe sRGB.

 

[santino]

Yeah, in MacOs you should get a preview in finder by selecting the file and pressing space.

 

[lcpr]

The colours in the thumbnail are from the embedded jpg that the camera creates. When a raw developer opens the RAF file it will interpret the raw data without any of the camera’s settings applied to it. If you want to keep the same look you’ll have to tell your raw developing software to use the camera’s profile. Since you use Aperture I doubt it has it, to get around that I suggest doing your conversions in Fuji’s software and then exporting a TIFF file to aperture for your archive/further processing.

 

[Rob-F]

I'm not clear on what application you are using to view these raw files.

Apple Aperture 3.0

 

[Rob-F]

Try setting Aperture to adobe sRGB.

I did that. I had high hopes that this must be the answer. Nope. Same thing.