Doug Kerr
Well-known member
My Panasonic DMC-FZ1000 camera came with a customized version of Silkypix Developer Studio, a "raw developer" published by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory. This version will only open files tagged as coming from one of a long list of Panasonic cameras (but see below on overcoming that limitation).
Although it is billed as a "raw developer". it is perfectly happy (subject to the above limitation, of course) to load a JPG file and perform all its available operations on it.
Of particular interest is that its very flexible set of color correction tools (including those for "white balance") can be applied to a JPG file. Of course we all hear that it is not possible to do as thorough a job of white balance color correction on a JPG file as on a raw file, but Silkypix does not seem to understand that.
Included is an eyedropper for fingering a known neutral object in the scene, a tool rarely available in other image processing software when working on a JPG file.
The program provides for image rotation and for cropping, and as well for perspective adjustment. It is not an all-purpose image editor, and so has no provision for layers, objects, masking, and the like.
All its operations are done on a "nondestructive" basis, leaving the victim file unchanged but capturing a recipe for all changes in a separate file. But of course the edited image (called a "scene") can be turned into a new file. That operation is in fact described as "developing". There are extensive provisions for controlling the parameters of a new file (JPEG "quality", for example. The image can also be resized (I haven't yet looked into the subtleties of that).
When working from an eligible Panasonic raw file, the program automatically apples corrections for geometric distortion, vignetting, and lateral chromatic aberration from a database of lens profiles. These adjustments can also be applied, on a manual basic, when working from a JPG file. (The JPG files from the Panasonic cameras have already been adjusted in-camera.)
As we might imagine from its slightly corny name, this is a really Japanese program. However, the English language user interface is quite clear.
There is an extensive user manual (online), which only here and there breaks into "Japlish". In fact, as is often the case with "really Japanese" software, often the descriptions are refreshingly candid. It is refreshing to see what is usually called "white balance" more accurately described as "gray balance".
I am reticent to suggest the purchase of the regular version of this program because of the cost. For the latest vintage, Version 6, for the "standard version" (there is also a "pro" version), the cost is about 135.00 USD (235.00 USD for the Pro version). I can upgrade to the Standard Version 6 from my custom Panasonic-only version (version 4.3) for 82.50 USD.
But it may in fact be possible to download the Panasonic-only version free and run it (I don't yet know for sure).
Can it be used to work on files from other cameras? Yes, by temporarily transplanting the metadata from a suitable Panasonic camera file (after saving the original metadata, if we want that to survive the whole scenario).
Best regards,
Doug
Although it is billed as a "raw developer". it is perfectly happy (subject to the above limitation, of course) to load a JPG file and perform all its available operations on it.
Of particular interest is that its very flexible set of color correction tools (including those for "white balance") can be applied to a JPG file. Of course we all hear that it is not possible to do as thorough a job of white balance color correction on a JPG file as on a raw file, but Silkypix does not seem to understand that.
Included is an eyedropper for fingering a known neutral object in the scene, a tool rarely available in other image processing software when working on a JPG file.
The program provides for image rotation and for cropping, and as well for perspective adjustment. It is not an all-purpose image editor, and so has no provision for layers, objects, masking, and the like.
All its operations are done on a "nondestructive" basis, leaving the victim file unchanged but capturing a recipe for all changes in a separate file. But of course the edited image (called a "scene") can be turned into a new file. That operation is in fact described as "developing". There are extensive provisions for controlling the parameters of a new file (JPEG "quality", for example. The image can also be resized (I haven't yet looked into the subtleties of that).
When working from an eligible Panasonic raw file, the program automatically apples corrections for geometric distortion, vignetting, and lateral chromatic aberration from a database of lens profiles. These adjustments can also be applied, on a manual basic, when working from a JPG file. (The JPG files from the Panasonic cameras have already been adjusted in-camera.)
As we might imagine from its slightly corny name, this is a really Japanese program. However, the English language user interface is quite clear.
There is an extensive user manual (online), which only here and there breaks into "Japlish". In fact, as is often the case with "really Japanese" software, often the descriptions are refreshingly candid. It is refreshing to see what is usually called "white balance" more accurately described as "gray balance".
I am reticent to suggest the purchase of the regular version of this program because of the cost. For the latest vintage, Version 6, for the "standard version" (there is also a "pro" version), the cost is about 135.00 USD (235.00 USD for the Pro version). I can upgrade to the Standard Version 6 from my custom Panasonic-only version (version 4.3) for 82.50 USD.
But it may in fact be possible to download the Panasonic-only version free and run it (I don't yet know for sure).
Can it be used to work on files from other cameras? Yes, by temporarily transplanting the metadata from a suitable Panasonic camera file (after saving the original metadata, if we want that to survive the whole scenario).
Best regards,
Doug