2. Designating image files for processing
To perform RAW data processing on SILKYPIX , first designate an image file (RAW / JPEG / TIFF / DNG) for processing.
There are two methods for designating image files: in file units or in folder units.
You can designate files on dialogs and through drag and drop.
You can designate folders from the “Folder” sub-control, from the history up to that point and through drag and drop.
There is also a way to add image files for processing when other image files are already designated for processing.
If image files and folders are designated for new processing, image files that had been set for processing to that point will automatically be closed.
If you designate image files and folders through the method for adding image files for processing, the newly designated image files will be added to the image files for processing to that point.
2.1. Select
When you start SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11, it starts with the Select section selected first.
In the Select section, you can display screennail image or thumbnail image included in the imported image data to display the preview at high speed.
Open files, Marks, Ratings, and Filtering images, are shared between the Select and Adjustment sections.
This can be useful for purposes such as checking the composition and focus of a photograph as you cycle through images, setting Ratings and Marks for the images you want to adjust.
The display modes and file operation in the Select section are identical to those in the Adjustment section.
See “3. Display modes” for details on the display modes and frame manipulation, and “8. File Operation and Printing” for file operation.
For an overview of each section, see “0.2. Section”.
2.1.1. Preview and thumbnail display
In the Select section, the preview and thumbnail display are displayed only if the following conditions are true:
- RAW images (*1) where screen and thumbnail images are stored
- JPEG/TIFF files
*1 Only RAW images of the cameras supported by SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11 can be displayed.
We cannot provide any further information on screennail or thumbnail images included in each manufacturer’s RAW images. Please be forewarned.
If there is no screennail image and only a thumbnail image exists, the thumbnail image is displayed in the preview display.
If there is no screennail or thumbnail image, a “?” icon is displayed on the preview or thumbnail display.
Note that the pixel size of the image displayed in the preview depends on the pixel size of the screennail or thumbnail image included in the image file, and the display pixel size is limited for high-speed display.
For this reason, the display magnification is not described in the preview display of the Select section.
Also, the Select section shows preview and thumbnail images without Development processing of SILKYPIX.
For this reason, the preview and thumbnail displays displayed in the Select section differ from the preview and thumbnail displays shown in the Adjustment section through development process of SILKYPIX.
2.1.2. Move to Adjustment section
To adjust the selected image and export it to a file, you need to go to the Adjustment section.
Switch to the Adjustment section by clicking the Adjustment button on the toolbar or choosing [View]-[Adjustment] from the menu.
You can also double-click a thumbnail in the Select section to switch to the adjustment section.
2.2. Opening File
2.2.1. Selecting from dialogs
This is a method for designating image files for processing in file units.
You can designate multiple files. You can also add files.
When you select [File (F)]-[Open File (O)] from the Menu, the “Open file” dialog will appear.
You can designate one or more image files for processing from the “Open file” dialog.
When selecting multiple image files for processing, do so while holding down either the [Shift] key or [Ctrl] key.
After selecting multiple files for processing, next designate whether they are for new processing or for adding to processing.
When the [Ctrl] key is pushed, the “Open (O)” button changes into an “Append (O)” button.
If adding, please click on the “Add and open (O)” button in this status.
If you click [Open (O)] button without clicking [Ctrl] key, the RAW data files is closed automatically which have been already loaded for processing.
And the RAW data files selected in this time is loaded instead of them.
2.2.2. Designating by drag and drop
This is a method for dropping image files for processing into SILKYPIX from a tool that files can be dragged from, such as Explorer or Finder.
If files that are not for processing are included, they cannot be dropped.
Multiple files can be designated. Files can also be added.
If you start dragging with a left drag, files dropped into SILKYPIX will be available for new processing.
Image files for processing up to that point will be automatically closed.
If you start dragging with a right drag, when you drop them into SILKYPIX a menu will appear for selecting the processing method.
You can select new processing, adding or cancel processing for the dropped files.
However, if there are no image files for processing up to that point, the menu will not appear and they will be processed as new processing.
2.3. Opening Folder
2.3.1. Selecting from the “Folder” sub-control
Open Folder function allows you to select and load the RAW data files from the specified folder.
All image files for processing in the designated folder will be processed. This will be designated as new processing, and image files for processing up to that point will be automatically closed.
When you select [View (V)]-[Folder] from the Menu or click on the icon, the “Folder” sub-control will be displayed in the Information Box.
Designate the folder with image files for editing from this screen.
Folder name edit box
The path for the selected folder is displayed. You can also edit these characters and designate a folder to open.“Select recent accessed folder” button
Designate a folder from the folder history. Please see “2.3.2. Selecting from folder history” for details.“Select subfolder” button
You can set whether subfolders will also be searched when reading. See “2.3.1.1. Load from Sub-folder” for details.“Update” button
This renews the folder display to the latest status. You can introduce media and reflect newly created folders on the display.Folders
Folders are displayed.
Select a folder by clicking on a folder. The selected folder is for new processing. Image files that had been processing to that time will be automatically closed. Also at that time, the selected folder will become the focus and the folder name will be circled.
If you hold down the [Ctrl] key and left click on a folder not on the focus, you can add that folder.
If you hold down the [Shift] key and left click on a folder not on the focus, you can select multiple folders that were left clicked while holding down the [Shift] from the folder of focus.
Additional folders cannot be designated subfolders. Only designated folders are referred.
The background of the folder name for the folder with files currently being read is white.
In addition, when you add an image for processing to a single folder that has been selected, the “Hot folder” function for adding thumbnails will automatically turn ON.
Please see “4.1.2.2. Hot folder” concerning the “Hot folder” function.
2.3.1.1. Load from Sub-folder
You can select whether subfolders within designated folders will also be searched with the “Designate subfolder” in “Open folder”.
By using this option, you can simultaneously designate image files dispersed and stored in multiple folders located hierarchically.
2.3.2. Selecting from folder history
You can select image files for processing in folder units from folder history to that point.
You can designate only one folder when designating files by this method.
You cannot add image files for processing. You can designate sub-folders.
There are two ways to make selections from folder history.
The first is to open [File (F)] from the menu and display a list of folder history at the bottom of the menu.
Another method is to click on the mark on the right side of the Folder Name Edit Box.
Use one of these methods to select one file from the list.
Furthermore, if you move the mouse cursor to the right edge of the menu, a submenu will appear.
You can designate subfolders from this submenu.
2.3.3. Assign Using Drag & Drop
This is a method for dropping a folder from tools that allow you to drag folders, such as Explorer and Finder, to SILKYPIX .
Only one folder can be dropped. If multiple folders are selected, they cannot be dropped. Furthermore, you cannot designate subfolders.
An error will be shown if a folder that does not include an image file for processing is dropped.
Drop folders that include an image file for processing.
If a drag begins as a left drag, the folder dropped to SILKYPIX will be subject to new processing.
Image files that had been subject to processing to that point will be automatically closed.
If a drag begins as a right drag, a menu will appear for selecting processing methods for that which was dropped to SILKYPIX .
You can choose new processing, adding or cancel processing of the dropped folder.
However, if there are no image files that had been subject to new processing to that point, the menu will not appear and it will be treated as being subject to new processing.
2.4. Import from media
After copying the image file from the SD card or other removable media to the PC, open it.
When SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 is running and you insert media such as an SD card, the “Import from media” dialog will appear. (*)
If media has already been inserted, select [File]-[Import from media…]. or click the icon on the toolbar
After making the following settings, click the [Import] button to copy the file from the source media.
* When the Print section is displayed, it is not available.
2.4.1. Basic settings
Source
Select the drive in which the source media is inserted.
Only removable disks are displayed.Destination
Specify the copy destination of the file.Folder
Specify the folder to be imported on the import source drive.Under DCIM folder
The target is in the “DCIM ” folder of the import source drive.
Images taken with a digital camera, etc. are usually recorded in the folder named “DCIM”, so select this when you want to target the entire shooting data.All folders
All folders on the drive specified in the import source are targeted.Under the specified folder
Target any folder on the import source drive.
File
Specify the file type to be imported.
If you select “All files”, in addition to RAW and JPEG, other types of files (video files, etc.) will also be imported.Eject media
After the import is complete, remove the removable media from the import source.Open the destination folder
After the import is complete, open the import destination folder.
If copied to multiple folders, the folder containing the last copied file will be opened.When file names are conflicted
Specify the processing when the same file name exists in the import destination
2.4.2. Sort
When the “Enable sorting files into folders” is checked, the program will create folders for the specified items and sort the corresponding images into them.
You can specify up to three levels of folders.
For example, let’s say you are importing SD cards that were taken between 2020/11/1 and 2020/12/31, and you specify Subfolder: “Date (YYYY)”, One level lower: “Date (MM)”, Two levels lower: “Date (DD)”.
In this case, folders “11” and “12” will be created under the “2020” folder, and folders “1”, “2”, and so on will be created under each folder for each date, and the images taken on each date will be copied.
As for the date, the date and time (Shooting date or File creation date) specified in “Date definition” will be applied.
If the specified item cannot be retrieved from the target file, a folder named “Unsorted” will be created and the item will be sorted into this folder.
2.4.3. Rename
When the “Enable file rename” is checked, the files to be imported will be renamed and copied according to the specified rules.
The settings and rules for renaming are the same as for “8.4.2. Batch rename”, so please refer to this.
2.5. When RAW data does not open as expected
If RAW data does not open as expected, it may be that the RAW data is corrupt or that the RAW data is not compatible with this software.
Refer to the “Supported Camera List” and check that the RAW data can be used with this software.
If RAW data from a incompatible camera is read, a warning such as, “A camera not supported has been detected,” may be shown.
Even so, operations such as developing may be performed, but colors from cameras not supported may be strange or other trouble may occur, so please do not use them.
In addition to RAW data (including DNG), JPEG image and TIFF image files can be processed by this software.
Please note that there are some types of files that are not supported, even if they are DNG, JPEG images or TIFF images.
Initial settings will open RAW data, JPEG images and TIFF images, but there is also a mode that makes only RAW data subject to processing.
Please see “9.3.1.9. Handle only RAW images” for details.
2.6. How to Handle JPEG/TIFF Image
SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11 has the feature of developing JPEG/TIFF image like the RAW data, which is called “SILKYPIX RAW Bridge”.
It may seem strange to use the word “development” for JPEG/TIFF image, however, it is extremely convenient to process JPEG/TIFF images RAW files by using the same parameters.
There is a difference between SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11 and a photo retouching software: SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11 does something like an “inverse transformation” from a JPEG/TIFF image to a virtual RAW image and then treats them same as RAW data internally.
Therefore, SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11 does the color processing which is more correct than photo retouching software can be done.
As a result, you can use most functions with a sense similar to that of handling RAW data with extensions such as “.JPG” and “.TIF”.
JPEG/TIFF Processing Mode is enabled in the development settings, please refer to ‘4.8.5. Develop JPEG/TIFF images’ for the details.
SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro11 / 11 processes tone interpolation and wide reproduction color mapping for JPEG/TIFF images, but JPEG/TIFF images have too little information compared to genuine RAW. The substantial adjustment for JPEG/TIFF images causes the failure of the image.
2.6.1. Color temperature of JPEG / TIFF images
For the “RAW data”, you can use the absolute “color temperature” to adjust white balance. For example to the scene to have taken the photograph under the 3000K bulb, you can get the approximately right white balance if you set “color temperature” on 3000K.
However, with JPEG / TIFF images, this is after white balance processing has been done on the camera, so unfortunately the color temperature at the time the photograph was taken cannot be set to standard reference.
Supposing there are JPEG / TIFF images that have had perfect white balance adjustments, they cannot be distinguished, no matter what source of light these photographs were taken under.
For actual photographed JPEG / TIFF images, the influence of the light source at the time it was taken will remain, but in either case the color temperature at the time it was taken cannot be ascertained, so the default white balance values are fixed at color temperature = 6500K, color deviation = 3.
This color temperature is the white point value for sRGB and Adobe RGB.
Whatever light source the JPEG / TIFF images were taken under, they will be processed under the assumption of having been taken under a light source of 6500K.
Please understand that if you make adjustments to white balance on JPEG / TIFF images, they will be adjustments relative to this color temperature = 6500K, color deviation = 3.
As this is not the actual color temperature of the light source when the photograph was taken, you may feel there is a contradiction, but what is strange with this processing format is the displayed color temperature may be inaccurate. There are no limitations to adjusting the white balance.
Relative adjustments are adjustments to the three parameters, color temperature, color deviation and shading adjustments that diverge from the default values color temperature = 6500K, color deviation = 3.
The numerical value of color temperature itself is an assumed value and has no meaning, so this method cannot be used to designate white balance with absolute values of color temperature.
Usage is the same as that of “Auto” white balance, gray balance tool and skin color designation tools on RAW data.
2.6.2. Sharpening / Noise Reduction for JPEG/TIFF Processing
For the “JPEG/TIFF” image, the default setting of the “Sharpening” sub-control and the “Noise reduction” sub-control has no effect.
You have to relatively adjust “sharpening” or “noise reduction” from the original “JPEG/TIFF” image, because it has already been processed in the camera or by software.
2.6.3. Feature that cannot be Used for JPEG/TIFF
You cannot use “Demosaicing engine”, “Demosaicing sharpness”, and “Resolution plus” for JPEG/TIFF images.
There are also some other features that cannot be used, such as “Lens profile” and “Auto distortion correction using JPEG” in the Lens aberration controller.