WORKFLOW - RAW DIVERSION

There has been some talk about the disagreement between Thomas Knoll at Adobe & Nikon over the encryption of some meta-data in the RAW files for Nikon's new cameras. As it turns out, all camera manufacturers have been encrypting or at least scrambling some portions of their RAW files. This is just the first time it's become so public. For a good account of the issues, check out the DP Review interview with Dave Coffin.

So, what does all this mean to we photographers?

If you shoot in RAW, convert that file to a format that is likely to be available to you easily in the future. So, convert RAW to a file format such as TIF or DNG (Adobe's definition of a Digital Negative file format) to archive that file for the future. Think of today's RAW file as film that will spoil with time. You need to “develop it” into another format to make it more permanent.

Why will the RAW file spoil with time?

A RAW file is a proprietary format defined for a specific camera. As new cameras come to market, old cameras are “end of life’d.” Once a product has been terminated, on-going support for that product…as well as support for its proprietary RAW file format…will be terminated in future releases of RAW converter software. Camera manufacturers could swear until they are blue in the face that they will never drop support for old RAW file formats…but they will, eventually. A camera company might have no choice…they could go out of business.

Technology moves very quickly which also makes rather new technology obsolete very quickly. For example, let's say someone invested their music collection in 8-Track tapes. To hear their music collection on 8-Track tapes, that person needs to keep around and maintain their own 8-Track Tape players. What do you do if you cannot repair your own 8-Track tape system?

At some point in the future...you will upgrade your computer. Once you do this, you will need to upgrade your RAW converter software because…you discover…it no longer runs on your new computer. Then, once you upgrade to the new RAW converter…you discover…the new version of the RAW converter…no longer supports your old RAW files that you shot 10 years ago with an old camera. Oh yes...they "end of life’d" support for that old camera RAW file format 5 years ago...didn't you hear about that?

So, avoid getting stuck in that situation in the future. Convert your RAW files to a file format that will be around for more than 10 years. TIF and DNG seem to be as good a candidate as any other. Then, plan to re-archive your files every so often to avoid future obsolescence.

September 5, 2005 news from Adobe & Nikon: Nikon and Adobe Press Release