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The JPEG committee is steadily keeping its snail pace towards a new JPEG standard, for now called JPEG XR. We might see a finalized standard late 2009 or 2010.
Why is this important? JPEG XR attempts to address limitations in JPEG, including pixel formats, precision, dynamic range, compression quality, lack of lossless compression. If what is currently is on the drawing table in the preparation committee passes, we will see an image format that will dramatically reduce the need to shoot RAW.
Essentially, the XR format will support a large number of pixel formats from low-bitcount grayscale, through high bit integer and floating point RGB and multichannel formats.
For example, a camera manufacturer might implement XR with a linear floating point RGB format, so that all highlight information is completely preserved while also keeping a high bit depth.
Comparing RAW to XR then, the in-camera processing from RAW to XR would include:
- Bayer pattern interpolation
- Camera color space application (linearization, colorants)
- White balance application (a simple R/G/B factor)
In addition camera settings like sharpening, color tweaks etc could be applied, at the photographer's discretion.
The images coming out of the camera would essentially contain all information available in the RAW data, while requiring much less or no post-processing in terms of development. XR files would have the same quality as RAW files, only in flexibility of tweaking the above processing steps would there be a difference.
In addition, XR would offer higher compression ratio than JPEG, or higher quality at the same file size if you will. This flexibility to address virtually all camera makers' and photographers' needs except for the rare need for true RAW makes XR quite likely to become widespread in the industry.
How will this change our world as photographers? I think we will see much less need for RAW developer softwares - essentially we will finally be able to get high quality WYSIWYG images out of the camera, that still contain enough information for edits. Post-shoot work will be much less time-consuming, so we can spend more time behind the camera (or marketing our work).
XR is not poised to compete directly with DNG, since it is not a RAW format per se. However XR would dramatically reduce the demand for RAW image post-processing, thereby reducing the demand for DNG format.
Why is this important? JPEG XR attempts to address limitations in JPEG, including pixel formats, precision, dynamic range, compression quality, lack of lossless compression. If what is currently is on the drawing table in the preparation committee passes, we will see an image format that will dramatically reduce the need to shoot RAW.
Essentially, the XR format will support a large number of pixel formats from low-bitcount grayscale, through high bit integer and floating point RGB and multichannel formats.
For example, a camera manufacturer might implement XR with a linear floating point RGB format, so that all highlight information is completely preserved while also keeping a high bit depth.
Comparing RAW to XR then, the in-camera processing from RAW to XR would include:
- Bayer pattern interpolation
- Camera color space application (linearization, colorants)
- White balance application (a simple R/G/B factor)
In addition camera settings like sharpening, color tweaks etc could be applied, at the photographer's discretion.
The images coming out of the camera would essentially contain all information available in the RAW data, while requiring much less or no post-processing in terms of development. XR files would have the same quality as RAW files, only in flexibility of tweaking the above processing steps would there be a difference.
In addition, XR would offer higher compression ratio than JPEG, or higher quality at the same file size if you will. This flexibility to address virtually all camera makers' and photographers' needs except for the rare need for true RAW makes XR quite likely to become widespread in the industry.
How will this change our world as photographers? I think we will see much less need for RAW developer softwares - essentially we will finally be able to get high quality WYSIWYG images out of the camera, that still contain enough information for edits. Post-shoot work will be much less time-consuming, so we can spend more time behind the camera (or marketing our work).
XR is not poised to compete directly with DNG, since it is not a RAW format per se. However XR would dramatically reduce the demand for RAW image post-processing, thereby reducing the demand for DNG format.