Sidecar Files - Processing Profiles: Difference between revisions

From RawPedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(update)
(Major update, #4104)
Line 1: Line 1:
Processing profiles ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidecar_file sidecar files] with a PP3 extension for version 3, or PP2 for the older version 2) are text files which contain all of the tools and their settings that RawTherapee will apply to an image. If you are familiar with other raw processors, you may know their equivalent as "presets". Processing profiles come from three quite different sources, though they work in exactly the same way:
== Introduction ==
 
Processing profiles (with a PP3 extension for version 3 or PP2 for the older version 2) are text files which contain all of the tool settings which RawTherapee applies to the associated photo. If you are familiar with other raw processors, you may know their equivalent as "presets". They are stored alongside their associated photos, which is why they are also called ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidecar_file sidecar files].
 
When you open a folder with photos in RawTherapee's File Browser for the first time, none of the images will have PP3 sidecar files. The thumbnails shown for images which have no processing profile assigned (images which have never been opened or edited) are created from the embedded JPEG image each raw file contains. A processing profile is assigned to the image the moment one of these actions are taken:
* You open the photo for [[The Image Editor Tab|editing]].
* You apply a processing profile by using the right-click context menu in the [[The File Browser Tab|File Browser]] or [[The_Image_Editor_Tab#The_Filmstrip|Filmstrip]].
 
When you open an image for editing, or when you apply a processing profile by right-clicking on a thumbnail, RawTherapee will convert the real raw data into a viewable image. In order to do this, there are many settings which need to be set to ''something'', and what these specific values are depends on:
* Your [[Preferences#Default_Processing_Profile|default processing profile]].
* Your [[Dynamic processing profiles|Dynamic Profile Rules]], if any.
* Or on the processing profile you selected from the right-click context menu if you right-clicked on a thumbnail.
 
== Sources ==
Processing profiles come from three quite different sources, though they work in exactly the same way:
* "Bundled profiles".
* "Bundled profiles".
*: RawTherapee comes with a bundle of profiles. Their purpose is to give you a good starting point, to demonstrate how the tools can be used together. They are the ones you see in the [[The Image Editor Tab#Processing Profile Selector|Processing Profile Selector]] drop-down list's "Bundled profiles" section, in the [[The_Image_Editor_Tab|Image Editor]].
*: RawTherapee comes with a bundle of profiles. Their purpose is to give you a good starting point, to demonstrate how the tools can be used together. They are the ones you see in the [[The Image Editor Tab#Processing Profile Selector|Processing Profile Selector]] drop-down list's "Bundled profiles" section, in the [[The_Image_Editor_Tab|Image Editor]].
Line 5: Line 19:
*: When you make a processing profile which you want to re-use, for example one which works well with your camera and your style, you can save it so that it also appears in the Processing Profile Selector drop-down list, in the "My profiles" section. To have it appear there, save it to the "profiles" folder within the "config" folder - see the [[File Paths]] article to find it.
*: When you make a processing profile which you want to re-use, for example one which works well with your camera and your style, you can save it so that it also appears in the Processing Profile Selector drop-down list, in the "My profiles" section. To have it appear there, save it to the "profiles" folder within the "config" folder - see the [[File Paths]] article to find it.
* Automatically generated profiles.
* Automatically generated profiles.
*: Whenever you edit an image, the tool settings you want applied to that image are stored in a processing profile that is particular to that image (ranking information, the history panel contents and snapshots are not stored in these files yet, see [https://code.google.com/p/rawtherapee/issues/detail?id=473 issue 473]). The rest of this section deals with this type of processing profile though many of the comments also apply to the first.
*: Whenever you edit an image, the tool settings you want applied to that image are stored in a processing profile that is particular to that image (ranking information, the history panel contents and snapshots are not stored in these files yet, see [https://code.google.com/p/rawtherapee/issues/detail?id=473 issue 473]).
 
== Saving ==
As simply viewing the image requires processing, RawTherapee stores the settings it used to show you the image in a sidecar processing profile. It also stores all the tool tweaks you made in the Editor tab.
 
The processing profile is written to disk:
* When you close RawTherapee.
* When you close an Editor tab if using [[The_Image_Editor_Tab#Editor_Tab_Modes|Multiple Editor Tabs Mode]].
* When you manually save it using the [[The_Image_Editor_Tab#Processing_Profile_Selector|Processing Profile Selector]] panel in the Editor tab.
* When you use the "force saving current settings to the processing profile" [[Keyboard_Shortcuts|keyboard shortcut]] from the Editor tab.
 
If a photo has an associated processing profile, a green check mark will appear on its thumbnail.
 
If you have a photo opened in an Editor tab and you make changes to it from the File Browser, the changes are reflected immediately in the Editor tab.
 
== Storage ==
Where the processing profile is stored can be configured in [[Preferences#Processing_Profile_Handling|Preferences > Processing Profile Handling]].
 
By default, the processing profile for an image is stored alongside the input image (if you open "''kitty.raw''", a new file "''kitty.raw.pp3''" will be created next to it), but they can also be stored in a [[File_Paths|central cache]]. You can choose whether RawTherapee should use the cache, write the processing profile alongside the image, or both, from "''Preferences > Image Processing''". We suggest you store these files alongside your input image files so that if you decide to move the images you can move the processing profiles easily along with them.
 
== Defaults ==
The default processing profile used when opening non-raw images is called "[[Neutral]]". This profile has all tool settings at their neutral values, so they have no effect. Since non-raw images usually have already been processed and are ready for viewing, having RawTherapee not introduce any tweaks by default is the desirable behavior.
 
The default profile for raw photos is called "[[Default]]". All but the most basic tools are at their neutral settings. The few tools which are activated (such as Exposure Auto-Levels, Sharpening and Raw Chromatic Aberration Correction) serve only to give you a good starting point in processing your image.
 
Furthermore, most tools in the Editor tab have a reset button.
* Clicking the reset button resets the tool to its hard-coded neutral value, usually zero.
* Ctrl+clicking the reset button resets the tool to whatever value it had when you opened the image, i.e. the way it was if you rewind the history stack to the top.
 
== Partial Processing Profiles and Fill Modes ==
Processing profiles can be copied, pasted, loaded, saved and applied in full or partially. Clicking the buttons in the [[The_Image_Editor_Tab#Processing_Profile_Selector|Processing Profile Selector]] handles them in full, while ctrl+clicking those buttons handles them partially - a windows pops up letting you choose which parameters to use. This feature lets you, for example, copy only the noise reduction parameters from one image to another, or only the white balance, or only both.
 
The processing profile fill mode lets you decide what happens when you apply a processing profile to an image when that profile does not contain information about all of the tool settings.
* "Fill" mode [[image:Profile-filled.png]]
*: When in "Fill mode", the missing values will be taken from RawTherapee's hard-coded default values (typically neutral). For instance if you apply a partial profile which contains only sharpening settings, all of the remaining tools (such as Exposure, Tone Mapping, Noise Reduction, Resize, etc) will pop into their default positions.
* "Preserve" mode [[image:Profile-partial.png]]
*: When in "Preserve mode", only those values in the profile will be applied, and the missing ones remain unchanged.
 
== Creating your own processing profiles ==
Using certain tools in certain ways may make your processing profile only usable with that specific image. For example if you set a white balance, cropping and rotation, you won't get good results if you apply that profile to an image taken under different lighting with the camera rotated any other way. See the article [[Creating processing profiles for general use]] for advice on how to make processing profiles which can be used on many images.


By default, the processing profile for an image is stored alongside the input image (if you open "''kitty.raw''", a new file "''kitty.raw.pp3''" will be created next to it), but they can also be stored in a [[File_Paths | central cache]]. You can choose whether RawTherapee should use the cache, write the processing profile alongside the image, or both, from "''Preferences > Image Processing''". We suggest you store these files alongside your input image files so that if you decide to move the images you can move the processing profiles easily along with them.
== Compatibility ==
Processing profiles evolve from one version of RawTherapee to the next. We strive to ensure backward compatibility, but this is not always possible.


Processing profiles evolve from one version of RawTherapee to the next. We strive to ensure backward compatibility, but this is not always possible. Processing profiles can gain new parameters or lose the ones that became obsolete. Tool behavior can also evolve, wherein default values change or in extreme cases the meaning of a value is interpreted differently; an example of this is the noise reduction tool, where a luminance noise reduction value of 10 in RawTherapee-3.0 would lead to a different result in RawTherapee-4.0.10 where the whole noise reduction engine has been greatly improved.
Processing profiles can gain new parameters or lose ones which became obsolete. Tool behavior can also evolve, wherein default values change or in extreme cases the meaning of a value is interpreted differently; an example of this is the noise reduction tool, where a luminance noise reduction value of 10 in RawTherapee-3.0 would lead to a different result in RawTherapee-4.0.10 as the whole noise reduction engine has been greatly improved.


Consolidating processing profiles into a cache allows one to store isolated copies of the processing profiles per specific version of RawTherapee. In such a case, the cache can be used to re-process photos in order to get the same output as originally intended (but e.g. with a new size or output color space) using the same version of RawTherapee in which the image was originally edited. Whether this is desirable is debatable. Consider that you want to squeeze as much out of your raw files as possible. If a year later you want to go back to an old raw file, perhaps getting the same result as you did a year ago is not the best idea, because RawTherapee's capabilities would have greatly improved in that year, and your taste and skill would also have evolved. Nevertheless, by backing up whole cache directories when installing a new version of RawTherapee you retain the option of going back to an older version of RawTherapee in order to get the exact same result.
Consolidating processing profiles into a cache allows one to store isolated copies of the processing profiles per specific version of RawTherapee. In such a case, the cache can be used to re-process photos in order to get the same output as originally intended (but e.g. with a new size or output color space) using the same version of RawTherapee in which the image was originally edited. Whether this is desirable is debatable. Consider that you want to squeeze as much out of your raw files as possible. If two years later you want to go back to an old raw file, perhaps getting the same result as you did two years ago is not the best idea, because RawTherapee's capabilities would have greatly improved in that time, you may have acquired a better monitor, and your taste and skill would also have evolved. Nevertheless, by backing up the whole cache folder, when installing a new version of RawTherapee you retain the option of going back to an older version of RawTherapee in order to get the exact same result.


The [[File Paths]] article describes where you can find the "''cache''" and "''config''" folders on your system.
The [[File Paths]] article describes where you can find the "''cache''" and "''config''" folders on your system.

Revision as of 14:28, 26 December 2017

Introduction

Processing profiles (with a PP3 extension for version 3 or PP2 for the older version 2) are text files which contain all of the tool settings which RawTherapee applies to the associated photo. If you are familiar with other raw processors, you may know their equivalent as "presets". They are stored alongside their associated photos, which is why they are also called (sidecar files.

When you open a folder with photos in RawTherapee's File Browser for the first time, none of the images will have PP3 sidecar files. The thumbnails shown for images which have no processing profile assigned (images which have never been opened or edited) are created from the embedded JPEG image each raw file contains. A processing profile is assigned to the image the moment one of these actions are taken:

When you open an image for editing, or when you apply a processing profile by right-clicking on a thumbnail, RawTherapee will convert the real raw data into a viewable image. In order to do this, there are many settings which need to be set to something, and what these specific values are depends on:

Sources

Processing profiles come from three quite different sources, though they work in exactly the same way:

  • "Bundled profiles".
    RawTherapee comes with a bundle of profiles. Their purpose is to give you a good starting point, to demonstrate how the tools can be used together. They are the ones you see in the Processing Profile Selector drop-down list's "Bundled profiles" section, in the Image Editor.
  • "My profiles".
    When you make a processing profile which you want to re-use, for example one which works well with your camera and your style, you can save it so that it also appears in the Processing Profile Selector drop-down list, in the "My profiles" section. To have it appear there, save it to the "profiles" folder within the "config" folder - see the File Paths article to find it.
  • Automatically generated profiles.
    Whenever you edit an image, the tool settings you want applied to that image are stored in a processing profile that is particular to that image (ranking information, the history panel contents and snapshots are not stored in these files yet, see issue 473).

Saving

As simply viewing the image requires processing, RawTherapee stores the settings it used to show you the image in a sidecar processing profile. It also stores all the tool tweaks you made in the Editor tab.

The processing profile is written to disk:

If a photo has an associated processing profile, a green check mark will appear on its thumbnail.

If you have a photo opened in an Editor tab and you make changes to it from the File Browser, the changes are reflected immediately in the Editor tab.

Storage

Where the processing profile is stored can be configured in Preferences > Processing Profile Handling.

By default, the processing profile for an image is stored alongside the input image (if you open "kitty.raw", a new file "kitty.raw.pp3" will be created next to it), but they can also be stored in a central cache. You can choose whether RawTherapee should use the cache, write the processing profile alongside the image, or both, from "Preferences > Image Processing". We suggest you store these files alongside your input image files so that if you decide to move the images you can move the processing profiles easily along with them.

Defaults

The default processing profile used when opening non-raw images is called "Neutral". This profile has all tool settings at their neutral values, so they have no effect. Since non-raw images usually have already been processed and are ready for viewing, having RawTherapee not introduce any tweaks by default is the desirable behavior.

The default profile for raw photos is called "Default". All but the most basic tools are at their neutral settings. The few tools which are activated (such as Exposure Auto-Levels, Sharpening and Raw Chromatic Aberration Correction) serve only to give you a good starting point in processing your image.

Furthermore, most tools in the Editor tab have a reset button.

  • Clicking the reset button resets the tool to its hard-coded neutral value, usually zero.
  • Ctrl+clicking the reset button resets the tool to whatever value it had when you opened the image, i.e. the way it was if you rewind the history stack to the top.

Partial Processing Profiles and Fill Modes

Processing profiles can be copied, pasted, loaded, saved and applied in full or partially. Clicking the buttons in the Processing Profile Selector handles them in full, while ctrl+clicking those buttons handles them partially - a windows pops up letting you choose which parameters to use. This feature lets you, for example, copy only the noise reduction parameters from one image to another, or only the white balance, or only both.

The processing profile fill mode lets you decide what happens when you apply a processing profile to an image when that profile does not contain information about all of the tool settings.

  • "Fill" mode Profile-filled.png
    When in "Fill mode", the missing values will be taken from RawTherapee's hard-coded default values (typically neutral). For instance if you apply a partial profile which contains only sharpening settings, all of the remaining tools (such as Exposure, Tone Mapping, Noise Reduction, Resize, etc) will pop into their default positions.
  • "Preserve" mode Profile-partial.png
    When in "Preserve mode", only those values in the profile will be applied, and the missing ones remain unchanged.

Creating your own processing profiles

Using certain tools in certain ways may make your processing profile only usable with that specific image. For example if you set a white balance, cropping and rotation, you won't get good results if you apply that profile to an image taken under different lighting with the camera rotated any other way. See the article Creating processing profiles for general use for advice on how to make processing profiles which can be used on many images.

Compatibility

Processing profiles evolve from one version of RawTherapee to the next. We strive to ensure backward compatibility, but this is not always possible.

Processing profiles can gain new parameters or lose ones which became obsolete. Tool behavior can also evolve, wherein default values change or in extreme cases the meaning of a value is interpreted differently; an example of this is the noise reduction tool, where a luminance noise reduction value of 10 in RawTherapee-3.0 would lead to a different result in RawTherapee-4.0.10 as the whole noise reduction engine has been greatly improved.

Consolidating processing profiles into a cache allows one to store isolated copies of the processing profiles per specific version of RawTherapee. In such a case, the cache can be used to re-process photos in order to get the same output as originally intended (but e.g. with a new size or output color space) using the same version of RawTherapee in which the image was originally edited. Whether this is desirable is debatable. Consider that you want to squeeze as much out of your raw files as possible. If two years later you want to go back to an old raw file, perhaps getting the same result as you did two years ago is not the best idea, because RawTherapee's capabilities would have greatly improved in that time, you may have acquired a better monitor, and your taste and skill would also have evolved. Nevertheless, by backing up the whole cache folder, when installing a new version of RawTherapee you retain the option of going back to an older version of RawTherapee in order to get the exact same result.

The File Paths article describes where you can find the "cache" and "config" folders on your system.

When releasing a major new version of RawTherapee, it may happen that we use a new suffix for the "cache" and "config" folders. This means that the new version of RawTherapee will not see your old configuration or processing profiles. Though this sounds undesirable, there are good reasons we may (rarely) choose to do that.

  • Backward-compatibility. There may be changes in behavior between old and new versions of a specific tool. For instance, the effects of the Auto Levels tool have changed (for the better) between versions 4.0.11 and 4.0.12, so if your old processing profiles had it enabled, the results in 4.0.12 will be a little different and may require tuning your old profiles. We tried to preserve backwards-compatibility where possible, but it was not possible to do that everywhere. This should not be a problem, because should you require an identical result you can simply keep using the old version of RawTherapee and use the new one for future work, and, more importantly, your skills and taste have evolved over time, so why would you want the exact same results you had years ago when you can do better now?
  • Some users have not checked "Preferences" in a long time, and their program is tuned for what worked best long ago, not for what works best now. Our defaults are good ones, we keep them up to date to make RawTherapee look and function well out-of-the-box, so sometimes having RawTherapee start with fresh defaults is a good thing, and it will motivate users to look into "Preferences" again.
  • Some users have never looked inside "Preferences" in the first place, and are unaware of some of the features that can be unlocked there. As above, fresh defaults will activate these things.
  • Some old cache and config files can cause RawTherapee to crash. While we patch the specific cases made known to us, it is safe to assume there will always be cases unknown to us which will still cause instability. Starting with clean cache and config folders mitigates this problem.