New DarkTable supports X-trans

[Kneops]

I just wanted to mention that Linux users can update Darktable version to version 1.6.4 (at least with the correct PPA) which now supports the Fuji X-trans sensor. I did a test and compared several RAF images in ASP and DarkTable, and I must say the ones in DarkTable are much better at this moment. In ASP there are some color problems (too red/magenta for instance) and the images in Darktable have less noise and what is left of the noise can be better handled. Darktable has some great contrast curve presets that give immediatley better results than the automatic contrast levels in ASP which are a bit too contrasty.

All this said, Darktable is a pain to work with, imho. It has a bad UI and requires too many clicks in too many tabbed windows. ASP is much better at that point, but the default rendering of the RAF images and the contract curve presets make me hope that ASP will take a look at this version of Darktable and learn from it.

[TheDude]

I just wanted to mention that Linux users can update Darktable version to version 1.6.4 (at least with the correct PPA) which now supports the Fuji X-trans sensor.

Darktable officially supports X-Trans already since the release of 1.6... so nothing new, actually.

I did a test and compared several RAF images in ASP and DarkTable, and I must say the ones in DarkTable are much better at this moment. In ASP there are some color problems (too red/magenta for instance) and the images in Darktable have less noise and what is left of the noise can be better handled. Darktable has some great contrast curve presets that give immediatley better results than the automatic contrast levels in ASP which are a bit too contrasty.

Some hints for X-Trans processing in darktable and how this might be transfered to ASP:
* choose Markesteijn 3-pass for demosaicing (1 pass should be default) AND set color smoothing to maximum value (no tweaking of demosaicing in ASP unfortunately)
* use the equalizer for pushing details. Pull up the outer right control point in the luminance tab to push contrast in fine detail (For additional sharpening I prefer a smaller radius and increased amount in the normal (usm-based) sharpening module.). In ASP the Wavelet-Sharpen plug-in may produce similar results with some tweaking.
* if color moire occurs in fine structures, removing color noise is probably the answer. In darktable you can basically use any denoise module and set the blend mode such that it only affects the color channels and therefore the color noise. However, I prefer using the Equalizer or profiled denoise for that in darktable (in some cases the bilateral filter). In ASP I would use the wavelet denoise plug-in.

I tried ASP a while ago after the last update and found that X-Trans support has been noticeably improved compared to the initial version (The wavelet plug-ins seem to be a useful addition here). However, I'm afraid this level of quality is the point where Corel stops. Highest quality is not what they are going for.

[Kneops]

Where can I set the Markesteijn 3-pass demosaicing? I can't find it in the preferences.
Thanks for the tips, I'm going to test them right away

[TheDude]

Where can I set the Markesteijn 3-pass demosaicing? I can't find it in the preferences.

Jaust a short answer, although this is not a darktable forum: It is not a global property. You set it in the darkroom for each image in the demosaicing module. If you want this to be "global", you can make a preset and let it apply to all newly imported Fuji Raws.

[Kneops]

I meant where can I set this in ASP I know where to set it in DarkTable.

[TheDude]

I meant where can I set this in ASP I know where to set it in DarkTable.

you can't That's what I meant with "no tweaking of demosaicing in ASP unfortunately". People would probably complain about too much parameters, if they were able to configure demosaicing in ASP