DNG File appearance incorrect in PSP 2020 Ultimate

[Revup67]

Thumbnail view of all images. You can see the same DNG file that displays properly in LR6 appears over exposed in PSPU2020. No alterations were made of any kind, this is just a straight open in PSP.

Light Room 6 image appears as expected and exact copy off a RAW file

Greetings..
I typically save TIFF files to DNG files in Light Room 6 (aka LR6) to reduce size. I am hopeful to get off LR6 and use PSP 2020 Ultimate (aka PSPU2020) as the primary goto Photo program.

PSPU2020 does not display a DNG correctly. I've attached a screen capture from within LR6 and also the thumbnail view within PSPU2020

You can see PSPSU2020 shows the same image with over exposure or some other variant that does not display the DNG correctly. All of my images are in Adobe RGB 1998 vs. sRGB from the camera to the source though I am unsure if this makes a difference.

Anyone else with this same issue?

Thanks in advance

Revup67

[Revup67]

It was suggested by Corel support to try in Edit mode however the DNG file did not display there correctly either. I did find a solution (which isn't the best), when double clicking the image then choose Highlight Recovery, change the setting to Balanced or Color. This choice will restore the image to a much closer appearance. In conclusion, PSP 2020 appears unable to read the DNG meta data correctly as the DNG appears accurate in Light Room 6.x

To further confirm this issue is solely with PSP 2020 I opened the DNG in Canon's Digital Professional 4.x and the DNG displays correctly there as well.

This then is an apparent Fix that is warranted as a bug exists.

[ehume]

IIRC, DNG is a form of RAW. PSP has a raw converter, but it must convert the raw to a pspimage, a jpg, a png, etc. How is it that you have DNG files, anyway? You say you store images as DNG files, but are DNG's smaller than RAW's? I personally use Silkypix for my raw files, save them as TIF's, pick up the TIF's in PSP for polishing. DNG files don't enter in, as I do not use Adobe products.

[hartpaul]

I was able to find a sample DNG file on this page and download it to a folder on my desktop.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/sa ... otos-3.htm

It is where it says Original DMG (18MB)
When I viewed it in Manage mode thumbnails for PSP X7, X8, 2018 2019 it appeared as normal whereas in PSP X9 it showed as an overexposed image. Switching to Edit mode it went straight to the Raw converter and still appeared blown out in PSP X9 but OK in the others mentioned.
So it appears that the default conversion to produce the thumbnail is wrong for PSP X9 and also for PSP 2020 which I do not have.
Others may be able to download that image and check it out in their versions of PSP 2020 to confirm and if there is agreement then post it as a bug in PSP 2020.
Strange how Corel can get it right for a number of versions and then stuff it up for 1 or 2 versions.

[ehume]

I see that opening a DNG file is the same as opening a raw file. But I cannot see any difference between x9 and x10 (2018).

[Revup67]

IIRC, DNG is a form of RAW. PSP has a raw converter, but it must convert the raw to a pspimage, a jpg, a png, etc. How is it that you have DNG files, anyway? You say you store images as DNG files, but are DNG's smaller than RAW's? I personally use Silkypix for my raw files, save them as TIF's, pick up the TIF's in PSP for polishing. DNG files don't enter in, as I do not use Adobe products.

See the next response by hartpaul, he is Spot On

[Revup67]

I was able to find a sample DNG file on this page and download it to a folder on my desktop.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m9/sa ... otos-3.htm

It is where it says Original DMG (18MB)
When I viewed it in Manage mode thumbnails for PSP X7, X8, 2018 2019 it appeared as normal whereas in PSP X9 it showed as an overexposed image. Switching to Edit mode it went straight to the Raw converter and still appeared blown out in PSP X9 but OK in the others mentioned.
So it appears that the default conversion to produce the thumbnail is wrong for PSP X9 and also for PSP 2020 which I do not have.
Others may be able to download that image and check it out in their versions of PSP 2020 to confirm and if there is agreement then post it as a bug in PSP 2020.
Strange how Corel can get it right for a number of versions and then stuff it up for 1 or 2 versions.

Hartpaul, thank you for doing this research and confirming my discovery. After I make the Highlight changes as mentioned to Balanced or Color and then process a step of two further, I am completely unable to go backward (at least that I have tried) even to the original Blown Out mode.

[hartpaul]

I see that opening a DNG file is the same as opening a raw file. But I cannot see any difference between x9 and x10 (2018).

My apologies. X9 is the same as the others . I had used that as the test and when I did some changes in the Raw converter I had Save Image Settings ticked so that it loaded and applied those settings and interestingly enough it backed up using those settings for the thumb in the Organiser and also back in Manage mode.
So check if you have used the Camera Raw Lab to operate on a file and lightened it and then left Save Image Settings ticked when you finished . That way I am guessing those settings are used for any future DMGs in Manage and Organiser.
You will need to make a change and then Click on Reset.
Strange that Reset is not automatically available without making a change first. With other tools you can open a dialog and even though the settings are wrong (used for a previous image) can do a reset of that tool .

[Revup67]

Hello Paul

thank you for the continued testing on your end. The unchecking of Save Settings on Exit did revert the image back to the original flawed over exposes PSP thumbnail view. The original issue still persists unfortunately. The DNG file doesn't display correctly in PSP Ultimate as claimed in the origination of this thread. I did try changing the working space to match the camera which is Adobe RGB 1998 ( a common work space in many arenas from 100s of camera to a multitude of software) still to no avail. I also downloaded the latest free Canon Digital Professional available at no extra charge to all Canon owners, once again in version 4.11 of Canon's DPP, the DNG file "displays accurately". This issue is exclusive to PSP/Corel as it stands.

For anyone wondering why a DNG (Digital negative) is a common format across many software applications vs. a CR2. canon specific RAW file or an overly large TIFF file (typically 4x larger). DNG's are lossless as well. Too bad, I had high hopes for PSP 2020 as I have been using PSP since the mid 90s. The Camera Raw lab is paltry IMHO with ads suggesting to spend another $48 USD to purchase AfterShot for more RAW control.

[Revup67]

One additional addendum to truly put the nail in the coffin as they say; 15 minutes ago I wound purchasing ACDsee Ultimate 2020. this now being the 3rd application (Lightroom 6, Canon Digital Professional 4.11 and ACDsee 2020) validating no issues with DNG files. No processing of any kind, ACDSee opens the image correctly straight away

Here is a Screen capture for validation of the same DNG