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on the web since 2010.not retro.just old-fashioned

monoFuji: monochrome raw convertor for S Pro series cameras from Fuji

Overview.

• Create monochrome images using just the Green pixel data.
• Optional merging of S and R pixels.
• Can read and convert files compressed with Fuji's RAF Compressor.

• No 'multiple pixel' processing is carried out on the raw data ( no luminance or colour noise reduction ).
• No processing of colour images to standard colour spaces.
• Colour images in single file or split into separate RGB files.

Due to the layout of the Fuji SuperCCD sensor, the green pixels lie on a regular grid which allows the rapid creation of monochrome images with no interpolation. Colour output is also available. This is intended mainly for those who are curious to see what the digitised sensor output actually looks like, but it may also be used as a colour source for creating monochrome images.

Workflow.

• Batch processing with no user input required during conversion.
• Output images can have consistent output range.

monoFuji was written to provide an easy link between raw Fuji RAF files and 16bit image editing. I started by using Fuji's Hyper Utility but in my workflow, I like to start with a consistent image ( 16bit monochrome with image values placed between known black and white values ). Working each image individually in HS-V2 to create a consistent output is a mechanical, repetitive task which computers are very good at doing on their own!

monoFuji is a program which performs that repetitive task as quickly as possible. You are then free to spend more time doing the creative work in the image editor of your choice.

History, download and future thoughts.

The application was designed with the aim of providing a means of quickly converting a number of image files, with no user input required during the conversion process. The interface is a simple application window. RAF files to be converted are assembled into a list and an optional output target directory specified. The files are then batch converted using the options set in the Options Dialog.

This version of the application is written using the Microsoft .Net 1.1 Framework. This Framework has to be present before installing and running monoFuji. If you do not have the Framework installed, you will need to download it from Microsoft. As of February 2010, it could be found with this Microsoft Search. After installing the Framework, it would be advisable to run a Windows Update to ensure it is patched up to date.

The installation files, along with a ReadMe First file are contained in a single Zip file. To install - download the zip, unzip to a suitable location and run setup.exe. During installation, you are asked to agree to a EULA. It would be impossible to enforce the EULA, but please treat it as an expression of my wishes concerning the use of monoFuji. monoFuji is being offered as Freeware in that no payment is required for it's use, there is no limit to how long you can use it and there are no nag screens. You are also free to re-distribute it as long as the EULA remains intact and the files are un-modified.

Notes about the first release:

• Merging S and R pixel data:
  • If Yes - a single output file is created with S and R data combined.
  • If No - two separate files are created, one containing the S pixel image, the other containing the R pixel image. This may be of interest to those who have software for combining 2 images with different exposures.
  • If Merge on S Clipping Detect - if the number of S pixels at clipping level exceeds a threshold level ( currently set at 0.01% ), the S and R images will be merged. If below the threshold, only the S image is used.

• Output file Size and monochrome images:
  • If Small - the output image is created from just the green pixels and the image pixel count will be equal to the green pixel count of the sensor.
  • If Large - the output image is created from the green pixels but interpolated up to a size equivalent to the "advertised" size of the sensor.
  • If Large from IR monochrome - After allowing for differences in channel gain for RGB when shooting IR, the image may be essentially monochrome. In this case the large output size image can be created by interpolating all RGB pixels as if they were a monochrome sensor.

Colour images are created from the RGB pixel data. For the small output size, red and blue is derived by averaging the red and blue pixels adjacent to each green pixel. For the large output size, the three channels are independently interpolated. The RGB values are not processed to conform to a standard colour space - they are in CameraRGB space.

First release:

• Download monoFuji for Windows ( 258KB )

Current ToDo list:

• Recompile application under .Net 3.5.
• Embed Exif data into output Tiffs.
• Optional graphical interface for viewing and selecting source files by thumbnail.

monoFuji is only currently available as a Windows application. I am, however, currently learning Cocoa/ObjectiveC programming with the intention of producing an OS X version. This may take me a little while though.

Tested cameras and Operating Systems.

The table below summarises how many images have been converted from a particular camera under which Operating System. I plan to add a Feedback page soon, one purpose of which, if any users would be kind enough to do so, will be to report success or failure with cameras and Operating Systems.

As I own a Fuji S2 and S3, these cameras have been used extensively with the forerunners of monoFuji ( a long term personal project ). Only one S5 ( wide DR ) image has been used for testing and a small number of S20 images. Please bear this in mind if trying the application with RAF files from the S5 in Std DR mode, and with Windows OS's other than XP.

Source Code.

Parts of the source code for monoFuji will be published with the doumentation of monoFuji, for those who are interested or engaged in similar projects.

The program was written in Microsoft Visual Basic .Net 2003. I make no claim to be an elegant programmer or that my code makes full use of the Visual Basic environment. The code has developed as I wrote the application from the top down and early decisions may not have been the best. If nothing else, the code should allow you to see the detailed program flow which may be re-written far more succinctly.

Page Last Updated: 10th April 2010, Maintained by KeithM.