Converting RAWs (DNG) to HDR-HEIC

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Level 1

7 points

Converting RAWs (DNG) to HDR-HEIC

Hello. I'am using iPhone 14 Pro Max. There is no way to get the full 48MP-resolution without using the RAW format. OK, I'am using it. RAWs are huge and even 1TB storage fills up very quickly. So, RAWs should be converted to a lossy-format, I thing HEIC is best choice. This can be done by using batch processing with Shortcuts-commands, but there are two problems. When I converting RAW to HEIC the dynamic range is dramatically reduced. In Photos I use the "True HDR" setting and after DNG→HEIC-convertion via Shortcuts I have a faded washed copy of the original image. If I take a HEIF-photo of same place ("True HDR" is on, "RAW" is off) – it has a good quality and full range: it looks like a RAW copy, except a half resolution. But DNG→HEIC-convertion spoils everything. Many other convertion tools, like a ImageMagick or converting apps, produce the same faded washed copy of the DNG-photo, so I didn't find any way to properly convert DNG to HEIC, without losing dynamic range. I can show an example if needed. Second problem is edits. On many RAWs I did some croping and color modifications. And if I make a DNG→…-convertion, the edits will applied and the ability to edit the photo in the future will be lost. OK, I've found another hard way: 1. make a duplicate of the edited RAW-photo, 2. roll back all it's edits, 3. convert the copy to HEIC, 4. copy edits from the original, 5. paste edits to the HEIC-copy. This works, but dynamic range is lost (first problem above), and there is no way to copy crop settings from the RAW-original to the HEIC-copy. I'am tried sending the edited RAW via AirDrop to Mac (including the metadata in the transfer settings) but I get a JPEG instead of DNG-file. Thus, I can't convert RAWs properly event using a Mac or PC. The question is: how convert RAW to HEIC, keeping the HDR-range, edits and crops? I have about a 4000 RAWs which takes up about 700 GB of storage space. And I want co convert them to HEIC, but can't do it right.

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 16

Posted on Jun 4, 2023 5:58 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Muha1986

Level 1

12 points

Mar 6, 2024 5:28 AM in response to Muha1986

.

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Answer 2

gzzzzzzzz Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 18, 2023 6:59 PM in response to imagewriter

Nope.

I didn't find any app or utility that could create HDR-HEIC from RAW.

"Power RAW" may be able to do this in the future (they have user's requests).

I sent an e-mail to "Power RAW" developers asking about this feature but got no response.

Some cameras can produce 10-bit HDR-HEIC and iPhone (iOS 16.1) successfully opens it.

But there is no system utility or app for making this images.

I found an iOS 17 Beta document that talks about processing HDR-images.

Perhaps in iOS 17 such a conversion will be possible.

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,513 points

Jun 5, 2023 12:54 AM in response to gzzzzzzzz

It looks like you want to have your cake and eat it. To save a photo with a high dynamic range you simply need large files with more than 8bit per colour channel. Converting the files to a format that will reduce the bits per pixel will reduce the dynamic range and make them flat, compared to the HDR versions. Why not keep selected images you really love, your best shots, in the original quality and file format and save the not so important files as HEIC, as you have done, or delete them.

On a Mac, you could export the RAW files with the adjustments applied as TIFF files with 16bit for each color channel to preserve the high dynamic range, but these files will even be larger than your original RAW files.

To save storage on my mobile devices I am archiving the RAW files on external drives on my Mac and keeping only the adjusted favorites in my iCloud Photos Library and on my mobile devices.

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Answer 4

DiogoJBB

Level 1

14 points

Aug 8, 2023 5:15 AM in response to gzzzzzzzz

Hello,

I don't understand why this issue isn't being discussed in other threats/ forums.. it is a BIG problem with the iPhone camera / photos.

The problem is not only HEIC, if you convert to other formats, the HDR will be eliminated also. So, regarding the conversion of your current DNG images, im afraid there is no solution, you will have to convert and lose the HDR (which doesn't make any sense (see solution below))

The only solution there is, is to use a third party app to take pictures on your iPhone with 48MB and HIEC (or other format9. I have tested this and the image is small and has HDR enabled... So clearly this works.. I don't understand why we need to use thirty party software for such a simple issue... Apple should just allow the 48MB without Pro Raw. I tried with the app Halide which had a fee trial just to test and in fact it does the job. I ended up removing the app because I don't like the complexity.

For now the only solution is to take proRaw and then convert the image and lose the HDR.. for the pics I really need the HDR I leave them as ProRaw.

Definitely not the ideal solution.. but it was what I was able to find,

Hope it helps

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Answer 5

Muha1986

Level 1

12 points

Mar 5, 2024 7:21 AM in response to gzzzzzzzz

The problem is not converting. the problem is macos. in IOS everything looks good. where you converting to other format, so how tha hdr tag removed from photo and than macos cant reed photo perferences right. the result is that hdr photo looks like non hdr photo. if you airplaing/mirroring the photo to external display, even mac/macbook display, the original and converted version looks same. Open original photo and than turn off "view full hdr" in photos app settings and look at original and converted version it will be same. why its took so many time - years to company like apple to fix this stupid bug. now i need to save original pro raws, gigabites of space, only to preserve the hdr option in macos.

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Answer 6

Jun 5, 2023 12:59 AM in response to gzzzzzzzz

I do not yet have such a device but I have done some homework. I hope this helps.

Understanding ProRAW

https://lux.camera/understanding-proraw/

Apple’s new ProRAW Photo Format Is Neither Pro nor Raw

https://kirkville.com/apples-new-proraw-photo-format-is-neither-pro-nor-raw/

Editing RAW and ProRAW Photos Using RAW Power 3

https://tidbits.com/2021/06/24/editing-raw-and-proraw-photos-using-raw-power-3/

About Apple ProRAW

About Apple ProRAW - Apple Support

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Answer 7

gzzzzzzzz Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 6, 2023 9:14 AM in response to léonie

> To save a photo with a high dynamic range you simply need large files with more than 8bit per colour channel. Converting the files to a format that will reduce the bits per pixel

will reduce the dynamic range and make them flat, compared to the HDR

versions.

Why do you think HEIC is 8 bit per channel?

It supports HDR, and stores up to 16 bit per channel.

I wrote:

> If I take a HEIF-photo of same place ("True HDR" is on, "RAW" is off) – it has a good quality and full range: it looks like a RAW copy, except a half resolution.

> Why not keep selected images you really love, your best shots, in the original quality and file format and save the not so important files as HEIC, as you have done, or delete them.

What am I trying to do.

But I want to take a photo with the highest resolution (only possible using RAW) and then store them in efficient format, like a HEIC, with full range and edits.

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