Archive 2019 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

snapsy
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

Here's a quick how-to guide on removing PDAF-related banding in RawTherapee 5.5, plus a demonstration of the results.

First, here's the RT setting page to enable the PDAF banding removal. Usually a +7 on the line filter works well. Set Direction to 'Horizontal only on PDAF-rows':
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pk6HPFk/1/b634e7cf/O/i-pk6HPFk.png

De-banding is necessary on images with deep shadow pushes, which means chrominance, luminance, and impulse noise as well. Here's the RT setting page to manage that noise. Note you have to press the circle to the left of these categories to enable them - doing so turns it into a power-on icon:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-7jzjVwp/1/eaeef756/O/i-7jzjVwp.png

And here are samples. First, an image with banding removed, along with the impulse+chroma+luma noise reduction. This is an animated GIF showing the before/after of the noise removal. Note that even with horizontal bands removed there remains some small, roughly-circular shaped clusters of darker areas around the removed bands - those are an additional side effect of the processing Nikon is applying that causes the banding.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-7VJX34B/0/4674d95d/O/i-7VJX34B.gif

And for comparison, here is a similar image that didn't have banding, so only impulse+chroma+luma noise reduction.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DT77tVZ/0/c29160dd/O/i-DT77tVZ.gif

Feb 01, 2019 at 01:46 PM

charles.K
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

Excellent examples. For simplicity I find Nik Define 2 expanding using the debanding menu is fast and quick. Generally I use no noise reduction in Nik Define 2 but just the debanding function.

Feb 01, 2019 at 06:25 PM

neoofmatrix
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

charles.K wrote:
Excellent examples. For simplicity I find Nik Define 2 expanding using the debanding menu is fast and quick. Generally I use no noise reduction in Nik Define 2 but just the debanding function.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did not know Nik had debanding built in. This will come handy if I need it.

Feb 01, 2019 at 11:54 PM

neoofmatrix
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

snapsy wrote:
Here's a quick how-to guide on removing PDAF-related banding in RawTherapee 5.5, plus a demonstration of the results.

Great demonstration snapsy. I am surprised to see you post on Raw Therapee. Do you use it occasionally ?
I am sure there is a great benefit for the few of us; if you share your informed views on its ability as a primary Raw editor.

Feb 02, 2019 at 12:00 AM

snapsy
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

neoofmatrix wrote:
Great demonstration snapsy. I am surprised to see you post on Raw Therapee. Do you use it occasionally ?
I am sure there is a great benefit for the few of us; if you share your informed views on its ability as a primary Raw editor.

I've been using RawTherapee as my primary developer for my various sensor and lens engineering experiments, as it's more predictable and deterministic than ACR/LR when it comes to interpretation of raw data. However I haven't been using very much for my real photography since I'm so accustomed to ACR/LR/PS. However I am planning to transition to RT for more of my photography.

Feb 02, 2019 at 12:37 AM

neoofmatrix
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

snapsy wrote:
However I am planning to transition to RT for more of my photography.

This is good news. I am sure those who use RT will benefit extensively with your valuable insights down the line.
I have always appreciated your insightful posts here and Dpreview and would like to thank you for your contribution.

Feb 02, 2019 at 01:06 AM

charles.K
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

neoofmatrix wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion. I did not know Nik had debanding built in. This will come handy if I need it.

It is within the menus and you do have to look for it. Reduce/turn all noise reduction off/ and click on more and the menu for banding menu options will appear. I have used this extensively with Leica M240 and Monochrom for low light/high ISO shots.

Feb 02, 2019 at 02:19 AM

rico
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

For some of us, another advantage of RT is Linux support.

Feb 03, 2019 at 11:09 AM

charles.K
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · RawTherapee Z banding removal how-to w/samples

rico wrote:
For some of us, another advantage of RT is Linux support.

RT is an excellent program but not the easiest to drive. I used it a lot with the Fuji XT2 Xtran files as the raw conversion was much better.

Feb 03, 2019 at 04:21 PM


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