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There is a huge debate going on right now, about the file format that Nikon uses to store Raw data from their newest digital cameras. Thomas Knoll, the author of Adobe's Raw conversion software, has has accused Nikon of encrypting critical data in their proprietary Raw format, the NEF file.

The data that is alleged to be hidden is the White Balance of a photograph. The white balance determines the faithfulness of the colors of a photograph to reality, or the intent of the photographer. Without access to the white balance assigned by the camera at the time of the exposure, third party softwarew will need to guess at the correct combination, an assumption guarranteed to produce errors. This will make the image processors adjust the color by hand, something that will slow down the digital image workflow.

This is set against the recent introduction of Adobe's DNG Raw format. Currently the preferred method of acessing NEF files from Nikon's D2x, D2hs and soon the D50 and D70s cameras will be to use Nikon's software, Adobe's DNG format or a few third party Raw converters, some of which are said to have 'cracked' Nikon's encryption.

Nikon is in a position to move ahead here, by leading a consortium of vendors who support the NEF format. A format, like NEF, which has so far done very little interpretation (ie. preprocessing) to Raw files ideal for evolution into a true digital negative file. A format that truely acts as a latent image that can be re-developed in whatever methods are at the hands of the digital artist.

Mr. Knoll and others within the Adobe/Macromedia conglomerate should look at the possibility of not owning the digital negative format. Nikon should open their eyes to the possibility of leveraging their Raw format (which, for the purpose of a digital negative, is superior to Canon's DIGIC-processed CRW file, as it has been messed with to a lesser extent) with Occam's razor's power of simplicity. Unfortunately both sides are involved in a PR battle (with Nikon pretending not to notice) by taking their beef to the public streets.

As a consumer (remember the term, user?) of digital photography, I want to see cooperation and cross-development amoung Raw developers. Perhaps Nikon is afraid of domination by Adobe. Perhaps Adobe should divest themselves of the DNG format.

Oh, here's a photo of Susie taken with a Nikon camera and edited with Adobe's Raw processing software.

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