julianv

48MP ProRAW images from iPhone 14 Pro Max (8064 x 6048 DNG) produce correct preview images in the Export dialog. 46MP RAW images from Nikon D850 (8288 x 5520 NEF) do not. So perhaps it is a size issue. But it might also be a failure in parsing the NEF format. This should be easy for the Affinity boffins to correct.

I have been experimenting with converting some of my RAW files into EDR/HDR versions (in EXR and JXL format), for display on a MacBook Pro with miniLED screen. The images are gorgeous, close to the brightness and contrast of real scenes. But right now I can't find any other macOS app that correctly renders HDR photos. I would love to show off these images to my friends, but loading them sequentially into AP2 is slow. It would be great if the app could run a full screen slide show of (SDR or HDR) images in a selected folder. This should not be hard to implement. Please provide UI for automatic (timed) or manual (key or mouse triggered) sequencing between files.

I am glad to see that Affinity Photo 2 is now exporting HDR files in JPEG XL format. I used the workflow described in James Ritson's video to develop some raw files from a Nikon D850 and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The files look terrific when reopened in Affinity Photo. But when viewed in Google Chrome, they appear washed out, with clipped highlights. You probably know that Google announced plans to remove JPEG XL support from Chrome (although they have been inundated with protests from users and developers). I have Mac version 107.0.5304.110, and the HDR JPEG XL files on Eric Chan's web page still look great. If I download one of Eric's files and open it in Affinity Photo 2, it appears wrong, washed out with clipped highlights. If I drag the same file into a blank Chrome window, Eric's file displays correctly, just as it does on his web page. Eric edited his files in Photoshop and ACR, which now support HDR JPEG XL. So it appears that the JPEG XL files produced by Adobe and Affinity are different. I don't have the tools, or expertise, to analyze the internal structure of the files. But from looking at metadata, I can see that the Affinity files contain a 16 bit alpha channel, and the Adobe files have a 16 bit padding. I don't have any other app which can display HDR JPEG XL files. So I am concerned that the files created by Affinity might not be compatible with other HDR-capable apps. Is this a bug? Environment: M1 MacBook Pro 16" 2021, 32GB RAM, running Ventura 13.0. Affinity Photo 2.0.0. Preferences > Color > 32 bit RGB Color Profile: Display P3 (Linear) Preferences > Assistant > Develop Assistant > RAW Engine: Serif Labs Export > JPEG XL > Pixel Format: Use document format All other settings per Ritson's video. Here's one of my HDR JPEG XL file from Affinity Photo 2. 20171216_1996.jxl

I have good news, and bad news. Affinity Photo 2.0.0 (just released) can export HDR files in JPEG XL format. The files look terrific when re-opened in Affinity Photo. But, as of today, this is the only app I have found which correctly displays the files. When I drag one of these files into a blank page in Chrome, they look terrible, washed out with clipped highlights. As far as I know, Google still plans to remove JPEG XL support from Chrome (although they have been inundated with protests from users and developers). I have Mac version 107.0.5304.110, and it still displays HDR JPEG XL files correctly, when I visit Eric Chan's web page. If I download one of Eric's files and open it in Affinity Photo 2, it appears wrong, washed out with clipped highlights. If I drag the same file into a blank Chrome window, it displays correctly, just as it does on his web page. Eric edited his files in Photoshop and ACR, which now support HDR JPEG XL. So it appears that the JPEG XL files produced by Adobe and Affinity are different. I don't have the tools, or expertise, to analyze the internal structure of the files. But from looking at metadata, I can see that the Affinity files contain a 16 bit alpha channel, and the Adobe files have a 16 bit padding. Does anyone here have any ideas about what's going on? Here's a sample file from Affinity Photo 2. 20171216_1996.jxl

Recipe: Open raw file (.nef) from Nikon D850 (8288 x 5520 pixels). Edit raw file, develop, select File > Export... The preview pane at left of dialog is empty, filled with checkerboard pattern. This happens for JPEG, TIF, EXR, etc. Landscape and portrait orientations. I do not see the problems with raw files from a Nikon D700 (4284 x 2844) or 48 MP ProRAW DNG files from iPhone 14 Pro Max (8064 x 6048). Environment: Affinity Photo 2.0.0. M1 MacBook Pro 16" 2021, 32GB RAM, running Ventura 13.0. 20200815_2824.NEF

I would also like to see JPEG XL (aka JXL) supported. Currently, Affinity Photo has tools for editing HDR/EDR images. But the only supported export formats for HDR files are EXR and Radiance. Neither of those is properly color-managed for static photos. The latest version of Adobe Camera Raw can output JXL, which is a much better, and color-managed photo format. HDR display is the future. I hope it won't take too long before Affinity rises to the challenge. https://gregbenzphotography.com/hdr/ https://people.csail.mit.edu/ericchan/hdr/hdr-jxl.php https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66556528

That's what I suspected. Thanks for the confirmation.

Thanks for the reply, James. I tried the experiment that you suggested, and indeed the exported EXR file in Apple Preview looks identical to an sRGB version in Affinity Photo. So your theory is probably correct: Preview does not know what color space to use for an EXR file, so it defaults to sRGB. My EXR files look great and display with full saturation when opened in Affinity Photo. At least, that's what happens if AP is configured to use Display P3 (linear) as its working space, which is what I used when converting the original raw files. But I have not found any app which can run a full screen slide show of EXR files loaded into that color space, and with EDR enabled. As an interim solution (while waiting for better EXR support in macOS), would I get any benefit from using OpenColorIO color management? I watched your video tutorial on OpenColorIO setup. If this workflow might be useful, how would I choose an appropriate config.ocio file, and how would I set up the device and view transforms?

I recently acquired a 16" M1 Macbook Pro, with Apple's "Liquid Retina XDR" display and mini-LED backlight. Viewing 4K HDR YouTube videos is a treat. The results are stunning - closer to the brightness and contrast range of real scenes than any computer screen I've seen. I don't do much with video, so this got me wondering. Could I use Affinity Photo to obtain a presentation of my photos, on HDR emissive devices, with a similar extended dynamic range? I watched Affinity's tutorial videos on HDR/EDR workflows, and reviewed other materials in Apple user and developer resources. I did not find much guidance on best practices for processing static photos. In an earlier message in this forum, James Ritson mentioned that there is currently no suitable image format for these files. Here is a description of what I am currently trying, and the limitations I encounter. Perhaps someone can offer suggestions on a better workflow. My starting point is usually a single raw file from a Nikon D850. When there are significant specular reflections or emissive light sources in the scene, I underexpose to minimize clipping. The Mac and Affinity Photo are configured as follows: macOS 12.1 Monterey System Preferences > Display > Presets = Apple XDR Display (P3-1600 nits) or HDR Video (P3-ST 2084) Affinity Photo 1.10.4 Preferences > RGB Color Profile = Display P3 [probaby irrrelevant] Preferences > 32 bit RGB Color Profile = Display P3 (linear) Preferences > Rendering Intent = Relative Colorimetric, with BPC Preferences > Enable EDR by default in 32 bit RGB views = YES Develop Assistant > RAW Engine = Serif Labs Develop Assistant > RAW output format = RGB (32 bit HDR) Develop Assistant > Tone curve = Take no action 32-bit Preview > Enable EDR = YES All other settings are at defaults. After loading a raw file, I adjust exposure, clarity, saturation, etc., while monitoring and minimizing EDR clipping. Then I move from Develop to Photo persona and export a file in OpenEXR 32-bit linear format (.exr). The .exr files are readable by several of the Mac apps that I have, but most of these apps do not display the images correctly. When viewed in Affinity Photo, EDR is activated, and my edit adjustments are respected. Apple's Preview app displays the files in EDR, and the appearance is very close to what I see in Affinity Photo, but with a slight loss of saturation. Why is that? On my Macbook Pro's mini-LED screen, and with a compatible app, the .exr files look terrific, but only if Display Preferences are configured for the same preset and brightness that was used for editing. With the wrong app, or the wrong display preset, the image can be a dull washed-out mess. I tried exporting the files in TIFF RGB 32-bit, but I don't have any apps other than Affinity that can read that format correctly. While we are waiting for this technology to mature and standardize, I would still like to make HDR versions from some of my photos - for my own enjoyment, and to torture my friends with vacation slideshows. Apple'e Preview can run a full screen slideshow in EDR, albeit with the saturation loss noted earlier. I have not found out how to do this in Affinity Photo. Do you have any plans to add a slideshow feature? Do you know of any other Mac apps that can do it with EDR support? Thanks to the Affinity boffins for giving us a headstart in this eye-popping HDR image display tech.