What does Develop do?

[rafikiphoto]

After I open one of my DNG RAW files and make some edits I am asked to 'Develop' the file before closing and moving on. What actually happens in the 'developing' process. Is a local copy made of the file with edits or are the edits simply recorded for the RAW file?

[Fixx]

Develop creates an unsaved file, that is you will have open a new pixel image which you can save and/or edit further in AP. Generally it is not possible to save edits to RAW files.

[Kodiak]

Generally it is not possible to save edits to RAW files.

 

I would suggest that there is no way (…and that would not

be clever either!) to alter in any way a RAW file.

 

That makes "Develop" behave like a RAW converter as it will

read the raw data and convert it to a editable visual preview

 of it that may me saved in a file format of your voice. 

 

However,

Develop creates an unsaved file…

 

… right! Since Develop's goal is not to create a session with the

raw data (nor is it to save the PP performed on it via sidecar files

like a dedicated RAW converter would do) but to take the "deve-

loped" file to an editable format from within AF for further work

that may be saved in full details.

 

Consequently, should a new version on the RAW file need to be

initiated, one will have to re-"Develop" anew as no references of

the prior develop were saved. 

 

This is my understanding and experience with AP.

 

Please note that I would be very grateful to be proven wrong

in this as it is one the two major points that keep me away 

from that Persona and make me use AP as pixel editor exclu-

sively (but happily so as it performs splendidly in this regard).