Images Look Better in Photos than Affinity?

[MikWar]

When looking at the same RAW image in Apple Photos and in Affinity, it appears that the image in Affinity has less contrast and definition.  This is before any processing (I uploaded the same image to both programs).  Is this typical or is Photos "processing" the RAW image some?  Using iMac with 10.12.5 OS.  

 

I have all the Affinity functions available, but the pictures just look a bit murky.  

 

Top Pic: Affinity screenshot

 

 

 

 

 

Bottom pic: Apple Photos screenshot:

[inabech]

I have been noticing the same phenomenon.

 

[James Ritson]

Hey MikWar, the differences you're noticing are fairly expected - Apple Photos applies a slightly different tone curve and it adds some sharpening which you can't control. The SerifLabs RAW engine applies its own tone curve (which you can disable) and adds some default noise reduction which you can also tweak. It doesn't add any additional sharpening - that's left up to the user.

 

You should find if you move across to the Details panel and play with the Radius and Amount sliders under Detail Refinement you'll be able to make your image "pop" a little more. Alternatively, if you'd prefer the result Apple's RAW engine gives you as a starting point, you can change the RAW engine through the Develop Assistant - click the "tuxedo" icon on the top toolbar and you can change the engine from SerifLabs to Apple Core Image RAW. Any RAW files you decode in the future will then use the Apple engine and you'll get much closer to the results you see in Photos.

 

Hope that helps!

 

If you're interested, here's some additional video material that covers accessing the Develop Assistant and gives you a bit of insight into what to expect from the SerifLabs engine:

 

Raw Development Quality

Maximising Raw Latitude

Salvaging Underexposed Images

 

 

[MikWar]

2 hours ago, James Ritson said:

Hey MikWar, the differences you're noticing are fairly expected - Apple Photos applies a slightly different tone curve and it adds some sharpening which you can't control. The SerifLabs RAW engine applies its own tone curve (which you can disable) and adds some default noise reduction which you can also tweak. It doesn't add any additional sharpening - that's left up to the user.

 

You should find if you move across to the Details panel and play with the Radius and Amount sliders under Detail Refinement you'll be able to make your image "pop" a little more. Alternatively, if you'd prefer the result Apple's RAW engine gives you as a starting point, you can change the RAW engine through the Develop Assistant - click the "tuxedo" icon on the top toolbar and you can change the engine from SerifLabs to Apple Core Image RAW. Any RAW files you decode in the future will then use the Apple engine and you'll get much closer to the results you see in Photos.

 

Hope that helps!

 

If you're interested, here's some additional video material that covers accessing the Develop Assistant and gives you a bit of insight into what to expect from the SerifLabs engine:

 

Raw Development Quality

Maximising Raw Latitude

Salvaging Underexposed Images

 

 

 

Thanks for the quick and informative response.  I'll try moving the engine to Apple Core... and see the difference. 

Mike

[IanSG]

It's worth bearing in mind that there are times when you want a softer image - e.g. cloudy skies.  You can then be selective about where you apply the sharpening,