Image became soft after converting to Jpeg using View NX2


GreyMan

New Member
Jan 18, 2010
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Dear all CSers.. I have encountered the follow problem.

I have been using View NX2 to do some simple editing (using picture control) to my photos (in NEF format) before saving them and convert the photos into JPEG format for uploading purpose.

Everything works well except for the sharpening part. When I view the photo in ViewNX, it looks all sharp and good but after converting it to JPEG, the sharpness is lost. As though I did not sharpen it at all.

I googled and found people with similar problem. http://www.flickr.com/groups/capturenx/discuss/72157624763329183/

But I do not get a reasonable solution for this. I hope anyone who knows about this or encounter this before is able to share with me how to go around with it.

Thank you very much in advance.
 

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i think most likely you never apply the changes.

I did save the photos in NEF format after doing editing before converting.

All other adjustments (colour boosting, exposure etc.) are reflected in JPEG format of the photo but just the sharpness is lost or i should say revert to original as though no sharpening is applied.


i've yet to encounter such problem in mine :rolleyes:

thanks for sharing tho

I've checked with another friend who is also Nikon user. He did not encounter this as well.
 

Usually I directly edit the NEF file from PS, and don't encounter such a problem ...

Have you updated your View NX2 already ?
 

Usually I directly edit the NEF file from PS, and don't encounter such a problem ...

Have you updated your View NX2 already ?


Yes, i redownloaded NX2 and even revert back to NX .. nothing has changed..


try uninstall and reinstall the latest NX2


I did reinstall but still the same.


I realised after saving the edited NEF and close NX2, the next time i re-open it, the sharpness dropped too which I verified with a friend who observed the same thing.


Thanks all for your suggestions.
 

Yes, i redownloaded NX2 and even revert back to NX .. nothing has changed..





I did reinstall but still the same.


I realised after saving the edited NEF and close NX2, the next time i re-open it, the sharpness dropped too which I verified with a friend who observed the same thing.


Thanks all for your suggestions.
You may want to drop an email to Nikon on this.
Let us know if you got any answer for this problem.
:)
 

Dear all CSers.. I have encountered the follow problem.

I have been using View NX2 to do some simple editing (using picture control) to my photos (in NEF format) before saving them and convert the photos into JPEG format for uploading purpose.

Everything works well except for the sharpening part. When I view the photo in ViewNX, it looks all sharp and good but after converting it to JPEG, the sharpness is lost. As though I did not sharpen it at all.

I googled and found people with similar problem. http://www.flickr.com/groups/capturenx/discuss/72157624763329183/

But I do not get a reasonable solution for this. I hope anyone who knows about this or encounter this before is able to share with me how to go around with it.

Thank you very much in advance.

Bro, if I understand all these correctly, there is no problem. NEF & JPEG are not equal or comparable. JPEG is a lossy format & converted based on some algorithms of course the quality & sharpness is different & not as good as the NEF which is orginal & a lossless format. I do batch conversions using NX2 & results the same My 2 cents :)

P.S. Note that you can set the picture quality/conversion ratios in any conversion to JPEG, in ViewNX, ViewNX2 & any other program for that matter.
 

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You may want to drop an email to Nikon on this.
Let us know if you got any answer for this problem.
:)


Thought of doing that before... if I get any answer will post here too.. thanks


Bro, if I understand all these correctly, there is no problem. NEF & JPEG are not equal or comparable. JPEG is a lossy format & converted based on some algorithms of course the quality & sharpness is different & not as good as the NEF which is orginal & a lossless format. I do batch conversions using NX2 & results the same My 2 cents :)

P.S. Note that you can set the picture quality/conversion ratios in any conversion to JPEG, in ViewNX, ViewNX2 & any other program for that matter.


Thanks for the sharing your experience. :)

I hope it is just what you mention that is the problem because I feel NX is rather a fast and good for batch processing tool.
 

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1 way to get ard it:-

Do Exp Comp & white balance adjustment in NEF, then convert. Do the rest of adjustments, including sharpening, in JPEG. Should get better results...

Hope this helps...
 

Thought of doing that before... if I get any answer will post here too.. thanks

Thanks for the sharing your experience. :)

I hope it is just what you mention that is the problem because I feel NX is rather a fast and good for batch processing tool.


Did a few more tests to confirm.Yes, there is a slight but visible difference between the edited NEF & converted JPEG, can see this if you zoom in e.g. 10X.

The ViewNX2 software doesnt seem to have a seperate option to save under the same or a separate file (after all it is View & not Capture software, edits thus limited). The option to save file is via a "Confirm Image Change" popup screen only when you use the convert function & even then you cannot rename/save the edits in another file. Suggest you make a duplicate copy of the original NEF before using ViewNX2. This way you can redo changes/edits if you are not happy with any of the results. Also, you can then compare all three - original NEF, edited NEF, JPG converted. Remember to move the "Quality/Highest Quailty" bar to the very end for the best quality when converting to JPEG. And EVERYTIME you do an edit/save in JPEG, the logarithm applies & the IQ deteriorates further.

Cheers!
 

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Did a few more tests to confirm.Yes, there is a slight but visible difference between the edited NEF & converted JPEG, can see this if you zoom in e.g. 10X.

The ViewNX2 software doesnt seem to have a seperate option to save under the same or a separate file (after all it is View & not Capture software, edits thus limited). The option to save file is via a "Confirm Image Change" popup screen only when you use the convert function & even then you cannot rename/save the edits in another file. Suggest you make a duplicate copy of the original NEF before using ViewNX2. This way you can redo changes/edits if you are not happy with any of the results. Also, you can then compare all three - original NEF, edited NEF, JPG converted. Remember to move the "Quality/Highest Quailty" bar to the very end for the best quality when converting to JPEG. And EVERYTIME you do an edit/save in JPEG, the logarithm applies & the IQ deteriorates further.

Cheers!

There IS an option to change the filename for the converted JPEG image. R u using the correct s/w?
 

Did a few more tests to confirm.Yes, there is a slight but visible difference between the edited NEF & converted JPEG, can see this if you zoom in e.g. 10X.

The ViewNX2 software doesnt seem to have a seperate option to save under the same or a separate file (after all it is View & not Capture software, edits thus limited). The option to save file is via a "Confirm Image Change" popup screen only when you use the convert function & even then you cannot rename/save the edits in another file. Suggest you make a duplicate copy of the original NEF before using ViewNX2. This way you can redo changes/edits if you are not happy with any of the results. Also, you can then compare all three - original NEF, edited NEF, JPG converted. Remember to move the "Quality/Highest Quailty" bar to the very end for the best quality when converting to JPEG. And EVERYTIME you do an edit/save in JPEG, the logarithm applies & the IQ deteriorates further.

Cheers!

There IS an option to change the filename for the converted JPEG image. R u using the correct s/w?


My comments refer to NEF files. Yes you can change the name for the converted JPEG but NOT the edited NEF. The software indeed has NO "save"/"save as" option under the various menus or icons to save a NEF file under another name/file after it has been edited. The mentioned popup screen "Confirm Image Change" & prompt "Some images have been edited. Do you want to save the changes?" is for the edited NEF file only. If answer yes, the original NEF will simply be overridden. In other words the original NEF no longer exists. You cannot save the edits by renaming/saving or creating another NEF file. This is what I believe happened in TS case.

Yes or No answer, the next popup screen "Convert Files" that follows allow numerous options in conversion such as changing the quality/conversion ratio, name change/new filename, location etc but this is for the converted JPEG file only.

Sorry for the long technical explanation, trust this clarifies :)
 

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About Save/Save As on viewNX, check the lower right hand corner of the work space, there are 2 "floppy disk" icons, one of which with a pencil. Hope this might help.
 

1 way to get ard it:-

Do Exp Comp & white balance adjustment in NEF, then convert. Do the rest of adjustments, including sharpening, in JPEG. Should get better results...

Hope this helps...


Thanks for the suggestion. The only concern is the drop in quality (some details that will be lost forever) by working and saving with Jpeg format. But some photos I do go ahead with what you have suggested.


Did a few more tests to confirm.Yes, there is a slight but visible difference between the edited NEF & converted JPEG, can see this if you zoom in e.g. 10X.

The ViewNX2 software doesnt seem to have a seperate option to save under the same or a separate file (after all it is View & not Capture software, edits thus limited). The option to save file is via a "Confirm Image Change" popup screen only when you use the convert function & even then you cannot rename/save the edits in another file. Suggest you make a duplicate copy of the original NEF before using ViewNX2. This way you can redo changes/edits if you are not happy with any of the results. Also, you can then compare all three - original NEF, edited NEF, JPG converted. Remember to move the "Quality/Highest Quailty" bar to the very end for the best quality when converting to JPEG. And EVERYTIME you do an edit/save in JPEG, the logarithm applies & the IQ deteriorates further.

Cheers!


Thanks for doing the further verification. Really appreciates your comments/suggestions and help.


My comments refer to NEF files. Yes you can change the name for the converted JPEG but NOT the edited NEF. The software indeed has NO "save"/"save as" option under the various menus or icons to save a NEF file under another name/file after it has been edited. The mentioned popup screen "Confirm Image Change" & prompt "Some images have been edited. Do you want to save the changes?" is for the edited NEF file only. If answer yes, the original NEF will simply be overridden. In other words the original NEF no longer exists. You cannot save the edits by renaming/saving or creating another NEF file. This is what I believe happened in TS case.

Yes or No answer, the next popup screen "Convert Files" that follows allow numerous options in conversion such as changing the quality/conversion ratio, name change/new filename, location etc but this is for the converted JPEG file only.

Sorry for the long technical explanation, trust this clarifies :)

About Save/Save As on viewNX, check the lower right hand corner of the work space, there are 2 "floppy disk" icons, one of which with a pencil. Hope this might help.


I think yuyu70 is right. But on a safe side it is good to backup all original NEFs and work with a duplicate.

I do see a "revert to original" button beside the drop down box in picture control (top right corner). Clicking it reverts the NEF to its original form, thus removing all edits done.
I am not sure if there will be any deterioration to the photo.

Cheers :)
 

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Thanks for doing the further verification. Really appreciates your comments/suggestions and help.







I think yuyu70 is right. But on a safe side it is good to backup all original NEFs and work with a duplicate.

I do see a "revert to original" button beside the drop down box in picture control (top right corner. Clicking it reverts the NEF to its original form, thus removing all edits done.
I am not sure if there will be any deterioration to the photo.


Cheers :)
NEF is a lossless format, editing a NEF is not altering the image file physically, you can revert it back to original state.

All the changes made on a RAW image file are non-destructive; that is, only the metadata that controls the rendering is changed to make different output versions, leaving the original data unchanged.
taken from raw image format wiki.
 

NEF is a lossless format, editing a NEF is not altering the image file physically, you can revert it back to original state.

taken from raw image format wiki.


Cool... thanks for the reply.
 

About Save/Save As on viewNX, check the lower right hand corner of the work space, there are 2 "floppy disk" icons, one of which with a pencil. Hope this might help.

Thanks bro, you are right. 3rd time doing edits using ViewNX, mostly just use batch conversion to JPEG. Didnt noticed these icons as never expected to find them there.


NEF is a lossless format, editing a NEF is not altering the image file physically, you can revert it back to original state.

taken from raw image format wiki.

Oh so I see, the beauty of RAW & why its called thus :) Thank you, I learned something new. Will learn to shoot more in RAW & try to use such great features in manipulating the pictures files.

To TS, have fun!

Cheers all!
 

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Sorry to bump, I was having this issue with View NX2. D90, 35mm 1.8g, shot RAW NEF. Images look good in View NX, move sharpening slider to 3 or 4, they look great (WB and contrast too, etc).

Export JPG, look at JPG, and NO sharpening was applied, seemingly. But this was in fiit-to-window mode. Zoom in to 0.5, the differences are fewer, and at 1.0 view the difrerences are slight. I'm thinking that View NX does not resample those large JPGs well (or at all).

To test, I converted the NEF to JPEG and resized too, 1024 long side. I looked at that in View NX 2. At fit-to-window it's blurry, but at 1.0 is really nice, even though the image was essentially the same size in the window. So even when View has to shrink the JPG down by about 15 lines of resolution, it blurs up the whole thing. The NEFs, on the other hand, have the sharpening, etc, show up really well at every zoom level, because the sharpening, etc changes are just tags added to the data, so the software can re-apply those settings after resizing the image.

In summary, the software doesn't display a resize very well. Do your back to back between the NEF and JPG at 1.0 zoom.