RAW Support
From IRIDAS Online Documentation
Contents |
Overview
IRIDAS RealTime RAW 2.0 technology supports virtually all Bayer-Pattern-based cameras on the market today.
RealTime RAW 2.0 is a render quality GPU-based Bayer-Interpolation technology that works in real-time up to 4K for current generation graphics cards. Since it is GPU-based, all processing is done in the graphics card - the CPU is not involved in the deBayering process.
IRIDAS introduced the first real-time RAW support for the Phantom camera at in April 2007 at NAB. Over the following twelve months the other RAW camera formats were added and the real-time rendering technology was enhanced (hence the "2.0").
Compressed vs. Uncompressed RAW Formats
Currently, there is no standard file format for RAW data. Each camera manufacturer has their own format, or sometimes multiple formats depending on the workflow.
Most RAW file formats are uncompressed. They contain the RAW sensor data as it was read out from the imager. Since RAW files only store one color value per pixel (Red, Green or Blue), the files are roughly one third the size of a full RGB image. A DALSA 4K RAW file, for example, typically has 16MB. Real-time playback of these uncompressed formats requires fast disk arrays or SAN-based storage.
In addition to the uncompressed RAW formats, there are currently two compressed RAW file formats. Both store RAW data with visually lossless wavelet compression applied. Cineform RAW, developed by Cineform. uses a proprietary high-speed wavelet compression algorithm. REDCode RAW is the acquisition format of the RED camera. The format is still under development.
Compression significantly reduces the file sizes and thus data rates required for writing and reading the frames, bringing them down to the levels of ordinary hard disks and flash media. This comes at the expense of significant CPU processing required to decompress the frames, which usually prohibits real-time playback above 2K. However, since wavelet-based algorithms allow for quality and resolution layers inside one frame, it is usually possible the extract a lower resolution or lower quality frame in real time. This enables workflows that use instantly-derived 2K proxies for real-time playback and slower 4K processing for critical review and rendering.
Supported File Formats
ARRI D21 .ari
The ARRI D21 .ari format is fully supported in all IRIDAS applications starting 2007. For render quality processing, use IRIDAS 2008 series applications which incorporate RealTime RAW 2.0. All 2008 releases include presets for applying Matrix and exposure LUTs to get white balanced and correctly saturated pictures.
ARRI D21 S.Two RAW (.dpx)
The ARRI D21 RAW files recorded on an S.Two Digital Film Recorder (file extension .dpx) are fully supported in all IRIDAS 2008 applications. To enable the ARRI .dpx RAW files please open the settings dialog, select File Formats, then toggle the checkbox for SMPTE DPX / ARRI D21 RAW.
Cineform (.avi/.mov)
All Cineform-compressed RAW files are fully supported in all IRIDAS applications starting 2007. For render quality processing, use IRIDAS 2008 series applications which incorporate RealTime RAW 2.0.
DALSA Origin 4K RAW (.dpx)
DALSA Origina RAW files (extension .dpx) are fully supported in all IRIDAS 2008 series applications.
Phantom HD/4K (.cine)
All Phantom .cine files are supported starting 2007. If you have an older Phantom RAW file with the extension .cin, please enable the corresponding flag in the File Formats tab of your user settings, to enable compatibility with this format. For render quality processing, use IRIDAS 2008 series applications which incorporate RealTime RAW 2.0.
REDCode RAW (.r3d)
The SDK to decode R3D data has been delivered by RED in August 2008, IRIDAS will update all 2008 versions of all applications with R3D support shortly.In the meantime, r3d files wrapped in Quicktime reference files, are supported on Mac OS X versions of SpeedGrade XR and SpeedGrade DI. RED camera users can contact IRIDAS for more details.
Silicon Imaging SI 2K/SI Mini (Cineform RAW .avi/.mov)
Cineform RAW files generated by the Silicon Imaging cameras are supported starting 2007. For render quality processing, use IRIDAS 2008 series applications which incorporate RealTime RAW 2.0 and matrix and .Look metadata support.
Silicon Imaging SI 2K/SI Mini (Uncompressed .siv)
Uncompressed .siv files generated by the Silicon Imaging cameras are fully supported in all 2008 series applications.
Weisscam HS-1 RAW (.wcr)
Uncompressed Weisscam RAW files generated by the Weisscam HS-1 cameras are supported starting 2007. For render quality processing, use IRIDAS 2008 series applications which incorporate RealTime RAW 2.0.