Gamma Slider?

[unpopular]

Just a quick question: do most RAW processors have a gamma slider?

 

[unpopular]

really, nobody knows?!

 

[Josh66]

None I've used have one, as far as I can remember.

 

[unpopular]

It appears that the Nikon one does, just below the curves there is a levels adjustment. I realized that the middle slider in Levels is actually Gamma. Haven't used levels ever since a histogram appeared in curves.

 

[Josh66]

Most of them probably have something similar, or a combination of sliders that can give a similar result, but none I've seen call it gamma. I've only seen gamma sliders in film scanning software.

The middle slider on levels - is that midrange tones? In the software I've used, that didn't really behave like the gamma slider I'm used to... (which is not really good or bad, just different.)

 

[unpopular]

well. in my editing software the slider is called 'gamma' and scales from 0.1 to 10, which sure sounds like a gamma exponent. as I am sure you know, gamma is a *very* specific operation.

 

[Josh66]

Sounds like the gamma slider I'm familiar with - I've just never seen it on a RAW processor before.

 

[unpopular]

hmm. if I don't get an definitive answer, i'll d/l the Nikon and Canon software and some raw files from dpreview.

I know that the softwrae I use (raw photo processor) has one, and that C1 has one.

 

[480sparky]

I can't find it on Capture NX2.

 

[MLeeK]

Very akin to the blacks slider in ACR/LR. PS has a gamma slider if you are adjusting the exposure in an exposure layer. You get more over-saturation of the colors with gamma there. Blacks will make your colors pop, but the over-saturation doesn't happen, it just starts turning black.
Gamma can be very useful in an exceptionally flat and colorless image. You can bring back a lot with the saturation, vibrance and blacks, but gamma is definitely easier to use in that case.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

The Brightness slider in Adobe Camera Raw acts as a gamma slider.

 

[Garbz]

But more importantly why do you ask?

There is a standard gamma curve applied to the linear raw sensor data. The gamma curve can be approximated in curves, and every raw converter already has a myriad of other contrast / tonal adjustment tools.

 

[Dominantly]

There is one in CS5.Open merge to HDR.

 

[unpopular]

Sorry guys for the delay!

I'm working on a unified exposure system for digital, similar to/based around the zone system that actually does what the zone system does, rather than a pretentious way to explain exposure compensation that sounds impressive.

I need a standard image transformation, such as a gamma function that will be similar across all image editors.

As I am learning more about the math involved here, I think I can just use curves after all. Thanks all for your input!