Reconstructing Camera Raw Images with Image Processing API

By default, ImageGear reconstructs Camera Raw images automatically, using the settings found in the image metadata. However, for some camera raw formats, ImageGear also allows you to use custom parameters for color reconstruction.

See ImageGear Supported Digital Camera RAW Formats for a list of Camera Raw formats supported by ImageGear, which includes the availability of custom color reconstruction. You can also verify whether custom color reconstruction is available for a specific image by checking the presence of the "Common" subtree (IGMDTAG_ID_DCRAW_COMMON) in the image's metadata tree. Custom color adjustment can only be applied to the file image if the "Common" metadata subtree is present.

The automatic color reconstruction process described below is also applicable to Adobe DNG images.

In order to apply custom color reconstruction to an image, you should first switch off all or some of the automatic color reconstruction operations. Use RECONSTRUCT_COLORS, APPLY_COLORSPACE_CONVERSION, and APPLY_TONE_CORRECTION control parameters of DCRAW, Headerless Digital Camera RAW, or Adobe DNG format filters for this.

If custom color reconstruction is not supported for an image, ImageGear does not provide the "Common" metadata subtree in the image metadata, an attempt to read it using non-default settings of RECONSTRUCT_COLORS, APPLY_COLORSPACE_CONVERSION, or APPLY_TONE_CORRECTION control parameters will result in an ImageGear error.

In order to perform the custom color reconstruction, you will need to obtain the color reconstruction metadata from the images. See IGMetadataItemRead Event for information about how to access the metadata. See DCRAW Non-Image Data Structure for information on specific metadata tags used for color reconstruction.

Specific stages of color reconstruction are discussed next: