Silkypix Raw File Converter settings

Time for an update.

I found a workaround to use X-Transformer with SilkyPix (7).

SilkyPix can load DNG files but does not support the ones created by X-Transformer. The reason is it only supports DNG files up to Camera RAW 5.4.

But there is a workaround!

1. Convert the RAF files with Irident X-Transformer to DNG files.
2. Import the X-Transformer DNG files into Lightroom.
3. Export the DNG files within Lightroom as DNG files.
4. Select Compatibility: "Camera Raw 5.4 and later" in the export settings

5. 

6. Open the reexported DNG files in SilkyPix
7. Work in SilkyPix!

Pros

• No crashed blacks! The film simulations in SilkyPix have a weaker dark contrast and offer a better starting point.
• SilkyPix offers more sharpening algorithms and better control over sharpening.

Cons

• More steps involved in postprocessing workflow.
• SilkyPix takes a lot more time for rendering JPEGs than Lightroom.

Some words to the performance of SilkyPix (7). I measured how long Lightroom and SilkyPix took to render the same images. Some of you migth find this useful too.

• Lightroom rendering RAF: 6 minutes
• Lithroom rendering DNG (X-Transformer): 4 minutes
• SilkyPix rendering RAF: 20 minutes
• SilkyPix rendering DNG (X-Transformer): 11 minutes

It is easy to see that Lightroom is faster when it comes to exporting final images. By using DNG files you can speed up the whole process but I did not include the time it took X-Transformer to generate the DNG files.

An example of the workaround.

Lightroom:

Velvia; Auto WB; sharpening 25, 1.0, 100, 0; luma noise reduction 4

Ligthroom + X-Transformer:

Velvia; Auto WB; sharpening 25, 0.9, 25, 0; luma noise reduction 5

SilkyPix:

Velvia; Auto WB; sharpening pure detail 25, 25, 0; luma noise reduction 15

SilkyPix + X-Transformer:

Velvia; Auto WB; sharpening pure detail 25, 25, 0; luma noise reduction 15