ViewNX2 won't stop auto-correcting NEF files

[Aaron Gray]

I have a D3000. ViewNX2 will auto-correct all my .NEF files. All I do is click onto the editor and it just does it, even if I don't make any changes. Doesn't matter if it's an indoor or outdoor shot, flash or no flash. The contrast is always increased and the exposure level is always dropped. No matter how much I try to edit it back to the way it was I can't manage to do so. I have the most up to date version of ViewNX2 and the NEF codec.

Is this just the way the program and the files work? I am sorry if this is a newbie-ish question.

 

[Graystar]

There's not much to do about it. You can create a custom Picture Control, and I think you can even transfer it to your D3200 (I do it to my D90).

Under Picture Control click on Launch Utility. Select the Neutral picture control and click on "Use Custom Curve". Then click the "New" button (the interface is poor) and save it as a new picture control. You can now apply that PC to images in ViewNX. You should also be able to export that PC to a flash card and add it to your camera. ViewNX still applies some processing, but that's about as "RAW" as you're going to get.

Another option is to use a different tool such as Raw Therapee.

.

 

[Aaron Gray]

Does Raw Therapee also auto-correct? I'm assuming so based on your statement. Thanks for the tips though, I will give that a try.

 

[Graystar]

Does Raw Therapee also auto-correct? I'm assuming so based on your statement. Thanks for the tips though, I will give that a try.

It has auto-correction functions but you can use its "Neutral" profile that doesn't apply any processing to the image except for white balance.

.

 

[Aaron Gray]

Thank you for the info, I will give this a shot.