blue banding sky

pentax user · 04-10-2013, 07:10 AM

taken with k5 and sigma 10-20 dng raw convert to jpeg with the software that comes with the camera
100%crop

k5 is top notch so it shouldn't be the camera's problem or it's my computer hardware problem?
thanks

Anvh · 04-10-2013, 07:16 AM

Image Posterization

Solution would be to save in higher quality.

stevebrot · 04-10-2013, 07:29 AM

Take the same image and save as tiff or png using 16-bit color. The banding is a result of the limitations of 8-bit color for subtle gradients and can be made worse by post-processing manipulation.

Steve

pentax user · 04-10-2013, 07:41 AM

but it was on dng raw file already, suppose raw is the highest quality
it looks like that even on raw file

Anvh · 04-10-2013, 11:14 AM

What kind of monitor do you've and which software are you using?

If you use a TN screen then you're limit to 6bit colours and you get these sort of banding automatically on the screen but the file is then still okay.

Anyway the banding you see with the JPEG is due to compression, i can tell that for sure because of the JPEG artifacts at the pole and the leaves. With you did there is use a high form of compression meaning less quality. I suggest using setting around 60 to 70% of the max, this seems to be the best balance between size and quality.

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-10-2013, 11:55 AM

I think you need to look at a couple of things. Typically banding like this is the result of modifying the sky tones with exposure correction where the range for the sky has been modified (usually expanded) to the extent that you only have very large steps between color points. It may be a processing error where you do the expansion after a 12/14 bit to 8 bit color depth change where you reduce the data to begin with

Ole · 04-10-2013, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by pentax user

but it was on dng raw file already, suppose raw is the highest quality
it looks like that even on raw file

You don't explain how you dispplay the RAW file. A RAW file isn't directly viewable, there is always some processing involved. With some software all you see is actually a compressed JPG version of the image. As suggested above - generate a TIFF file from your RAW file with no modifications and take a look at it. Looking forward to hearing what you find.

pentax user · 04-11-2013, 05:54 AM

my monitor is dell u2412m
acdsee and pentax digital camera utility 4 also shows banding but not photoshop
so it's software problem

I actually thought it was the filter in front of the sigma lens causes this

thanks guys

Anvh · 04-11-2013, 07:59 AM

I doubt it's a software problem but more a point of behaviour.
try a different zoom level. with 100% or 50% you most likely won't see any.

pentax user · 04-11-2013, 08:30 AM

I have tried different zoom level on acdsee and pentax digital camera utility 4 before I put this up but i didn't bother open it up photoshop

abmj · 04-11-2013, 09:10 AM

I have seen this also and I think Ole has the answer. Even looking directly at the RAW with Faststone Viewer, I occasionally see distinct banding in a blue sky. I know that I am actually seeing a "down and dirty" Jpeg on my laptop's cheap monitor so I don't worry about it. The final adjusted image is fine.

04-10-2013, 07:10 AM	#1
pentax user Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 85	blue banding sky taken with k5 and sigma 10-20 dng raw convert to jpeg with the software that comes with the camera 100%crop k5 is top notch so it shouldn't be the camera's problem or it's my computer hardware problem? thanks

04-11-2013, 05:54 AM	#8
pentax user Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 85 Original Poster	my monitor is dell u2412m acdsee and pentax digital camera utility 4 also shows banding but not photoshop so it's software problem I actually thought it was the filter in front of the sigma lens causes this thanks guys Last edited by pentax user; 04-11-2013 at 06:01 AM.

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04-10-2013, 07:16 AM	#2
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Image Posterization Solution would be to save in higher quality.

04-10-2013, 07:29 AM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Take the same image and save as tiff or png using 16-bit color. The banding is a result of the limitations of 8-bit color for subtle gradients and can be made worse by post-processing manipulation. Steve

04-10-2013, 07:41 AM	#4
pentax user Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 85 Original Poster	but it was on dng raw file already, suppose raw is the highest quality it looks like that even on raw file

04-10-2013, 11:14 AM	#5
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	What kind of monitor do you've and which software are you using? If you use a TN screen then you're limit to 6bit colours and you get these sort of banding automatically on the screen but the file is then still okay. Anyway the banding you see with the JPEG is due to compression, i can tell that for sure because of the JPEG artifacts at the pole and the leaves. With you did there is use a high form of compression meaning less quality. I suggest using setting around 60 to 70% of the max, this seems to be the best balance between size and quality.

04-10-2013, 11:55 AM	#6
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	I think you need to look at a couple of things. Typically banding like this is the result of modifying the sky tones with exposure correction where the range for the sky has been modified (usually expanded) to the extent that you only have very large steps between color points. It may be a processing error where you do the expansion after a 12/14 bit to 8 bit color depth change where you reduce the data to begin with

04-10-2013, 12:42 PM	#7
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,409	Originally posted by pentax user but it was on dng raw file already, suppose raw is the highest quality it looks like that even on raw file You don't explain how you dispplay the RAW file. A RAW file isn't directly viewable, there is always some processing involved. With some software all you see is actually a compressed JPG version of the image. As suggested above - generate a TIFF file from your RAW file with no modifications and take a look at it. Looking forward to hearing what you find.

04-11-2013, 07:59 AM	#9
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	I doubt it's a software problem but more a point of behaviour. try a different zoom level. with 100% or 50% you most likely won't see any.

04-11-2013, 08:30 AM	#10
pentax user Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 85 Original Poster	I have tried different zoom level on acdsee and pentax digital camera utility 4 before I put this up but i didn't bother open it up photoshop

04-11-2013, 09:10 AM	#11
abmj Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central California Posts: 600	I have seen this also and I think Ole has the answer. Even looking directly at the RAW with Faststone Viewer, I occasionally see distinct banding in a blue sky. I know that I am actually seeing a "down and dirty" Jpeg on my laptop's cheap monitor so I don't worry about it. The final adjusted image is fine.