PDCU better colors and NR?

**MortenV** · 07-23-2018, 02:08 AM

Hello
I have always thought that JPEG right from the camera and the result from PDCU would be identical.
But today I tried to compare JPEG from the camera with JPEG from a RAW+ file that was developed with PDCU 8.5.1.
What I saw was better colors (less magenta) and better NR.
Maybe it's because there's been a lot since my K-3 was launched and it's now evident when comparing the latest RAW processing.
Have others experienced something similar?
I have attached two small photos that unfortunately do not justify what I could see.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

Piotrek K · 07-23-2018, 08:14 AM

I do not have K-3, but I tend to agree that PDCU gives better output compared to in-camera processing for my old Pentaxes. Set sharpness to FS for better results, auto white balance is also nice here. I do not like noise reduction here, but I tend to use it in selective manner anyway. But, yes - colors are usually great!

The Squirrel Mafia · 07-23-2018, 12:08 PM - **2 Likes**

Even though I primarily use RawTherapee most of the time, I do use PDCU on occasion to get exact colors. I think I've tried just about everything else & nothing seems to come close to the colors that PDCU puts out.

The annoying part of PDCU is that it's super laggy & takes up a lot of system resources. I run a Windows 10 PC with an AMD FX-8310 CPU, 500GB SSD, 32GB of RAM & it's still laggy. It does the same thing on an Intel i5 & i7 machine.

If anyone is interested, I have attached some PDCU parameters that I use. I start with these & change settings as required. Most of the time they are spot on for me & don't really require any further setting changes.

P.S. Forgot to mention that these processing parameters are meant for non-accelerator equipped cameras. In other words, they will make K-70, KP, & K-1II files look funny.

pxt · 08-25-2018, 09:54 AM

PDCU is Raw Therapee engine? I use them few years ago.

Piotrek K · 08-25-2018, 10:22 AM

PDCU is Pentax-oriented Silkypix software.

pxt · 08-25-2018, 11:49 AM

It is a software from camera CD or another?

Piotrek K · 08-25-2018, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by pxt

It is a software from camera CD or another?

From CD.

pxt · 08-26-2018, 07:34 PM

I tried old version from K200D and it was not comfortable. UI was weird.

Piotrek K · 08-27-2018, 01:47 AM

UI is more or less the same, but newer versions are much better output quality-wise. BTW for me UI is quite good as it is simple.

pxt · 08-27-2018, 02:57 AM

As owner Capture One I can recommend app for output image quality. Only disadventage is no pixel shift compatibility. For now I don't have tripod so it is not issue for me.

07-23-2018, 12:08 PM - 2 Likes	#3
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,054	Even though I primarily use RawTherapee most of the time, I do use PDCU on occasion to get exact colors. I think I've tried just about everything else & nothing seems to come close to the colors that PDCU puts out. The annoying part of PDCU is that it's super laggy & takes up a lot of system resources. I run a Windows 10 PC with an AMD FX-8310 CPU, 500GB SSD, 32GB of RAM & it's still laggy. It does the same thing on an Intel i5 & i7 machine. If anyone is interested, I have attached some PDCU parameters that I use. I start with these & change settings as required. Most of the time they are spot on for me & don't really require any further setting changes. P.S. Forgot to mention that these processing parameters are meant for non-accelerator equipped cameras. In other words, they will make K-70, KP, & K-1II files look funny. Last edited by The Squirrel Mafia; 12-17-2018 at 01:56 PM.

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07-23-2018, 08:14 AM	#2
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	I do not have K-3, but I tend to agree that PDCU gives better output compared to in-camera processing for my old Pentaxes. Set sharpness to FS for better results, auto white balance is also nice here. I do not like noise reduction here, but I tend to use it in selective manner anyway. But, yes - colors are usually great!

08-25-2018, 09:54 AM	#4
pxt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 290	PDCU is Raw Therapee engine? I use them few years ago.

08-25-2018, 10:22 AM	#5
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	PDCU is Pentax-oriented Silkypix software.

08-25-2018, 11:49 AM	#6
pxt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 290	It is a software from camera CD or another?

08-25-2018, 03:08 PM	#7
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	Originally posted by pxt It is a software from camera CD or another? From CD.

08-26-2018, 07:34 PM	#8
pxt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 290	I tried old version from K200D and it was not comfortable. UI was weird.

08-27-2018, 01:47 AM	#9
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	UI is more or less the same, but newer versions are much better output quality-wise. BTW for me UI is quite good as it is simple.

08-27-2018, 02:57 AM	#10
pxt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 290	As owner Capture One I can recommend app for output image quality. Only disadventage is no pixel shift compatibility. For now I don't have tripod so it is not issue for me.

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