User Manual

Camera Raw Decoding Explained
Camera raw media formats are so named because they capture raw color space data directly
from the sensor of whatever digital cinema camera did the recording. Raw image data is not
human readable, and must be debayered or demosaiced to convert the original raw data into
image data that can be handed off to DaVinci Resolve’s image processing pipeline.
Color Page
Image Processing
Camera Raw
Decoding
Deliver
Page Output
Raw
Image
Data
Raw decoding is the very first image processing operation that takes place, and it takes place
before all other operations in the Color page, before even the Source bar in the Node Editor.
For this reason, it’s important to understand that the ideal transformation of raw image data to
DaVinci Resolve-friendly image data is one that preserves the maximum amount of image data
for continued processing. Since the 32-bit floating point accuracy of DaVinci Resolve’s image
processing pipeline preserves all transformed raw data with exceptional fidelity, the Camera
Raw parameters are primarily useful for making whatever initial adjustments will produce the
most optimum starting point for grading.
The Camera Raw panel of the Project Settings contain groups of parameters that correspond to
every camera raw media format that’s supported by DaVinci Resolve. Using these parameters in
the Camera Raw panel, you can override the original camera metadata that was written at the
time of recording, and make simultaneous adjustments to all camera raw media throughout
your project.
Camera Raw project settings
Chapter – 5 Camera Raw Settings 174