Fine Image Detail and Quality

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One of Bibble 4's strengths is its ability to resolve and preserve more details than similar programs all while introducing fewer objectionable artifacts. Preserving detail is a key feature of any Raw converter, as once it's lost it can never be brought back in post processing. Additionally, the "Demosaicing artifacts" produced by some programs in the presence of fine image detail are some of the hardest things to fix after the fact, and thus preventing them is a priority.

We've seen many folks praising the level of detail provided by C1, and while we agree it is better than most, we think the methods used by Bibble 4 provide yet another level of quality (and take less time too)!

The crop at the right is taken from a Canon 1D image of a standard resolution chart. This type of fine detail is the most difficult to reproduce as it approaches the sampling limit of the sensor, and is frequently blurred by the camera's built in Anti-Aliasing Filter.

All converters introduce some amount of color moire due to the nature of the sensor, but this is relatively easy to clean up in post processing. The checkerboard or maze artifacts are another matter entirely, and are very difficult to remove once added.

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© Uwe Steinmueler

Real World Sample

In reality, no one but the folks at Bibble Labs take pictures of resolution charts, so here is a real world example. While certainly not an artistic shot, this Canon 1DS test image from www.outbackphoto.com is an extreme challenge for any Raw converter. The 1DS's full frame sensor combined with the wide angle lens produce all manner of distortions and aberrations in the image. These tend to resonate when converted, and getting things right is a real challenge.

Each of the following thumbnails will link to a crop from the above image showing a particular problem area. Judge for yourself, which program resolves more detail and has fewer artifacts. Of course, the methods used by each program vary and each has different types of patterns that cause problems for them. It is certainly possible to find an image in which the results will be different. However, in our experience for most real world images, Bibble 4 produces fewer artifacts and preserves more detail.