[okfn-discuss] openraw page?

Thu Jan 22 03:37:48 UTC 2009

Hello everyone:

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what to do with
http://openraw.org/ and similar links?

Background: "Raw" is a generic term for the format used by a
digital camera, which is usually proprietary and specific to the
manufacturer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_image_format

Most better cameras record digital images in either jpg or "raw",
the difference being jpg has 8bits of color intensity information
and raw typically has at least 12bits. Many open-source minded
photographers of course want an open standard but the issue
is (more complicated and) more important than that. Many museums
store images in a "raw" format. If it is proprietary, how do they know if
their images can be viewed in future years (when the company
may not exist, or ...)? The desire for an open standard is clear
it seems to me.

Looking more carefully into the subject, there seems to be a rather
heated debate by many of the top experts about various issues.
I'd rather stay out of it but the openness aspect does
seem related related to the topics discussed by this group.

Any comments?

- David Joyner