Linear Profiles with an iPhone 15 Pro + new links

[AlanLichty]

I was browsing on Tony Kuyper's website a couple of days ago and stumbled across his blog discussing linear color profiles. He recently became a fan and discussed his M.O. for using them which pretty much mirror others who have explored their applicability. The blog then presented a whole boatload of ready to install linear profiles for many different cameras. I already have linear profiles for my drones and cameras but had never set any up for use with RAW iPhone imagery. I downloaded a set (one for each lens) for both the iPhone 13 Pro as well as my current iPhone 15 Pro to give it a try. The profile downloads are free FWIW.

I have been shooting in RAW on iPhones for several years now but have always noted some frustrations with blocked up shadows and borderline highlights that aren't as responsive to tweaks using Adobe's Camera RAW controls (LR/ACR) as the rest of my camera gear. I always chalked it up to Apple's computational photography approach and accepted things for what they were. As I just found out this wasn't an inevitable outcome and most of the tweaks I wasn't happy with were in Apple's ProRAW profiles and could be bypassed for a more pleasing result at least for my feeble eyes.

Here are a pair of iPhone captures - one indoors and one outdoors comparing images processed using Apple's ProRAW profile along with one using linear profiles.

EDIT: - here is the link to one of Tony's Blog articles on Linear Profiles with links to the Profile repository. The link above is to the Tony Kuyper web site and not to the specific blog article. Here is a link to the original Linear Profile article and the camera model repository.

First up are some geraniums outside of a local grocery store after a morning shower passed by.

Apple ProRAW - almost over the top saturation with the bloom colors and blocky shadows. Lots of contrast too.

A version processed using a Linear profile:

An indoor set with a shot of my workshop. The challenges here are the blacks of my table saw as well as the bare tubes of the overhead lighting. Also a bit of a bluish cast overall and strong shadows.

The Linear version with a much more realistic rendering of the actual colors and more controlled darks/lights:

My conclusion so far is that while I like the iPhone for quick shots on the run I feel like using the linear profiles will result in much better images for shots where I want a more serious and accurate depiction of what I was shooting.

 

[Ken Rennie]

Very interesting Alan. Your processing on a linear profile produces excellent results. I sometimes dabble with linear profiles but looking at these images I should spend some more time learning to use them properly as the color gradation looks excellent. Ken

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks Ken - the linear profiles definitely leave us with more work to do but when the built in camera profiles fall short of allowing us to get the results we want I feel like it's worth the effort. I only rarely deploy them on captures from my DSLR and drones unless the dynamic range in the capture is exceptionally wide and the linear profile can save the shot.

Tony's blog article (linked above) on his own workflow for linear profiles is a good starting point if you don't already have one.

 

[JimFox]

I might have to look at that Alan, it's certainly quite the difference. Is it as simple as using a Color Profile in ACR? Or is a it whole new workflow? (you can tell I haven't clicked the link yet)

 

[AlanLichty]

I might have to look at that Alan, it's certainly quite the difference. Is it as simple as using a Color Profile in ACR? Or is a it whole new workflow? (you can tell I haven't clicked the link yet)

It is another Color Profile in ACR once you have installed the proper .DCP file. The workflow part is how to process the image once you have stripped out the previous profile color curves. Most of the profiles we currently use aren't even close to linear so the first time you see an image with a linear profile it will appear quite drab prior to any edits. On the plus side there is a lot more room for your edits in both the brights and the shadows.

 

[Trent Watts]

Thanks for this Alan. Most of what you posted is over my level of knowledge so I would have to do a lot of learning. It sure improves the images you posted. I have been disappointed with my iPhone 15 pro images on this trip to Tofino, especially the ones of dappled light in the forest so this might be helpful.

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks for this Alan. Most of what you posted is over my level of knowledge so I would have to do a lot of learning. It sure improves the images you posted. I have been disappointed with my iPhone 15 pro images on this trip to Tofino, especially the ones of dappled light in the forest so this might be helpful.

Thanks Trent - follow this link to Tony's blog on Linear Profiles. He has some good explanations for what it is and how to install the profiles along with some basic instructions on using it.