Kolev RAW - advanced RAW processing software

Main

Kolev RAW is an environment for working with RAW files produced by digital cameras. Kolev RAW offers advanced RAW data interpolation algorithms, sharpness and noise-reduction filters, colour management, customizable user interface and many other features. Converted RAW files can be saved as TIFF or JPEG images. Almost all existing camera models are supported.

Currently only Windows version is available. Versions for Linux, Solaris and Mac OS X are currently at alpha-stage and will be released later.

There are two versions of Kolev RAW: basic and Kolev RAW Pro. Basic version is available for free, without any fees or limitations. Advanced “Pro” version is commercial, and contains the most advanced algorithms and features, also it is more optimized for speed. Full list of features can be seen at Features page. Basic version can be downloaded from Downloads page. To obtain trial version of “Pro”, please, write to info@kolevraw.com .

The main task of development on initial stages was creation of the top-quality interpolation method. Current “Pro” version contains such algorithm, providing both high-level of anti-aliasing (“moire”) protection and high level of detail extraction without creation of jaggies or other interpolation artefacts at the same time. Also this algorithm doesn't create artefacts in the “minor” Red & Blue channels of RAW image (in comparison with other methods), which is especially significant for B&W work. Examples can be seen on Image Quality page. Basic version uses classic "Kolev RAW" interpolation.

News:

November 30, 2008 – Release of updated Kolev RAW - pre-release version R7.
Changes: UI improvements. Added support for Canon EOS-5D Mark II, EOS-50D, G-10, Nikon P6000, FUJIFILM IS Pro, Pentax K2000, Panasonic G1, FX-150, FZ-28, built-in profile correction for EOS-1000D, Nikon D90 and Sony A900, added built-in profile for LX3

October 15, 2008 – Release of updated Kolev RAW 0.99 (Pro 6 special build) . Due to a huge amount of changes planned for a final Kolev RAW Pro 1.0 version, I have decided to release a special build of Pro version under conditions of Basic version (i.e. without registration fee and restrictions of use, no need for any form of registration) . You can download it in the Download section as usual, instead of basic version. It has also been thoroughly tested under the Windows Vista and XP SP3 to avoid any compatibility problems.
Changes & Features:

This version contains all features of Pro 5 version, including advanced interpolation, high-quality chroma & luminance Noise Reduction and Pre-Filters.
Additionaly this version contains an automatic compensation for maze-artefacts which are common for some Olympus E-series SLR camera models.
Support for a latest cameras like Canon 1000d, 50d, Nikon D90, Panasonic LX3 - altough some of them lack built-in profiles and output colours are RAW. Profiles will be included in the next update.

July 06, 2008 – Release of updated Kolev RAW 0.99 Basic version (BR6-3) – RC2. Changes:

Speed-up of colour tranformations on multi-core CPUs.

June 29, 2008 – Release of updated Kolev RAW 0.99 Basic version (BR6-2) – RC2. Changes:

Fixed loading of RAW files generated by new Sony Alpha series cameras (A-350...)

This is a bug-fix only release.

June 23, 2008 – Release of updated Kolev RAW 0.99 Basic version (BR6) – RC2. Changes:

Curves Control Module available.
Minor improvements & bug fixes.

Next basic releases will feature filters optimized for parallel execution on dual-core CPU's (Pro version already can use an arbitrary number of cores). Also, separate GUI processing (threaded) is planned.

May 19, 2008 – Release of updated 0.99 Basic version (BR5) – RC for 1.0 (Based on 0.99 Pro R5). Changes:

Interpolation – HD, Classic fast Kolev RAW (2005) interpolation will be added soon
Filters – Luma : HQ and Chroma : HQ (“Uniform” from Pro).
Histogram Correction mode
Fill-Light feature
“Memory” for settings.
Support for a new camera models (including Pentax K20d & K200d ; Sony A200 , A300 , A350 ; Olympus E-420 ; Canon EOS 450D ... almost all cameras currently available are supported, but not all were tested).

Although this version has lot of features from PRO version, it has less optimized code (there is no multi-core execution) and doesn't include most advanced image processing techniques from PRO. Faster NR will be available later.

Next development targets are: Code optimizations, realization of updated GUI with new features.

March 9, 2008 – Release of updated 0.99 Pro version (R5). Changes: Added first part of future HDR module - "Fill light" control and "memory" for settings of previously processed files. Major update of "Basic" version is expected soon.

February 17, 2008 – Release of new Pro and Basic versions of Kolev RAW is delayed. Delay is caused by two major changes in 'Pro' code - new system of RAW files management and HDR module. New "Basic" version will be built on basis of "Pro" version, with improved functions. Release of updated versions is expected at the end of February.

December 24, 2007 – Release of updated 0.99 Pro version (R4). Changes: added chroma pre-filter and new “smart #2” chroma-filter in addition to current #1 for high-quality chroma noise suppression without colo smearing. Planned improvements: shadow detail recovery, tools for colour correction, settings handling. Planned improvements for basic version – automatic histogram adjustment.

December 12, 2007 – Release of updated 0.99 Basic version (BR3). Changes: Improved highlight recovery; support for all latest cameras added (for example: Olympus E3, Canon D40, Sony A700, Nikon D3&D300).

December 12, 2007 – Release of updated 0.99 Pro version (R3). Added: changed histogram scaling - shadows and highlights levels are adjustable now, default settings are also optimized; halo-free, "zero-radius" sharpening; support for a several new camera models - Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, OLYMPUS SP560UZ, Panasonic DMC-L10. New (alternative) chroma filter is planned for a next Pro release. Now some improvements will be also added to basic version, please wait for update.

December 1, 2007 – Release of updated 0.99 basic version (0.99 BR2). Added: Croppping is enabled now (crop mode can be switched on/off using toolbar button). Support for a new camera models is not included yet, it will be included in future releases after some additional testing.

November 22, 2007 – Release of 0.99 basic version. Added: Output image resizing is available now. HQ interpolation is used (Pro version is using SHQ interpolation for resizing). In the next update support for a new camera models will be added.

November 17, 2007 – Release of updated 0.99 Pro version (R2). Changes: histogram stretching option for better contrast and optimal filling of output range; better performance; support for new camera models - Canon 40D & G9, Sony A700, Olympus E-3 ,Nikon D3 & D300 and more; Non-linear sharpness-radius control. Now some features and improvements will be also added to basic version, please wait for update.

November 8, 2007 – Release of updated basic 0.98 version (BR2m). Changes: fixed incompatibilities of BR2 with some Windows installations. Please write me if you have such problem with Pro version to get an update.

October 27, 2007 – Release of updated basic 0.98 version (BR2). Changes: highlights-recovery, changed UI-look.

October 25, 2007 – Release of 0.99 Pro version. Added: Correction of chromatic aberrations, noise pre-filtration. Now some features and improvements will be added to basic version, please wait for update.

September 15, 2007 – Release of 0.98 basic version with support for almost all camera models and many improvements.