Raws Details – Use it or not?

[bernhard1945]

I'm just trying to find out as to whether I should use "Raw Details" which now – since the newest release – is available in the Menu "Details". The general Information about this function provided by Adobe doesn't give me enough guidance as it is too general (bigger sizes). I can't find any related info in this forum yet.
I would like to understand from which sizes of pictures (pixel, dpi), monitor and publishing items (i.e. TV-Screens, printed items) it is essential to use RAW Details.
My pics have usually 6000x4000 pixels, are imported into LrC as dng-files and exported from LrC as TIFF-files with 360 dpi. I'm using a 28" monitor. From time to time some (very few) pictures are printed on bigger formats, such as 90 x 60 cm or also bigger. Also I show a selection of my picture on TV-Screens to fan/friends and family.
Is there any advice as to whether I should use "Raw Details" anyway or – maybe – only in certain circumstances, e.g. when extracting details of a pic or for specific themes.
Second question: if I did use it, can (should) I use it together with denoising the pic or as a separete go.
Your advices will be appreciated very much.
Bernhard
 

[DdeGannes · Accepted solution]

The Raw Detail feature has been available for several years prior to the introduction of Super resolution and Ai Denoise. It preforms as the name suggests and enhances the process of Raw Image files.

It can be used by itself, if you use the Ai Denoise feature or the super resolution feature it will be automatically used. After you use one of those features when the process completes you will see it is also ticked.

[JohanElzenga]

Contrary to what the name may seem to suggest, 'Raw Details' does not increase the general amount of detail, so it is definitely overkill to use it on each image. Raw Details uses a different kind of demosaicing that can give a rather subtle benefit in certain images, such as an image that contains a neon sign. In most images you won't see any difference.

[Per Berntsen]

To determine if Raw Details improves the image, apply it, and then compare before and after at 100% view.

If it improves the image, keep it, if not, don't use it.

Viewing at 100% is extremely important for assessing any image detail. This is the only magnification that gives you a true impression of the image – one image pixel is represented by one screen pixel. Any other view (like Fit) will be inaccurate and misleading because the image has been scaled.

If you have a high resolution monitor (generally 4k or more, but less than that if you have a laptop), you might want to use 200% view because the pixels are tiny, and details that you cannot see at 100% may be revealed at 200%.

I have tried Raw Details from time to time over the years, but I have only seen a marginal improvement in a few cases.

Most of the time, there is no visible change in the image, so I never use it.

It might be useful in combination with Super resolution, which I don't use either.

To determine if you should use it with Denoise, create a virtual copy, do Denoise on the original and Denoise + Raw Details on the virtual copy. Then compare the results at 100% view.

[DdeGannes]

Refer to my initial post. No need to use the Raw Detail by itself.

[JohanElzenga]

Yep. It's not a choice. Raw Details is always used for Denoise and Super Resolution. And Dennis, please post proper screenshots rather than poor phone photos: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mh26782/mac

[DdeGannes]

See screen shot from my iMAC LrC 12.5.2  OS BigSur.

[JohanElzenga]

OK, so it was Denoise. Don't you think it might be a good idea to mention that? Then we don't have to guess...

Nice screenshot, by the way. 🙂

[DdeGannes]

I have used all the detail features over several years as they are enhanced, in the past two years there have changed significantly and created challenging workflow issues for users.

These features were a great assistance to me when preparing images for large sized prints at professional labs.

[JohanElzenga]

These features were a great assistance to me when preparing images for large sized prints at professional labs.

By @DdeGannes

I assume you are referring to Super Resolution now? I don't think that Raw Details alone does very much in that respect.

[DdeGannes]

@JohanElzenga , I would only use Super Resolution if I was making a significant crop of the Raw Image. I would likely use Denoise with Raw Detail and export a tiff to send to the printing service.

Looking forward to what will come with LrC 15 in a couple of weeks.

[KR Seals]

Your question seems to really be how many pixels do I need in the final exported image that you will use on those other display devices. That should be based on the pixel dimension of the device/TV. 4K TV is actually 3840 x 2160. Any greater pixel dimension of the image you want to display on that 4K will just be lost in the reinterpolation for the screen size.

If have deeply cropped an image and need more pixels that might be the time to use Super Resolution.

Think in Pixel dimensions, not DPI. DPI is more commonly an issue in printing and doesn't apply to displays. (except as part of the specs.)

Since 4K TV is 3840 x 2160 your photos will fit best if you can crop them to that ratio during processing in Lightroom Classic.

That's a 1.777 crop ratio.

[bernhard1945]

Well then – many thanks for all responses. Meanwhile I realized that my questions in way were superfluous as "Raw Details" are executed automatically when denoising a picture. 
Remains the (minor?) question as to whether increasing or decreasing the %-value of denoising does have an impact on the RAW Details - processing as well.
Also I noticed that LrC is crashing more often than usually, if I perform denoising for several pics (e.g. 10 at a time) using the "automatic synchronisaton" feature. Maybe this has to do that I'm running an older PC with only 8 GB RAM available. (A newer PC should be available soon). Or it may have to with the fact that all my data is on external disks and the connection is not stable enough(?).

[JohanElzenga]

Lightroom crashing on Denoise is often caused by outdated GPU drivers. Do not rely on Windows for updates, go directly to the website of your GPU manufacturer and look for updates there. If you have a Ndivia GPU, then use the Studio drivers, not the Game Ready drivers.