raw2tiff Command in Linux
The raw2tiff command in Linux is used to convert raw image data to TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files. This command is part of the libtiff library and utilities, which are used for manipulating TIFF images. The raw2tiff command is particularly useful for converting raw image data from various sources into the widely supported TIFF format.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the raw2tiff command â
- Understanding raw2tiff Command
- Syntax of raw2tiff Command
- raw2tiff Command Options
- How to Use raw2tiff Command in Linux?
Understanding raw2tiff Command
The raw2tiff command in Linux is used to convert raw byte sequences into TIFF files. By default, the TIFF image is created with data samples packed, compressed using the PackBits algorithm, and with each strip no more than 8 kilobytes in size. Users can specify different compression schemes and the number of rows per strip using various options.
Understanding Raw Image Data
Raw image data refers to the unprocessed data captured by an image sensor in a digital camera or other imaging device. This data is typically stored in a proprietary format specific to the device manufacturer. Raw image data contains all the information captured by the sensor, including color and brightness values for each pixel.
Letâs install raw2tiff command −
sudo apt install libtiff-tools
Understanding TIFF Files
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a flexible and widely supported image format used for storing raster graphics. TIFF files can store images with various bit depths and compression schemes, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including document scanning, digital photography, and medical imaging.
raw2tiff
Compression Schemes
The raw2tiff command supports several compression schemes for the output TIFF file −
- none − No compression.
- packbits − A simple run-length encoding scheme.
- lzw − Lempel-Ziv-Welch compression, a lossless data compression algorithm.
- jpeg − JPEG compression, a lossy compression algorithm commonly used for photographic images.
- deflate − A lossless data compression algorithm similar to that used in the ZIP file format.
Photometric Interpretation
The photometric interpretation of an image describes how pixel values should be interpreted. The raw2tiff command supports several photometric interpretations for the output TIFF file −
- miniswhite − Pixel values of 0 represent white, and maximum pixel values represent black.
- minisblack − Pixel values of 0 represent black, and maximum pixel values represent white.
- rgb − Pixel values represent red, green, and blue color channels.
Syntax of raw2tiff Command
The basic syntax of the raw2tiff command is as follows −
raw2tiff [options] input.raw output.tiff
- input.raw − The name of the input raw image file.
- output.tiff − The name of the output TIFF file.
raw2tiff Command Options
Here are some common options used with the raw2tiff command −
- -c, --compression − Specifies the compression scheme to use for the output TIFF file. Possible values include none, packbits, lzw, jpeg, and deflate.
- -r, --resolution − Sets the resolution of the output TIFF file in dots per inch (DPI).
- -p, --photometric − Sets the photometric interpretation of the output TIFF file. Possible values include miniswhite, minisblack, and rgb.
- -s, --samplesperpixel − Sets the number of samples per pixel in the output TIFF file.
- -b, --bitspersample − Sets the number of bits per sample in the output TIFF file.
- -w, --width − Specifies the width of the input raw image.
- -l, --length − Specifies the length of the input raw image.
How to Use raw2tiff Command in Linux?
raw2tiff can guess the image width and height if these parameters are not provided, making it a versatile tool for handling raw image data
Converting Raw Image Data to a TIFF File
To convert raw image data to a TIFF file, you can use the following command −
raw2tiff -w 800 -l 600 input.raw output.tiff
For example, if you have a raw image file named image.raw with a width of 800 pixels and a length of 600 pixels, and you want to convert it to a TIFF file named image.tiff, you would use −
raw2tiff -w 800 -l 600 image.raw image.tiff
Specifying Compression for the Output TIFF File
To specify the compression scheme for the output TIFF file, you can use the -c option −
raw2tiff -c lzw -w 800 -l 600 input.raw output.tiff
For example, to convert a raw image file named image.raw to a TIFF file named image.tiff with LZW compression, you would use −
raw2tiff -c lzw -w 800 -l 600 image.raw image.tiff
Setting the Resolution of the Output TIFF File
To set the resolution of the output TIFF file, you can use the -r option −
raw2tiff -r 300 -w 800 -l 600 input.raw output.tiff
For example, to convert a raw image file named image.raw to a TIFF file named image.tiff with a resolution of 300 DPI, you would use −
raw2tiff -r 300 -w 800 -l 600 image.raw image.tiff
Setting the Photometric Interpretation of the Output TIFF File
To set the photometric interpretation of the output TIFF file, you can use the -p option −
raw2tiff -p rgb -w 800 -l 600 input.raw output.tiff
For example, to convert a raw image file named image.raw to a TIFF file named image.tiff with RGB photometric interpretation, you would use −
raw2tiff -p rgb -w 800 -l 600 image.raw image.tiff
Setting the Number of Samples per Pixel in the Output TIFF File
To set the number of samples per pixel in the output TIFF file, you can use the -s option −
raw2tiff -s 3 -w 800 -l 600 input.raw output.tiff
For example, to convert a raw image file named image.raw to a TIFF file named image.tiff with 3 samples per pixel, you would use −
raw2tiff -s 3 -w 800 -l 600 image.raw image.tiff
Setting the Number of Bits per Sample in the Output TIFF File
To set the number of bits per sample in the output TIFF file, you can use the -b option −
raw2tiff -b 8 -w 800 -l 600 input.raw output.tiff
For example, to convert a raw image file named image.raw to a TIFF file named image.tiff with 8 bits per sample, you would use −
raw2tiff -b 8 -w 800 -l 600 image.raw image.tiff
Samples per Pixel
The number of samples per pixel specifies how many color channels are present in the image. For example, an RGB image has 3 samples per pixel (one for each color channel), while a grayscale image has 1 sample per pixel.
Conclusion
The raw2tiff command is a useful tool for converting raw image data to TIFF files. By understanding the syntax, options, and common use cases of the raw2tiff command, you can effectively use it to manage and convert raw images.
Whether you are a developer, system administrator, or graphic designer, the raw2tiff command provides valuable functionality for working with image files in Linux.