Is it possible to share RAW files without sharing the identities of people in the image

Software darktable
1

I’m sure this would apply elsewhere, but I’m trying to learn darktable and as such I have “how to” questions relating to the images I’m trying to process.

Is it possible to post a raw file that I have questions about, that has people or items I don’t want the internet to see?
eg. Put a single colour block over the part of the image I don’t want revealed

I’m comfortable in obscuring JPEGs, but not sure how to safely do the same with RAW files.

I tried searching, but was not successful: I’m happy to be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks,
GJ

2

I guess its technically possible, but probably isn’t easy. Probably easier to share a raw that has similar issues but not the people issues.

3

I’m just curious how you could do that??

4

I suppose you could create a TIFF and modify it in the areas with faces, but the files would be large.

1 Like
5

I’m sure there is a way to map demoasoced pixels to their moasiced ones, then just write zeros to that data… But again, not an easy way.

6

You could create 16 bit TIFF images and obscure these. Most problems appearing in the development process do not differ that much between demosaiced and RAW files.

1 Like
7

Thank you everyone for the replies.
I think I’ll use @paperdigits suggestion when I get a chance to ask the question that’s been bothering me.

GJ

8

Yes, it is possible https://x.com/lorenzo2472/status/419208165717069824

9

Me too: I know of no application that can directly edit raw data …

10

Could you alter a .NEF captured at 3:2 to look like it was captured at 1:1 and crop out what you wanted to omit, since Nikon discards the extra pixels when you record smaller than full-frame? Doesn’t help if you don’t use Nikon, but it would be a start.

11

Hex editor :wink:

12

LOL.

I guess a hex editor is pretty direct but I was talking about an image editor which alters the raw data as opposed to altering the RGB transform working file while leaving the raw data unaltered. Far as I know there is no such editor; possibly except Irfan View which does include a hex editing utility IIRC.