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Image Conversion

Convert MEF to PSD — Free Online Converter

Convert Mamiya Raw Format (.mef) to Photoshop Document (.psd) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registration....

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How to Convert

1

Upload your .mef file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.

2

Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.

3

Click Convert and download your .psd file when it's ready.

About MEF to PSD Conversion

PSD (Photoshop Document) is the industry-standard format for professional photo editing, and converting Mamiya MEF RAW files to PSD brings medium format photography directly into Photoshop's editing environment. The converted PSD contains the demosaiced medium format capture as the background layer, ready for retouching, compositing, color grading, and all the layered non-destructive editing that Photoshop provides.

Mamiya medium format cameras (645AFD, 645DF, 645DF+) and Phase One digital back-equipped systems capture at 22-80+ megapixels, producing images with extraordinary detail suitable for the most demanding retouching workflows. PSD preserves this detail in a format that supports Photoshop's full feature set.

Why Convert MEF to PSD?

Adobe Photoshop is the standard retouching tool for commercial medium format photography. While Capture One is typically used for initial MEF development, heavy retouching — skin work, compositing, frequency separation, liquify — happens in Photoshop. Converting MEF to PSD creates a Photoshop-native file that opens instantly without import dialogs, ready for immediate editing.

The PSD format preserves the full resolution of the medium format sensor as a non-destructively editable layer. Adjustment layers, frequency separation layers, and compositing elements can be stacked above the background layer without degrading the original pixel data. This layered workflow is essential for the commercial beauty and fashion photography that medium format cameras excel at.

Common Use Cases

  • Prepare Mamiya 645DF+ beauty photographs for skin retouching and frequency separation in Photoshop
  • Convert Phase One medium format captures for compositing workflows requiring layered PSD files
  • Create Photoshop-ready files from medium format fashion shoots for editorial retouching
  • Generate PSD master files from MEF captures for batch processing with Photoshop Actions and scripts
  • Deliver medium format source files to retouchers in the industry-standard PSD format

How It Works

LibRaw (via Sharp) decodes the MEF file, demosaicing the medium format Bayer pattern data at 14-16 bit depth and applying camera metadata corrections. The full-color image is written as a flat PSD file with the photograph as the background layer at 8 bits per channel in sRGB color space. ImageMagick handles PSD encoding. For a 60 MP capture, the PSD file is approximately 170 MB (comparable to BMP). The file is fully compatible with Photoshop CS2+, GIMP, and Affinity Photo.

Quality & Performance

PSD stores pixel data without lossy compression, preserving the full demosaiced medium format output with pixel-perfect accuracy. The 14-16 bit RAW depth is reduced to 8-bit PSD, but this is sufficient for most retouching workflows. For maximum tonal range, 16-bit TIFF or PSD can be produced. The extraordinary resolution of the medium format sensor is fully maintained.

SHARP EngineFastMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DeviceMEFPSD
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialPartial
iPhone/iPadPartialPartial
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNoNo

Tips for Best Results

  • 1Convert to 16-bit PSD for beauty retouching where subtle tonal adjustments are critical
  • 2The PSD background layer contains the full medium format resolution — avoid flattening until final export
  • 3Use Photoshop Actions for batch processing of multiple medium format PSD files
  • 4For the highest quality, develop MEF in Capture One first and export TIFF/PSD for Photoshop retouching
  • 5Allocate sufficient RAM — 60 MP PSD files with multiple layers can consume 2-4 GB of memory in Photoshop

MEF to PSD conversion is the professional workflow for bringing Mamiya medium format captures into Photoshop for retouching, compositing, and editorial production.

Frequently Asked Questions

A 60 MP medium format capture produces a PSD of approximately 170 MB (single background layer). With multiple retouching layers, the file can grow to 500+ MB. Ensure adequate storage and RAM.
Yes, 16-bit PSD preserves more tonal range from the 14-16 bit sensor. This is recommended for beauty retouching where subtle tonal adjustments in skin tones are critical. The files are approximately double the size.
Ideally yes — use Capture One for RAW development (white balance, exposure, color grading) and export a 16-bit TIFF or PSD for Photoshop retouching. Direct MEF-to-PSD conversion applies standard development settings.
Yes, the PSD opens instantly in Photoshop without any Camera Raw dialog. The image appears as a fully rendered background layer ready for retouching.
Photoshop's Camera Raw does not support MEF files directly. This conversion bypasses Camera Raw by providing a pre-developed PSD that opens natively.

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