Convert NEF to VIPS

The NEF file extension stands for Nikon Electronic Format, a proprietary RAW image file format used by Nikon digital cameras. These files capture all image data as seen by the camera sensor, providing greater flexibility for post-processing and higher image quality compared to compressed formats. NEF files are essential for professional photographers and IT specialists in photo editing due to their uncompressed nature, allowing precise adjustments in color, exposure, and detail retention. Nikon introduced this format to enhance image fidelity and editing capabilities, maintaining a pivotal role in digital photography since its inception.

The VIPS (Virtual Image Processing System) file format, developed by the libvips library, is designed for high-performance image processing with low memory usage. It supports arbitrary metadata and is optimized for command-line operations. Although not widely supported by other programs, it serves as an efficient intermediate format for tasks like image inversion and gamma correction. The format includes a 64-byte header with basic fields such as image width and a set of band-interleaved scanlines for the image data.