All while keeping your folder hierarchy intact.
Using the Color EQ, you can boost the green channel slightly (for landscapes) and reduce magenta in the blue channel (for skies). Many users have created community presets called "ACDSee for Pentax 20 Emerald" that mimic the classic Pentax 67 film look.
In the mid-2010s, Pentax (Ricoh Imaging) made a significant shift in its software strategy. For years, photographers had relied on the proprietary—and often sluggish—PENTAX Digital Camera Utility (DCU), a rebranded version of Silkypix. However, with the release of their 20-megapixel sensor cameras, Pentax partnered with ACD Systems to offer a faster, more user-friendly alternative: ACDSee for Pentax.
The Pentax 20-megapixel sensor is legendary among crop-sensor cameras. Found in models like the Pentax K-20D (14.6 MP actually—but we focus on the newer 20MP+ sensors like the K-70 and KP), these cameras offer exceptional dynamic range and Pixel Shift Resolution technology.
However, standard JPEG converters often strip away the "Pentax colors"—that natural, film-like richness with subdued highlights and deep greens/blues. Generic freeware cannot handle the fine grain structure of Pentax’s ISO invariance. This is where ACDSee steps in.
Lightroom forces you into a catalog—a single database that can corrupt, slow down, or lock you out. ACDSee uses a browser-based database. You can browse folders on your hard drive, view .PEF thumbnails instantly, and apply edits without importing. This is a lifesaver for Pentax users who shoot events, wildlife, or landscapes and want to keep their folder structure intact.