robertcbyrd Loc: 28754

I am an old IT guy and am starting work on a Linux Mint machine and am fairly new to Linux.

Looking around there are not a lot of options for processing software. And Faststone doesn't have a Linux version.

So I am wondering what folks are using, other than GIMP, for photo processing in Linux Mint.

Is there a forum here somewhere for this that I didn't see?

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

There is no separate forum here for us linux users. We are a rare breed and we just blend in with the crowd.

More to your question, I'll list what I use , but there are other possibilities you can research at https://pixls.us/
Everything mentioned below is cross platform with most of them running natively on Linux/Windows and Mac

* DigiKam (organizer) - This program does tons more than just organize files, but I use it as my primary tool to import raw files and tagging those images. It does take a bit to set up at the start, but the tagging feature is amazing if the keyword tree is setup correctly. After the raw files are imported and tagged, all of that data is written to a .xmp sidecar file along with all of the camera exif data. (this is important for the next program).

As of right now, there is no intuitive tagging that I know of, but I typically don't have more than 100-200 photos at any given time, so I go through initially and tag in bulk and narrow down to a smaller number of files that need more specific tags after initial culling.

* darktable (raw editor) - I will preface my description by saying this program is NOT an alternative to any program. It is a raw file processor, asset manager (if you don't use DigiKam). It is a very complex tool that uses modules to do the various raw editing functions. Where it has it's strengths, every module (local contrast, exposure, contrast equalizer, sharpen, dehaze, saturation, etc...) can use drawn and/or parametric masks. By far this program has the strongest masking features I've seen. The great thing is that there is control in both the local and global groups using these features.

Darktable also does HDR or bracket exposure very well. It relies on the engines from a couple other programs called Luminence HDR and Hugin with no requirement to install those programs. I have had amazing results from this as I tend to take a lot of bracketed exposure shots and just group them in Darktable and run "merge HDR" which creates a DNG file in the folder. I am a fairly conservative editor and I usually don't push values too far to the right, so if you are into what I call "fairytale" HDR, I'm not sure if it can do that as well as other programs.

Darktable also has DAM capabilities, and they are very powerful, just not as easy to use as Digikam IMO. But....the searching capabilities are fantastic. You can create "groups" based on specific search criteria, or if you learn just a little bit of regex, you can search on any tag, color, rating, or basically any other single piece of metadata (exif) that you want.

Darktable also has the capability to use what Adobe calls "presets" in the form of styles and LUT files. They can be imported/exported and basically do the same thing as presets.

Hugin (panorama) - This program is something I downloaded and really only use IF I take panoramas. But, the algorithm behind it is extremely powerful and capable and does a fantastic job stitching the files if they are of good or better quality.

GIMP - Oh the controversy over this one....LOL. There is no winning a Photoshop vs. GIMP debate, but GIMP is very good at what it does. As with any pixel editor, you have to put in the time to learn the program, but once it's learned, it is just as powerful of a pixel editor in my opinion. I very rarely use it as I tend to dump a photo if I can't get it right in darktable.

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If you need recommendations for repos to use for darktable and GIMP let me know. I don't like the Flatpak repos as they do not update the software on a regular basis.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Thanks for asking, I plan on watching and learning on this thread.

jaredjacobson

I use many of the tools johngault007 mentioned, though I don’t use Digikam. I also find that Darktable meets most of my needs. The more I use it and watch tutorials by some of its power users, the more I appreciate the breath and depth of what it can do. Its features may seem a little overwhelming at first because there are so many modules. I find it very helpful to watch tutorials on a particular task to determine what modules to use under what circumstances.

I use Shotwell for my photo organizer after exporting jpgs from Darktable. I find that RawTherapee generally works better than Darktable for editing digitized film negatives into positives, if you’re into that, though it’s possible I just don’t know how to do it in Darktable.

Crichmond Loc: Loveland, CO

Some older versions of photoshop work under wine.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I don't have negatives, so I haven't really looked into it, but I think darktable added the negadoctor processor as a module. Here is a youtube link with the most impressive Aurelien Pierre talking about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiNlHBZE888


As far as my choice for Digikam, I noticed on many forums that users raw file collection naturally grew to larger than imaginable sizes over time. Digikam uses MySQL as one of the choices, so I figured that the long-term solution to a growing catalog would be a program that uses a database that can handle scalability.

Shotwell is a good program as well.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

But as linux users we have native options for our systems. There's no need to sour our beautiful file structure with the mess that Windows programs make.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I keep up a copy of Linux Mint, mostly just to stay informed and follow what's going on. There are some decent photo processing tools available most notably DarkTable and RawTherapee. GIMP is a kludge but it can be used if you're a masochist and willing to settle for less.

I could almost see getting along in a Mint work environment given that DarkTable is available except for one glaring thing. Color management is not optional in my workflow and I must have full color management from camera to print -- nonnegotiable and unfortunately not really doable under Linux. Half-baked options exist but not good enough.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I could say the same about Photoshop as I am not familiar with the interface at all. Just because you aren't used to the layout and tools doesn't mean it's less than any other program.



As for color balance, where is it documented that you can't have full control over your color management in linux? Everything from the display to color profiles in darktable (working/printing) are fully configurable. The main programmer for dark table is an applied math professional as well as very experienced retouching artists/educator, so there are actually very powerful color management options available.

If FOSS and/or linux isn't fully your thing, that is ok. But the tools and operating system(s) are nothing short of spectacular and only get reviews from people that (try it out) for a limited time and compare it to systems/programs that they have been familiar with for years. Therefore most reviews or expert advice will always be biased against linux/FOSS and never given a fair shake.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Did I say I wasn't used to the layout or tools in GIMP? I am very familiar with GIMP. My comment doesn't arise from a frustrating experience trying to learn/use GIMP. It arises from being expertly familiar with GIMP.


I didn't say there were no color management options in Linux. Yes you can color manage the display. Yes much of the processing software supports appropriate color management working with images. That's part of what's needed. There are even software tools that can be used with existing hardware from Xrite and Datacolor. I said I require full color management from camera to print. I have looked into that concern using a Linux OS and I don't find a clear path through to achieve it. I want a whole lot more than a calibrated display and color space profiles in my editing software.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

GIMP is a kludge but it can be used if you're a masochist and willing to settle for less.
No, but your backhanded comments prove the norm on this site. And even though you may have plenty of experience, and probably didn't mean it in a derogatory way, most people who respond like that are trying to discourage the use of something other than (their favorite program). I for one find the interface easy to use, because it's all I have used in the past 10 or so years, and if I'm "settling for less", I'm happy, as others can be without being shoveled the usual banter around here.


nonnegotiable and unfortunately not really doable under Linux. Half-baked options exist but not good enough.
It can be done, you just haven't found the way, or don't want to. And if you don't want to, that is perfectly OK. There are others here and other places that do want to, or have figured it out.


And most of this wasn't directed at you, even though you did respond to the post. Every time somebody mentions linux or FOSS software on this forum, there is an onslaught of fear-mongering and false information on the abilities of the platform and programs. I stay away from (insert your favorite program here) specific threads because I'm not here to preach the awesomeness of Linux/FOSS, but if a thread is started specifically asking about it, there is no doubt the naysayers jump in and try to detract others from trying new things.

So I apologize to you directly, most of my statements should have been sent broadcast instead of straight to you.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Not at all -- I don't mind being derogatory about GIMP. GIMP is a kludge as a raster image editor and I mean that in a derogatory way.



I'm not. My intention is to inform and be helpful.



My problems with GIMP are not about the interface but rather capabiltiy.



You don't know that.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

And yet, apart from the interface (which is subjective at best), you didn't mention how it is a "kludge" or inferior to other raster editors. So if you are providing help, at least provide us underlings with details of where it doesn't meet the mark of other software?


And you are 100% correct I do not know the ins and outs of color management from camera to print. I came here to learn some of that stuff without the brow-beating of the software and OS I use. So I take it upon myself to research the stuff on my own because frankly, responses like "I don't like it" or "you get what you pay for" don't really teach me anything.

But to reiterate, yes you can calibrate your monitor with available commercial hardware, and install the software that is compatible with it and the OS of choice (Ubuntu/Mint, etc..). I also know that darktable has the ability to set color profiles from display to print (hint: ya just have to do some research). There are some amazing folks in the darktable development chain that have probably forgot more about color management than we will ever know, so again, it's a matter of tool familiarization.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I'm sorry my original post rubbed you the wrong way, but attacking Linux/FOSS or GIMP is not my agenda. I am willing to help but your attitude with remarks like "underlings" isn't constructive.

You use DarkTable which is good software and unlike GIMP it's a parametric editor. If you're trying to do this right then a parametric editor should be your first choice for both raw and RGB images. GIMP is a raster editor and if you can avoid using a raster editor you're ahead.

So why use GIMP at all? When the parametric editor doesn't offer sufficient precision or access to specialized tools for specialized jobs. Where's the weakness in parametric editors? Cloning/healing, image composites, precise selections and masking for the purpose of composites and for local color and luminosity adjustments.

And right there where you need it is where GIMP is weak. You want to for example darken a sky in an image and the masking capability in DarkTable doesn't give you the precision you want because of tree leaves and branches. The raster editor solution to that is a layer mask derived from a selection and the key to being able to do the job without leaving a visible halo is your ability to massage that mask. GIMP will make the selection and create the layer and layer mask but then it get's frustrating as GIMP lacks the ability to really adjust the mask. You can go back and work blind by trying to adjust the selection and make a new mask and then try again and try again and because you can't see what you're doing it's a real PITA.

GIMP has most/many of the tools that commercial editors have but often enough they are crude by comparison. You want to make HSL adjustments to an image. GIMP has an HSL tool under the Colors menu but all you can do is select from one of the six primary/secondary colors and adjust a slider called Overlap to target the color you want to change. That's frustratingly not enough precision.

I resort to raster editors for special tasks where parametric editors don't have support. It has always been real handy to be able to switch an image from RGB into Lab mode where you can make adjustments that just aren't possible with an RGB image. PS and Affinity support doing that. GIMP does not at least not in a usable manner.

Composites: Again the key to building composites is managing layer masks. GIMP makes it hard because the capability to work with the mask is limited.



One of the key points concerning control over color management is working with a unified or integrated solution. In other words one hardware device and one software app to handle the process start to finish. I use X-Rite for that and their i1Studio product is in my mind the ideal solution. I don't just need to calibrate my display. I also need to calibrate my printers (and cameras) and I want the same piece of hardware/software to handle all tasks. Under Linux I could use Argyle and it would work with X-Rite hardware but it won't integrate the entire task through a single software solution. Argyle won't calibrate my printer iteratively as i1Studio software will do. Bottom line I need both X-Rite's hardware & software working together as an integrated color management solution. The last time I tried (a few years now) WINE wouldn't run the X-Rite software because of the hardware interface required for the spectrophotometer. And for me a lesser solution is nonnegotiable.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Like I said, it wasn't you specifically, but the general atmosphere around FOSS/linux, and I probably read too much into what you wrote assuming it was just another "it ain't my program, so it's crap" responses. But thank you for the very descriptive reasoning behind your statement. I am in 100% agreement about staying non-destructive (darktable) as much as possible. If you look at my entire shared work on this site (not that I expect anyone to, but it's there for reference), I think there may be three that ever made their way to GIMP. And this was literally post-processing practice by manually blending bracketed exposures, and I made it clear I was not happy or comfortable adding it as part of my normal work flow. It was more of an experiment. But it did it's job well, and with some tutorials (photoshop tutorials if you believe it), I was able to reproduce exactly what I envisioned (again, most of the processing was done in darktable first).




That is some great information, thank you! I was under the impression that printers use ICC profiles and that is how you set up the color management to ensure that everything looks exactly how it is supposed to from start to finish. Printing is not one of my priorities, so I've only read minimally into the requirements and the printer I have in mind shares their ICC profiles.

Again, no hard feelings. It was just a ill-crafted response assuming someone would eventually poo on something that isn't "the standard", and you are not that person from reading other posts.