AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

I’m tired of messing with windows. I have used Linux in the past and was impressed how it performed on any pc I had. I continued using Windows because of my gaming hobby. But thats over. I want
A Linux distribution that is friendly to photographers. I know some of you all here use Linux. A recommendation would be appreciated. Perhaps a package that comes with photo apps pre installed.
Thanks

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Allen, like yourself, my main computer OS for the day to day computing needs is Fedora running on a Dell Desktop. The problem I had was having been a PS user for years and doing a lot of programming that only works in PS, I found Linux to be somewhat weak in photo editing. Yes, there's GIMP along with several others, but none provide what I've managed to achieve with PS. That said, I use an iMac for photography and Linux for pretty much everything else.
--Bob

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My laptop is a Dell XPS-3, which came with a specially configured version of Ubuntu installed. I had to email Dell to get a lead - the 'developer version' they wanted to sell me was more than I wanted to spend, but I was able to use their lead as a guide to find the one I did purchase. The included gimp works fine for my needs.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

There is a rub to Linux - they all have slightly different OS (Flavors)
This means that Arch Linux....the repository of all Linux programs will, may or may not work in any given 'flavor'. You end up having to a) stick with what is available in the 'download selection that comes with your OS or test that the program you download actually is compatible with your OS. That said some of the big names like Darktable Ufraw Rawtherapee Gimp and many more are cross platform...

2nd problem is printers...HP is generic but Canon needs the driver to be downloaded! so how are you at 'messing in terminal' or using the fantastic forums and help that is available?

Or put Linux on a partition so that your windows can be used off line and win programs are still available.

Third option is use Wine or Playonlinux to use windows programs

Finally, as I do export the file you want printed to a Windows PC. most file types are compatible to be printed!

I use Manjaro...It is a long term supported OS it actually builds the next kernel using updates and when it is ready and tested it notifies you to start using it...if all Ok delete old kernel or go back to using it and seek help from the forum. (simple click) I tried Ubuntu but their 'new build' had to be installed every 5 years - I was two years into the cycle and the new kernel simply didn't work out of the box - or I couldn't get it to!.

Ubuntu does have more aps than Manjaro though.

As Linux is a simple case of downloading the OS onto a USB and pluging it in to work you can try several WITHOUT actually installing them!

I am not a geek....I have had to use the terminal a couple of times in the three or four years I have been using Linux. Usually after asking for advice from the forum or the WIKI...up to now it has always worked...!

Read the reviews - especially 'When' the particular version is due to be updated!!!! or support stopped!!! and try it out before installing it. I would recommend putting it on a partition so that your old software can be accessed - Most PC repairers will do this for you really cheaply. By using Linux for everything else your PC should be a lot safer from virus and attacks..

Hope this gives you ideas.

cochese

I use Mint. Well supported and comes with most software you will need preinstalled and a really nice software center to install what you wish to add. It is based on Ubuntu which is based on Debian. Do some research then pick a couple distributions you think you may like and make live usb's and take them for a test drive.

pixbyjnjphotos Loc: Apache Junction,AZ

Yes! Make the switch to Linux. It took my son 3 years to talk me into trying Linux. Today, I would fight to the end if you tried to take my Linux away from me. I have been using Linux for over 4 years and absolutely love it. I do 95 percent of my everyday computing on Linux. I have an old Acer laptop with Linux Mint 17.3 with the Cinnamon Desktop on it. I also have an old home brew tower that I built over 15 years ago that won’t run Windows 8 much less Windows 10 with Linux Mint 18.3 with the Cinnamon Desktop loaded. Both run great. The only reason I have a Windows 10 computer is because Corel Paintshop Pro nor my many plug-ins do not run using the Wine interface.

I tried out many different distributions when I started with Linux. My preference is Linux Mint with the Cinnamon Desktop. It looks and feels very much like Windows. I believe Mint is the easiest distro to transition from Windows to Linux with and would highly recommend it. Just my opinion. Most distributions are easy to try out before you install them. Download the distribution ISO file, burn the ISO file to a dvd. Shut you computer down and boot to the dvd. It will take some time to load as a demo. Linux is very fast once it is installed on your hard drive. I have been running Linux for nearly four years with only the built-in firewall and have had no problems with virus or hijacking. I go anywhere I want on the internet with complete confidence.

Gimp is a terrific program for photos. There are some others but they don’t support plug-ins. Corel has a Linux version of Aftershot Pro 3 that works very well and Photomatix also has a Linux version that works very well. Pixeluvo has a pretty neat Linux version that supports layers that I like real well. Light zone is also available for Linux and there are many more. Open shot is an excellent video editor. There are some Windows programs that will work using the Wine Interface. If you don’t like LibreOffice, you can run an old version of Microsoft Office just fine. I use an old copy of MS Office 2003. Do a little research and you might be surprised at the capabilities of Linux. A great percentage of the software available for Linux is FREE.

Any one interested in more info or help to get started is welcome to contact me with a UHH private message. I would be happy to give you a little help or answer questions. I am not an expert, but I am pretty dangerous with Linux. Don’t hesitate to get started and, Have a GREAT DAY!

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

I have had a few trivial problems with win 7, none with 8.1 and not a burp with 10. I run a pretty heavy system with 5-6 apps at any time. I take all updates as they come out. When people say they have issues, I often wonder what they are running such that they have problems. I played on Unix and Linux in my job for many years(on bigger systems) and found the OS about as intuitive as a burp in windstorm. Open software have their issues also.

dadamia Loc: Portland, OR

I'm a long time Linux user. I use Debian, but I agree with the suggestions to use Mint. Linux Mint is a Debian derivative and a great choice for a new user.

pixbyjnjphotos Loc: Apache Junction,AZ

If you haven't tried Linux in the last 2 years, you might be amazed at the progress that has been made. Just in the 4 years that I have used Linux I've seen tremendous improvement.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Command-line Unix is actually more intuitive than command-line DOS - both have windowed versions now.

fotofill1969

I have been using Linux Mint for several years and I like the Cinnamon desktop the best. I use XFCE on a less powerful laptop that I use for displaying images to clients. I have also tried Ubuntu, Bohdi, and Open SUSE but Mint makes your life much easier when you need to connect a printer, for example.

Gimp 2.10 is a very powerful image editing program that runs flawlessly under Mint 18.3. DarkTable is another program that is very, very good for raw file conversions, tagging and digital file management. gThumb comes in very handy for batch file renaming. It is also a digital file manager but not as fully developed as DarkTable.

I made the switch because I was tired of jumping through the Microsoft and Adobe hoops. I only made change after I had tested and researched both Linux and Gimp. I wouldn't recommend that you make a change to your system and procedures until you have done the same. That being said, I feel that all of the advice that you have received so far has been on point.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

Linux can be good if you find the software that does what you want. GIMP is a top-notch photo editing program. You can try it on Windows before you make an OS change.

Printers can be a hassle to add....Linux support is not as simple and easy as with Windows. This comes from having two Canon printers that were real monsters to get installed and working.

What has got you "tired of messing with Windows"? Can you not just USE it? Support for anything about and on the Windows platform is far more available and comprehendible than with Linux. I was seriously ready to dump Windows a year ago and stick with Linux (Mint), but I got real tired of trying to find help with problems, especially that didn't require extensive use of the Linux Terminal (command line). I still USE Linux Mint but i have no desire to become a command-line guru.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Installing our HP printer under Linux was no more exciting than installing it under Wiindows.

Every time I've encountered a problem under Linux, I've used an Internet search to find a solution, and then followed the instructions key stroke by key stroke.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

Lucky you. Many times I have found "solutions" involving incredibly lengthy command-line fixes, the typing of which drives me away from trying them. Or finding a number of DIFFERENT command-line fixes for the same thing. Sometimes none of them work. And coming across the dreaded "Missing dependencies" message (especially with my canon printers), with no help in what is needed and where to find them.

I've been a Windows tech and user for decades, a Mac tech and user for ten years, and could not deal with getting things to install/work as easily as in Windows and Macs.
My verdict is that you have to be a real "power user" to deal with Linux as it stands now unless you are lucky in the printers you have and escape software installation oddities.

arathorn357 Loc: Sydney, Australia

Just a couple of questions -

1. Is there a Linux / open source photo database manager equivalent to Lightroom - maybe digiKam? and
2. Do any of those Linux applications allow "plug-ins" - such as the photo database linking and working co-operatively with an editing application like Darktable?

I suspect the Linux alternatives may be the low cost way of the future?