Gimp (Page 2): There are other choices. Free Processing Programs August 31, 2014 UHH darktable: Lightroom work-alike for processing RAW files RawTherapee: another Lightroom work-alike...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are other choices.

Free Processing Programs
August 31, 2014
UHH

darktable: Lightroom work-alike for processing RAW files
RawTherapee: another Lightroom work-alike for processing RAW files
Luminance HDR: HDR program
Hugin Panorama Photo Stitcher: For stitching together panoramas
Gimp: Image editing program

HowardPepper Loc: Palm Coast, FL

Doug, I use the Gimp on Linux for some of my post processing. I am not an expert, and most often resort to doing a quick Google search for how to do a particular thing in the Gimp.

I also use darktable to process my RAW files. It is MUCH better suited for this task than the Gimp.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

I've been using GIMP for some time now, it reminds me of Photoshop a lot. It takes time to feel comfortable with the program. I have some experience with Photoshop, so for me it was not too bad. GIMP is very advanced, powerful and capable program, everything I need I find on youtube.
The best thing - it is absolutely free.
One drawback-it does not work with RAW, I still need to find a way how to open RAW in GIMP.
Now I am using GIMP more often than PS, I like it a lot.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

dandi wrote:

I've been using GIMP for some time now, it reminds me of Photoshop a lot. It takes time to feel comfortable with the program. I have some experience with Photoshop, so for me it was not too bad. GIMP is very advanced, powerful and capable program, everything I need I find on youtube.
The best thing - it is absolutely free.
One drawback-it does not work with RAW, I still need to find a way how to open RAW in GIMP.
Now I am using GIMP more often than PS, I like it a lot.

GIMP will use UFRAW to open and allow processing of raw files. I just looked and can open and edit a raw Nikon file (NEF) with GIMP 2.8.

UFRAW needs to be installed and may be already hooked into GIMP on download, or can be added as a plugin....

http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I'm surprised this is even a question. It's free. Try it and if you don't like it, uninstall it. :-)

Personally, I love GIMP and can't figure out why some people say they have such a hard time with it. It's not identical to PhotoShop and doesn't do some things as well as PhotoShop, but then there are some other things it does better. The GIMP developers are currently working on a major architectural rework using a very powerful format converter (BABL) and a very powerful node-based graphics engine (GEGL) for version 2.10. It's a lot of work, so it's taking a while, but once finished, GIMP will be much more powerful and will have overcome what is currently it's biggest weakness -- that it works only in 8-bit space.

With the recent updates to RawTherapee though, I find it quick and easy to use for RAW conversion and most, if not all, global edits. It's now a very nice and sophisticated tool. Afterword if I want to do local edits, then I use GIMP. DarkTable is similar to RawTherapee and is a reasonable substitute, but I think right now RawTherapee is a little more advanced internally.

Probably the best way to go though is to use what your friends and associates use. If that's Lightroom and PhotoShop, then so be it. You'll be able to share knowledge between yourselves. If, however, you are mostly working by yourself, why not download GIMP and perhaps RawTherapee or DarkTable and give them a try?

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

Dngallagher wrote:

GIMP will use UFRAW to open and allow processing of raw files. I just looked and can open and edit a raw Nikon file (NEF) with GIMP 2.8.

UFRAW needs to be installed and may be already hooked into GIMP on download, or can be added as a plugin....

http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/

Yes, I tried UFRAW but it would not install as a plugin for me, only as standalone application. I should try some other option.
I use GIMP a lot lately because I like working with layers and it's easy with GIMP. It's a great program.

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

If you will take your time and learn it, it is awesome software.

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

dandi wrote:

Yes, I tried UFRAW but it would not install as a plugin for me, only as standalone application. I should try some other option.
I use GIMP a lot lately because I like working with layers and it's easy with GIMP. It's a great program.

Try Raw Therapee 4.1.1 (free program) for Windows or Mac as a standalone program. There are later versions but most are in beta. The 4.1.1 32bit version is stable and works well in both 32 and 64 bit. In Windows it works in XP/7/8. Excellent program and worth trying

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

Shakey wrote:

Try Raw Therapee 4.1.1 (free program) for Windows or Mac as a standalone program. There are later versions but most are in beta. The 4.1.1 32bit version is stable and works well in both 32 and 64 bit. In Windows it works in XP/7/8. Excellent program and worth trying

Thank you, I just installed it and playing with it. Have problem saving the file. I saved it on Desktop and it's not there. In about 3-5 minutes it shows up. Is it normal?

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

You need to export it by a file extension sush as >jpg or tiff, not save it

If you save it, only GIMP can read it by it's extinction.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

Hello to all ! br br While plunking around on my ... (show quote)

GIMP is a very sophisticated program comparable to PhotoShop with just as steep learning curve. Although I have GIMP downloaded and on my computer I found something more intuitive, far easier to use and designed just for photographers and also OpenSource and free. Check out LightZone.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Shakey wrote:

Try Raw Therapee 4.1.1 (free program) for Windows or Mac as a standalone program. There are later versions but most are in beta. The 4.1.1 32bit version is stable and works well in both 32 and 64 bit. In Windows it works in XP/7/8. Excellent program and worth trying

Raw Therapee, like almost all OpenSource apps works multiplatform, including LINUX and BSD plus Windows and Mac.

Suggestion: Whenever you want an app, before shelling out money, Google: OpenSource Version of "-App Name." Look for reviews of it and check it out, you may say "good-bye" to spendiing hundreds of dollars on apps. Most OpenSource apps are multiplatform and will work on your computer.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

HOT Texas wrote:

You need to export it by a file extension sush as >jpg or tiff, not save it

If you save it, only GIMP can read it by it's extinction.

How do I export it?
I find it a little confusing, just first impression.

blackest Loc: Ireland

dandi wrote:

Yes, I tried UFRAW but it would not install as a plugin for me, only as standalone application. I should try some other option.
I use GIMP a lot lately because I like working with layers and it's easy with GIMP. It's a great program.

The way I use ufraw is open in ufraw and when finished click on the little firefox button and the file is transfered to Gimp, Ufraw also generates sidecar files i think the term is like adobe raw does with the settings you used.

I am using a version of gimp 2.9 this is not intended to be production ready but eventually it will form 2.10 it has added 16bit and 32bit modes yes 32 bits per channel. The greater bit depth comes at the cost of speed and ram usage thou.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

blackest wrote:

The way I use ufraw is open in ufraw and when finished click on the little firefox button and the file is transfered to Gimp, Ufraw also generates sidecar files i think the term is like adobe raw does with the settings you used.

I am using a version of gimp 2.9 this is not intended to be production ready but eventually it will form 2.10 it has added 16bit and 32bit modes yes 32 bits per channel. The greater bit depth comes at the cost of speed and ram usage thou.

Thank you!