Rongnongno Loc: FL

Q: I have lost track of GIMP. Is it a 16 bit editor now?

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Depending on how much you need , I suggest you try Paint Shop Pro, 30 day free trial, I've tried , at various times, Elements, ACDC, and a few that escape me right now, but the best deal for me was PSP, easy to learn, reasonable price, more than complete enough, and lots of online help , they even send a lesson every week, not that I am always interested in that topic but it's there and on YouTube. In my book if you're going to learn Adobe you might as well go for GIMP, it's free, Bob.

Kuzano

Just how good is sliced bread?

Did You Know this?:

Machines for slicing bread came about in the late 20's. In 1943 the government "outlawed" the machines in usage, as they were considered unfair competition for those bakeries who could not afford the machines in their businesses. Also as a wartime conservation move.

Wikipedia has this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliced_bread

So even sliced bread had it's detractors and at one time was not a solution for all people, just as Adobe products are not an "everyman" solution. There is a ton of good competition out there as alternatives to Adobe.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The problem is that any complex software requires an understanding of how to use it properly. Too many people just load LR up, jump in thinking it will be completely intuitive, and find out the hard way that it takes a lot of personal effort to get it to work properly. Less complex programs such as Picasa don't require users to put as much skin in the game. Most of the problems seem to stem from the import and cataloging functionality. Many people seem to think their photos somehow exist within Lightroom and when they move, delete or rename folders outside of Lightroom they are upset and confused when Lightroom can no longer find their photos. They additionally do not understand the purpose of the cataloging system or how it works. Finally, the tools, while much more intuitive than Photoshop CS still take a lot of effort to understand and use effectively.

I am personally very confident using Lightroom. While I'm not an expert I use and understand virtually all its functionally and have never had a single issue I was unable to resolve on my own. However the price for this was reading two large books from cover to cover, watching dozens of videos, and spending many hours practicing. While not everyone has the time or desire to do that, those who make a minimal effort to learn how to use Lightroom are much more likely to have serious problems they are unable to resolve on their own.

Bobbee

Interesting combining your comment with a prior on how LR is a DB. In any database, if you go to the underlying file system and delete or rename files, if you can, your next stop will be the bar for a heavy session of drinking. At that point you can kiss the database good buy.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Not sure about what you mean. I gave up heavy drinking sessions many years ago, but I still consider the LR database a good buy. I have deleted or renamed files many times using the database and have had no problems.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Right On I find the DB in LR pretty stable

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I recognize that sliced bread is still not for everyone. Bread goes stale where it's exposed to air, so unsliced bread can be made to last longer by just shaving off the exposed surface before slicing it to your specs (which may be thicker or thinner than the machine sliced stuff).

By the way, I find slicing bread with a large chef's knife (one of those things about 12" long and 3" wide) works better for me than a bread knife, which is essentially a saw. The bread knife (in my hands) produces an irregular surface, whereas the chef's knife can guide itself through the loaf producing a much flatter surface. The only time the bread knife is more useful is when the crust is so hard you need the saw to get through it.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I use Zoner Photo Studio and I am looking seriously at Capture One.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

And 16 bit.

Bobbee

Then it is not a true DB.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

When it comes to free software two titles come to mind:
Lightzone
GIMP

They are different in capability and this is important ONLY if you use raw and need 16 bit color depth:
Lightzone is 16 bit
GIMP is not (I just verified it)

I did not check if lightzone support YMCK, GIMP does not. This being a draw back ONLY if you need this.

Neither support direct raw file input so you need an additional step, one of the best being rawtherapee.

Both software title support plug-ins :hunf: :hunf: :hunf:

What we need is a page that shows the capabilities side by side so that when someone ask for a software to use one can compare side by side, that would end the argument on what is best based on features. It certainly would not end the other argumentation based on ease of use or the bias introduced when one is so use to a way of doing things that nothing else exists.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

err... If the the programming is done correctly the change propagates to physical file. This has nothing to do with a DBase being 'true' or 'not'.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

I went with Adobe CC monthly fee because there is a ton of information out there ie: books, video training, classroom training and a lot of users as well. I always like to know where my support base is when I buy something and Adobe's got it. Besides you will always have the most up to date version of LS and PS when you go with the subscription.

texashill Loc: Texas Hill Country

Paint Shop Pro is all that I have ever used. I have always wondered if I am missing something good by not using the Photoshop family.