horses for courses

OK, clearly a mistake to expect anything useful to come from a mention
of a certain web forum sigh.

I'm an amateur. I have one digital camera that can record RAW files (a
Fujifilm XF1) and I'd like to learn. I do not want to pay a lot for
software that may be far more than I need, and I definitely don't want
to get stuck into a monthly fee payment for something I might not use as
often as that.

The camera came with a CD containing proprietary software provided by
the maker and presumably more or less well matched to the features of
the camera. I haven't used that yet, as for at least a few more days I
won't have a computer with a compatible operating system (and the
existing hardware is ten years old too).

If anyone has anything useful to say about the Fuji software, it would
be appreciated if they could say it here. Even if it contains no
invective.

"Lightroom" and "Darktable" look interesting. Has anyone here actually
used either of them?

I hesitate to mention it, but GIMP has a plugin "ufraw". Has anyone
here used that successfully?

Hitherto I have used GIMP for some basic image manipulations. I've also
toyed with "ImageMagick"

Any other suggestions?

I'm comfortable using Linux, command line and GUI; I'm prepared to
consider not deleting Windows 8 from the new laptop when it arrives and
I install Linux on it.

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

Whiskers wrote:
I hesitate to mention it, but GIMP has a plugin "ufraw". Has anyone
here used that successfully?

I don't use UFRAW as a plugin to GIMP, primarily because I simply do
not run it on one image at a time.

I have used UFRAW for several years as standalone RAW converter.

Hitherto I have used GIMP for some basic image manipulations. I've also
toyed with "ImageMagick"

ImageMagick tools are essential. They are not the "primary" editor by
any means, but there are many many things that can be done with them.

Any other suggestions?

I'm comfortable using Linux, command line and GUI; I'm prepared to
consider not deleting Windows 8 from the new laptop when it arrives and
I install Linux on it.

I'd toss the Windows and use Linux. That is twice as true if you
are comfortable writing shell scripts for things you do repeatedly.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

I'd toss the Windows and use Linux. That is twice as true if you
are comfortable writing shell scripts for things you do repeatedly.

If you are interested in Linux you can give it a try in Oracle Virtual
Box, before you dedicate a computer for it.
--
teleportation kills

android wrote:
In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

I'd toss the Windows and use Linux. That is twice as true if you
are comfortable writing shell scripts for things you do repeatedly.

If you are interested in Linux you can give it a try in Oracle Virtual
Box, before you dedicate a computer for it.

Better would be to simply boot any of the many live DVD
distribution disks.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

android wrote:
In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

I'd toss the Windows and use Linux. That is twice as true if you
are comfortable writing shell scripts for things you do repeatedly.

If you are interested in Linux you can give it a try in Oracle Virtual
Box, before you dedicate a computer for it.

Better would be to simply boot any of the many live DVD
distribution disks.

That would give you a very limited Linux experience. To the point of
pointless, since you can't install the applications that you desire nor
tailor your work environment...
--
teleportation kills

android wrote:
In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

android wrote:
In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

I'd toss the Windows and use Linux. That is twice as true if you
are comfortable writing shell scripts for things you do repeatedly.

If you are interested in Linux you can give it a try in Oracle Virtual
Box, before you dedicate a computer for it.

Better would be to simply boot any of the many live DVD
distribution disks.

That would give you a very limited Linux experience. To the point of
pointless, since you can't install the applications that you desire nor
tailor your work environment...

Actuall it isn't hard at all to install applications when using
a live DVD.

Regardless, the OP said he was quite familiar with Linux, so this
entire discussion is without value.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

On 2015-05-15 09:07:42 +0000, Whiskers said:

OK, clearly a mistake to expect anything useful to come from a mention
of a certain web forum sigh.

What forum would that be?

I'm an amateur. I have one digital camera that can record RAW files (a
Fujifilm XF1) and I'd like to learn. I do not want to pay a lot for
software that may be far more than I need, and I definitely don't want
to get stuck into a monthly fee payment for something I might not use as
often as that.

The camera came with a CD containing proprietary software provided by
the maker and presumably more or less well matched to the features of
the camera. I haven't used that yet, as for at least a few more days I
won't have a computer with a compatible operating system (and the
existing hardware is ten years old too).

If anyone has anything useful to say about the Fuji software, it would
be appreciated if they could say it here. Even if it contains no
invective.

Basic, awkward, & lacking.

"Lightroom" and "Darktable" look interesting. Has anyone here actually
used either of them?

I have recently bought a Fujifilm X-E2, and Fuji is currently
collaborating with Adobe. The current edition of Lightroom, LR6 does
not require a subscription, and provides all the features you need for
processing RAF files and more.
Here is an example shot with the X-E2 and processed with Lightroom:
http://adobe.ly/1L6pqlX

The only problem I can see for you regarding this solution, is
Lightroom is not supported by Linux, only Win & OSX. So unless you
intend switching operating systems it is not going to be any help to
you. I am not going to argue the merits of any OS. I was just answering
your question with rgard to Lightroom. All the choices and options are
yours to make.

I hesitate to mention it, but GIMP has a plugin "ufraw". Has anyone
here used that successfully?

Floyd should be able to provide all the information you need with
regard to GIMP & ufraw.

Hitherto I have used GIMP for some basic image manipulations. I've also
toyed with "ImageMagick"

Any other suggestions?

I'm comfortable using Linux, command line and GUI; I'm prepared to
consider not deleting Windows 8 from the new laptop when it arrives and
I install Linux on it.


--
Regards,

Savageduck

In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

android wrote:
In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

android wrote:
In article ,
(Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:

I'd toss the Windows and use Linux. That is twice as true if you
are comfortable writing shell scripts for things you do repeatedly.

If you are interested in Linux you can give it a try in Oracle Virtual
Box, before you dedicate a computer for it.

Better would be to simply boot any of the many live DVD
distribution disks.

That would give you a very limited Linux experience. To the point of
pointless, since you can't install the applications that you desire nor
tailor your work environment...

Actuall it isn't hard at all to install applications when using
a live DVD.

Yes you can use those DVDs to install Linux. Have the OP erase his
Windows system with all his personal files just run Gimp under Linux!
That dissertation won't rewrite itself... :-p

Regardless, the OP said he was quite familiar with Linux, so this
entire discussion is without value.

He has also chosen to stay on Windows...
--
teleportation kills

On 5/15/2015 5:07 AM, Whiskers wrote:
OK, clearly a mistake to expect anything useful to come from a mention
of a certain web forum sigh.

I'm an amateur. I have one digital camera that can record RAW files (a
Fujifilm XF1) and I'd like to learn. I do not want to pay a lot for
software that may be far more than I need, and I definitely don't want
to get stuck into a monthly fee payment for something I might not use as
often as that.

The camera came with a CD containing proprietary software provided by
the maker and presumably more or less well matched to the features of
the camera. I haven't used that yet, as for at least a few more days I
won't have a computer with a compatible operating system (and the
existing hardware is ten years old too).

If anyone has anything useful to say about the Fuji software, it would
be appreciated if they could say it here. Even if it contains no
invective.

"Lightroom" and "Darktable" look interesting. Has anyone here actually
used either of them?


YOu have several low cost options for Windows.

Use a trial version of any of them, and see which one you are more
comfortable with. There are free tutorials to help you get started.

Photoshop Essentials

Corel Paint Shop Pro.

Both are fairly easy to learn, and both are quite suitable for beginners.

I have tried Gimp, but for me, the futz factor puts it out of the running.






I hesitate to mention it, but GIMP has a plugin "ufraw". Has anyone
here used that successfully?

Hitherto I have used GIMP for some basic image manipulations. I've also
toyed with "ImageMagick"

Any other suggestions?

I'm comfortable using Linux, command line and GUI; I'm prepared to
consider not deleting Windows 8 from the new laptop when it arrives and
I install Linux on it.




--
PeterN

In article ,
Whiskers wrote:

"Lightroom" and "Darktable" look interesting. Has anyone here actually
used either of them?

lightroom is excellent asset manager, raw converter, image editor and
export tool. it's one of the most highly regarded photo apps.

darktable is not. it's not even close to what lightroom can do.

I hesitate to mention it, but GIMP has a plugin "ufraw". Has anyone
here used that successfully?

some have used it successfully but not with a non-destructive workflow.
it's also slow.