Spirit of Photography

Mentoring and Learning => Digital Image Processing => Topic started by: girod on July 30, 2011, 02:42:24 PM

Title: RawTherapee
Post by: girod on July 30, 2011, 02:42:24 PM

Has anyone tried the newly released stable RawTherapee 3.0 yet? So far, I like it a lot better than the CNX2 in extracting the most out of the NEF file.

Try it yourself (rawtherapee.com).......it's free (or donate if you like it)........make sure to go through the "User's Manual" very carefully......like how to activate "Amaze", etc.

jaime

Title: Re: RawTherapee
Post by: keithsnell on July 30, 2011, 03:55:33 PM

Thanks Jaime,

I looked at the documentation and it does look like an interesting effort by the developers. 

Right now though I don't think learning a new raw processor is the best investment of my time.  There are other areas of my photography that I think would result in a bigger payoff if I concentrate on improving those areas instead.  For example, I know I should be more diligent about measuring white balance when I'm in the field and then applying those measurements to my processed images.  My colors are sometimes "not quite right" and much of this can be attributed to differences between the actual white balance and the in-camera/software approximations.  (The way the camera/software approximates white balance, and the associated limitations might surprise you.)

I also need to concentrate on the creative aspects of my photography, and better use of images to "tell a story."  And the bottom line is that I just need to get out an photograph more, so that those skills don't get rusty. 

I have no doubt that RawTherapee could allow me to get more detail from the file, but in most cases that's not what "makes or breaks" my images.  I think my weak point now is content, not processing.

It's good to see these efforts though, and to know that there are alternatives to CNX2 and ACR.  As more techniques are explored and refined (such as deconvolution sharpening), I'm sure the technology will work its way into the "mainstream" processors like CNX2 and ACR.

Thanks for the heads up.  It's good to know that folks are trying to push the state of the art in raw processing.

Keith

Title: Re: RawTherapee
Post by: girod on August 01, 2011, 05:43:13 PM

I hear you Keith and you're absolutely right. In fact, I should now really prioritize calibrating my monitors (PC and laptop).

Remember those images that I spot-metered to +3.7? In RawTherapee, I only have to apply -0.06 EV EC.