HAPPYGUY_45
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Is there anything as good as lr c? if so what?
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free editing software?
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alcelc
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If for RAW, besides the recommended converter of your camera, Darktable might be? I was lucky that as being headed up by members had downloaded the free DXO Optic Pro 9 & 11 which can handled the RAW files of my latest cameras. Excellent piece of free software.
For JPG editing, many. I am happy with DXO OP. The simple tools of the free FastStone will do.
For video, I am using the free VSDC Video Editor. Support many formats, simple UI, basically no learning curve, powerful for most general uses.
There are many freeware around. Google and DPR is my best friend.
--
Albert
** Please forgive my typo error.
** Please feel free to download my image and edit it as you like
**
For JPG editing, many. I am happy with DXO OP. The simple tools of the free FastStone will do.
For video, I am using the free VSDC Video Editor. Support many formats, simple UI, basically no learning curve, powerful for most general uses.
There are many freeware around. Google and DPR is my best friend.
--
Albert
** Please forgive my typo error.
** Please feel free to download my image and edit it as you like
**
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HAPPYGUY_45
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i use davinci resolve. Great for video editing. Thank you ill check out others. I don't mind light room was just wondering thanks
NAwlins Contrarian
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IMO no, there is no free editing software as good as Lightroom Classic. Moreover, at least on Windows, there is no free software that includes all of Lightroom Classic's main functions (DAM, raw converter, and print module). That said, among FOSS, lots of people find DarkTable very good, and RawTherapee is a powerful raw converter, and GIMP is a quite capable pixel editor.
FWIW, I think DxO PhotoLab Elite is the best raw converter for me, but for other people and their needs and preferences, Capture One or the full Adobe Camera Raw found in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop might be best. And I think Qimage is the best printing software (maybe short of a real RIP, which would be far more expensive.
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According the darkable 4.0 manual there is a print module:
https://docs.darktable.org/usermanual/4.0/en/print/overview/
https://docs.darktable.org/usermanual/4.0/en/print/print-view-layout/
https://docs.darktable.org/usermanual/4.0/en/module-reference/utility-modules/print/print-settings/
I have not used the print module.
DAM, raw processor, non-destructive editor, print module:
- darktable
- Lightroom Classic
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I have used GIMP (free) for general editing for years and find it excellent. It does have a substantial learning curve, however. I also use other non-free software for specific tasks:
DxO for RAW processing
Photomatix for HDR
ICE for panorama stitching (this is free)
Neat Image for noise reduction when DxO doesn't support an image
PhotoZoom for resizing
FocalBlade for sharpening
In general, I don't like subscription pricing models. I used LR back when it was non-subscription. But once I moved to GIMP I have not regretted the move. I find it to be as good.
DxO for RAW processing
Photomatix for HDR
ICE for panorama stitching (this is free)
Neat Image for noise reduction when DxO doesn't support an image
PhotoZoom for resizing
FocalBlade for sharpening
In general, I don't like subscription pricing models. I used LR back when it was non-subscription. But once I moved to GIMP I have not regretted the move. I find it to be as good.
NAwlins Contrarian
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Last I knew, Darktable's Windows version did not have a print module, even though Darktable's Mac OS and Linux versions do (which is why I wrote "at least on Windows"). If that has changed, I'd be very interested to hear about user experiences printing from Darktable under Windows.
And incidentally, GIMP's Windows printing is also, to put it charitably, limited and frustrating. No idea about printing from RawTherapee.
Len Philpot
Leading Member
There's still no print module in darktable on Windows and I don't recall reading any plans to add it. RawTherapee nor ART have print modules, either. They're focused strictly on raw development.
I've not used it, but have seen a number of recommendations to use QImage (?) on Windows for printing.
NAwlins Contrarian
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Thanks for the update. That's what I thought: Windows users still have no decent FOSS option for photo printing.
I use Qimage Ultimate for photo printing, and it's excellent--but at $90, it isn't free.
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Oldpanda
Well-known member
Since you list a Sony DSLR in your gear, did you know about this option?
I have Canon cameras and never used either Lightroom or Capture One, I cannot directly address your question, but I thought you might want to check this out since it is free for you.
Glenn
I have Canon cameras and never used either Lightroom or Capture One, I cannot directly address your question, but I thought you might want to check this out since it is free for you.
Glenn
NAwlins Contrarian
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Good suggestion for the OP. For others, it may be worth noting that (last I checked) there are also Capture One Express versions for Fuji and Nikon.
That said, having tried Capture One Express for Sony in various versions over the years, and also tried the full Capture One a few times, my sense is that the current version is very limited compared with the full Capture One. My sense--but I haven't tracked the features--is that years ago, Capture One Express for Sony had a larger fraction of the features and controls of the full capture one; and that since then, the full Capture One has gotten substantially more capable while Capture One Express has if anything been dumbed down somewhat.
But Capture One Express is free--try it. Anyone looking for a free raw converter for Sony, Fuji, and/or Nikon cameras should try Capture One Express.
newmikey
Veteran Member
Do Windows users need a FOSS option for photo printing? Does it have to be embedded in the editing software? In the linux world there is a system-wide printer driver called cups and the various programs merely use that as indirect driver. Either that or one saves an image to the harddrive and uses printing software to do the job. Just help me understand why an image editing program requires a printing option to begin with?
TBH, I don't really own a color printer anymore and prefer my print jobs to be handled by professional online printing services - it ends up cheaper and better quality and the better services even provide you with colour profiles for soft-proofing so you can match your output to their hardware.
NAwlins Contrarian
Forum Pro
Yes, I'm aware of CUPS, but Windows is not Unix; Windows does not function in a similar way.
Whether the printing function is built into image editing software, or another program, if you want to print photos, then you need one or the other. Obviously there is Windows photo printing software--I mentioned Qimage in my first post here. But there is, AFAIK, no free Windows photo printing software. And yes, I am aware that Windows comes with the Windows Photos app, but last I knew, that is not even color-managed.
For 4x6" / 10x15 cm prints, true. For larger prints, I disagree. I track these costs carefully, and in most instances, it's either similar price, or printing at home on an inkjet is less expensive. If printing at home costs you more, then it's because either you're printing on much fancier paper than what the service would provide, or you aren't using a color-managed workflow and therefore must print each image three times to get it right.
No, just no, full stop. I can make at least as good, and often substantially better, prints at home that I can get from any but the upper-end / most expensive services. Been there, done that. Over the years I've tried most and probably all of the major U.S.-based photo printing services.
At the top end, yes, but then you're talking much more expensive than printing at home. Among moderate-price services, not really. Some of them provide profiles only for soft-proofing, but then require you to actually submit your files in sRGB or something like that. Even a very modest inkjet printer can print colors that are outside of even Adobe RGB.
At home I use a fully color-managed workflow. It works quite well.
To be clear, I am not saying that printing photos at home is the best answer for everyone. For many people, using a service makes sense. Some people just don't want to mess with it. Some people want a service to 'correct' their photos for brightness and contrast before printing. But if you care enough about quality results and photographer control to do things like calibrate and profile your monitor, then home photo printing is a very viable option. With a modest inkjet you can makes prints equal to or better than what the major services offer. And if you print any substantial amount of photos, then you can readily amortize the cost of the printer within its useful life. The only reason you need to use a service is when you want a larger print than you can make at home.
newmikey
Veteran Member
To be quit honest, that is what I hear from people who do print at home using anything up to an A3+ inkjet printer, regardless of colour-management. There always seems to be one print line off, dust on the paper, paper transport issues etc. It may not be an issue on professional printers.
Aha, I have no idea what the situation in the US is of course.
The printing service I'm aware of will do a 50x75cm print on Fujifilm DP II Glossy, Lustre or Pearl or on Fujifilm Maxima Glossy, Fujifilm Velvet for under €15 and on high-end Hahnemühle Photo Rag, Photo Rag Ultra Smooth, FineArt Baryta or Photo Rag Pearl for about €45
Seeing OP was looking for "free editing software" and also merely judging by his gallery submissions (not a definitive answer, I know), they might not be thàt precise to begin with TBH.
I can only answer for myself: I rarely have a printing need for myself with sizes suitable for display on the walls of my house. If I do, I use a printing service because I would never amortise the cost of a printer. The shots I do for others, I earn commission via Art On The Wall (aka OhMyPrint) which handles my fulfillment needs.
But I do get the points you make, thanks for the amount of detail!
NAwlins Contrarian
Forum Pro
I don't find it to be much of a problem even on my little Epson at home. After some initial learning curve, usually I don't even soft-proof any more. I have a pretty strong sense of how a print is going to look based on what I see on my screen and my experience with the paper I'm printing on. The actual print rarely surprises me, and I rarely adjust and reprint.
You cannot print 50x75cm on any desktop photo inkjet printer, so that size not really an option to print at home for the large majority of us. But let's compare sizes you can print on a typical hobbyist photo inkjet (Canon Pro-100, but others would not differ much) versus one of the more popular enthusiast printing services (https://bayphoto.com/prints/photographic-prints/ and https://bayphoto.com/prints/fine-art-prints/):
8x10" (about 20x25 cm) on RC-type paper: home inkjet about $2 for ink and paper, $3.94 from the service;
12x18" (about 30x45 cm) on RC-type paper: home inkjet about $5 for ink and paper, $13.31 from the service;
8x10" (about 20x25 cm) on Canson Platine Fibre Rag or Rag Photographique: home inkjet about $3.25 for ink and paper, $23.30 from the service; and
12x18" (about 30x45 cm) on Canson Platine Fibre Rag or Rag Photographique: home inkjet about $8 for ink and paper, $44.00 from the service.
So home printing is far cheaper per print, and it doesn't take that many prints to amortize the cost of the printer--unless you don't print much other than really large sizes, which you can't print on such a printer.
(And for what it's worth, in the size closest to 50x75cm, I can get a 20x30" wet / C-type print on RC paper for $9.95; see https://www.elcocolor.net/index.php/poster-special. But again, only a very small proportion of hobbyists have a 24" / A1 photo printer, because those stand-mounted, roll-paper-feeding printers are a big step up in cost, size, and hassle. But mostly I find inkjet prints have larger gamuts and better fade-resistance.)
Fair enough. If you really need someone else to make final brightness and color corrections before printing, then you should use a service.
That said, I am constantly surprised by people who will spend a lot on hardware (like cameras, lenses, and calibration tools) but complain about spending even $50 for software.
I'm here because I'm happy to discuss it!
newmikey
Veteran Member
At Profotonet 20x25 would be €2.48 30x45 is €5.14 but yes, if you do print a lot at home it definitely would be cheaper in the long run. I may have ordered up to 5-6 prints at 30x45cm and one at 40x60 in the past year and a half.
His Dudeness
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... it depends on your requirements. Mine are primarily focused on editing and I want some DAM. So I would call darktable superior over LR, particularly regarding editing. darktable gives me a lot more fine-grained controll over my editing and an innovative processing pipeline. And it still allows me to be quite fast if I need it. There is a learning curve however, but it is rewarding.
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