Gimp, UF Raw and Linux

[Stan Hesketh]

I am too mean and destitute to finance Microsoft, so have been a Linux Ubuntu user for some time now (on a discrded PC that was too slow with windows; a whole stroy in itself! ) I could use Photoshop via Wine, but am using the free Gimp and UFRaw programmes as I discover the world of digital editing (only ever used Picassa in the past.) I am finding it fairly straight forward with this software, and wondered if anybody else used it or similar? I would also welcome any tips on same
Many thanks.

 

[Pete Askew]

I have no experience myself but I know that @Dave Farnes uses Gimp.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Stan I have tried to use it on windows. I think it is the best open software but I have used Adobe for so long it is something I know well and am comfortable with so carry on doing so. If it came to it I'd choose Gimp as a secondary program.
I also love Open Office which to me is far far better then Microsoft Office.. That is an open source platform that exceeds the paid and licensed equivalent.

 

[Stan Hesketh]

Thank you for replies. I am still in the learning stages, but so far it all appears to do what I need it to do. Should I need to I could always put something more advanced on my wife's Windows based computer, so that might be an option.

 

[Dave Farnes]

I have used Gimp for some time. It seems to have all the same basic features as Photoshop, works fine for me.

 

[Stan Hesketh]

Thanks Dave, that is very reassuring.
May I ask wheter you use RAW, and what you use to convert from RAW when exporting to Gimp?
Thanks.

 

[Dave Farnes]

I have used RAW and used the Fuji software that came with my camera to convert them to .tif, but I usually set the camera to save them as .tif.

 

[Stan Hesketh]

Thanks Dave.

 

[Douglas McMann]

Stan,

I too have toyed with the Gimp on Linux Mint, having also played around with a "back up copy" of Photoshop, and my own (purchased) copy of Elements when using Windoze...

I found Gimp to be just as powerful, if a little less intuitive to use, however, they were all just a bittie too complicated for my needs, and I eventually went the Lightroom route, which I have now transferred over to my Mac...!

 

[Stan Hesketh]

Thanks Douglas, I have heard good things about Lightroom. Not much experience with Macs but my son will use nothing else. Absolutely loves his.
I had Linux Mint on a previous desktop computer and it was brilliant! I also like Ubuntu very much too which is my current software. I also have a soft spot for Xubuntu which I used for ages on a low spec laptop and it actually worked very well indeed.