RawTherapee 3.0 Released

I have been using 'unstable' development releases of RawTherapee for the last couple of months, so I'm delighted that finally a 'finished' version has been released. I've just been playing around with it for a few minutes at most, but already I've noticed it is much faster than the development releases!

I've tried a few 'free' RAW development applications and this is by far the most powerful. In short, it was already really a fantastic program and the extra speed and stability will just make it truly spectacular.

If you're look for good RAW development software without the cost of commercial packages, look no further. Get it HERE. For a complete editing suite, pair it with GIMP.

Thanks for this, Mark.

I "lost" my copy of PS cs3 a while ago and went back to using RAWTHERAPEE for RAW conversions. As you say, this version looks much better. I've processed one shot and the process was much better.

RT is nice, most people say it's got excelent output. But to keep the list of options opened, I'd also like to mention Photivo.

Lucian

Mark. I hesitate to demonstrate my simplicity. I have visited this site but for me it is wrapped up in termonology.
Can you explain to me the purpose of this programme?
I am frustrated that at present uploading my Raw files in Windows I then have to open them in PS and this can be tedious. Is this programme a Raw converter?
My impresion is that it is an alternative to PS, or is that me being dim.

regards

When you open a RAW file in PS, PS open it in another window (program) first called Adode Camera Raw.
RawTherapee is roughly the saem as Adode Camera Raw

The problem is, Stefan, earlier versions of Photoshop won't open RAW files, or, at least, my copy of CS won't recognise PEF or DNG.

For 95% of my shots the K10's JPEGs are so good that I can't improve them with RAW processing anyway, but for the odd five percent where highlights are blown, for example, RAW is the difference between having a workable image and not.

Thing is, Stephan, when I load up raw files into a windows picture file the results are shown as a logo, not a thumbnail picture. I then have to open these in PS to see the results.

Is it not possible for these to be shown as thumbnails. If I take multiple shots of the same view but using different settings it would same a lot of time and effort if I could view them as thumbnails and delete those I do not want. At present, I have to open everyone in PS and I find this tedious and time consuming.

I am sure I am missing something obvious here.

regards.

I believe CS does support DNG though but i could be wrong.

But that isn't at the discussion here though.

Sorry but it doesn't work that way, btw Microsoft did recently released a codec pack that should do the trick what you want.
RawTherapee is made to edit RAW files but it isn't like photoshop though.

Another way around it is to use Adobe bridge, this a progam that you get with PS and it's made to search/browser files and this one does show the files that PS support as an image.

If you don't have Bridge then ifranview should do it.

I set my K200D to also produce a 2MP jpeg so that I have it as a reference until I´ve processed a full 10MP jpeg from the RAW. However, I believe there are programs that can show a preview from RAW files, but I don´t know which RAW formats.

Shoot in RAW+Jpeg and there will be a jpeg alongside the RAW file to give you a quick preview.

Or instead of looking for your files in Windows Explorer, open Photoshop, and go to Menu - Open - and look for the files. The thumbnails will be displayed so you can see the pictures to pick from, but you will still need to edit them before you do anything else with them.

I tried RAW Therapee a while back & preferred the Pentax software or gimp. However, the list of additions & improvements in v3 looks extensive & impressive, so I think I´ll download it & give it another shot.

Each time I use a free processing program I take a step further back from purchasing Lightroom 3.

It is a RAW converter, yes, not a full editing suite like PS. Basically it allows you to carry out the kinds of editing tasks which are best carried out on a RAW file before it's converted to JPEG, such as adjusting the exposure and white balance, attempting to restore overexposed highlights, and so forth. For other editing tasks beyond that you would then have to export the photo to another program like PS or GIMP.

For any easy way to view your RAW files as thumbnails, try downloading a photo viewer like XnView. This is actually pretty good software for organising your photo collection as well as viewing it. I personally use it alongside RawTherapee and GIMP, and between them these three applications cover 99% of my PP requirements. The main download link for XnView is here.

(If you don't get on well with XnView there is another application that does roughly the same thing and is more popular called IrfanView, but personally I don't use it and prefer XnView simply because it runs on Windows, Linux and MacOS and I use all three.)

Thanks for the info, Mark. I am not very adverturesome when it comes to downloading programmes but I will give the XnView a go.

I have avoided the Raw+Jpeg route illogically believing that it would take up more space on the card and my laptop but I will give this a go too as I am using 16gb cards.

regards

If you are just using the jpeg as a preview, you can set it (in the camera menu) to the minimum image size and quality, to save space

Thanks for the link Mark, will be defo be checking out RawTherapee

LOL - great tip! Can't believe I never thought of it before

Google's free Picasa image file viewer lets you view RAW files alongside the jpegs. Seems to present them really well and helps make the 'process or not process' judgement call quicker seeing what the in-camera processing has done compared to usually more vibrant RAW.