In the photo processing tools on my belt I describe the programs I use and some of my adventures working toward a regular approach to process photos, in my post-LightRoom world. This post is a comparison of photo processing software by taking one photo and testing different methods.
Image #1: the JPG straight from the camera
Typically the JPG straight out of the camera is quite good. My watcher in the tree is not an exception, although its face is quite shadow-y.
Processed RAW (ARW) Images
The JPG files out of camera are very good and, often, all you need. But sometimes you want to take a picture to a higher level and have more control. In order to have the skills to pull that off I have been experimenting with a variety of programs. The programs that can translate from the RAW file and make corrections for the camera profile are: Sony Imaging Edge, RAW Therapee and DarkTable. The GIMP is an open source program comparable to Photoshop, it cannot read a RAW file directly.
The general shape of my workflow is:
- Corrections for the camera and lens, including geometry and chromatic noise.
- Geometry: correcting for straight horizons and cropping.
- Adjusting the basic exposure, contrast, highlights and shadows, blacks and whites for the overall image.
- Adjusting colors: saturation and vibrance for the overall image.
- Bring out details.
- Adjust locally within the image using masking.
- Artistic filters, effects and overlays.
Image #2: Sony Imaging Edge software alone
This software comes with the camera and can be downloaded for free from Sony’s web site. It can be used for steps 1 to 4. I do not know if it would work for RAW images that are not produced by a Sony Camera.
This is not quite as crisp as the JPG, but I used the curves to make the face a little less shaded. I do not like the effects of the sharpening tool in Imaging Edge.
Image #3: Sony Imaging Edge + the GIMP
I took the image above (as a TIF) into the GIMP and used a high-pass filter to give the details more crispness.
Image #4: RAWTherapee alone
RAW Therapee is a free program that can translate a RAW file and do quite a bit of editing, steps 1 through 6. It has a really good set of tools to bring out details: local contrast, edges and microcontrast. The dehaze tool also brings out details well. Many images don’t really need more than RAWTherapee.
I think the RAWTherapee one is a little yellower in the leaves. This may be due to using vibrance instead of increasing saturation…I’ll need to check into that.
Image #5: RAWTherapee + the GIMP
For this file I only used the GIMP to adjust levels and the tone curve a bit on the photo above to try and make the face a bit less shadowed.
Image #6: DarkTable alone
DarkTable is a program comparable to RAWTherapee, but a little better integrated with GIMP. It is a little confusing to use for some things and doesn’t have good tools for bringing out details (at least so far as I have figured out), so I tend to use it only for steps 1 & 2.
As you can see the image straight out of DarkTable is rather lackluster, lacking both vibrance and sharp details.
Image #7: DarkTable + the GIMP
After using DarkTable the file goes into the GIMP and I used two layers of high pass filter sharpening, then adjusted the levels, tone curve and shadows and highlights.
Image #8: Luminar 3
Luminar 3 is quite easy to use and can be used for all steps in my workflow.
In summary
For this comparison of photo processing software, using my Watcher in the Tree, I prefer the RAW Therapee plus GIMP, with Luminar 3 in second place. What do you think?
Processed with Luminar 3. 
Processed with RAWTherapee and GIMP
Luminar 3 is somewhat easier to use, but it is not free, is a bit slow, and has some stability quirks. The RAWTherapee and the GIMP are both open source (free) and give very good results. Alas, nothing is perfect.
Coming soon
A comparison of the Digital Asset Management (DAM) capabilities for the same set of programs.