Quick Overview
RawTherapee is an open-source, cross-platform, and free raw image processing software. It is designed to provide a comprehensive set of tools for photographers to edit and enhance their raw image files, offering a wide range of features and customization options.
Pros
- Comprehensive Editing Tools: RawTherapee provides a wide range of editing tools, including color correction, exposure adjustment, noise reduction, and more, allowing users to fine-tune their images with precision.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a diverse user base.
- Active Development and Community: RawTherapee has an active development team and a supportive community of users, ensuring regular updates and a wealth of resources for users.
- Free and Open-Source: RawTherapee is free to use and open-source, making it a cost-effective solution for photographers and enthusiasts.
Cons
- Steep Learning Curve: The software can have a steep learning curve, especially for users new to raw image processing, as it offers a wide range of advanced features and customization options.
- Limited Workflow Integration: RawTherapee may not integrate as seamlessly with other popular photo editing software as some commercial alternatives, which can impact the overall workflow for some users.
- Performance Limitations: Depending on the hardware configuration, RawTherapee may not perform as smoothly as some commercial raw image processing software, especially when working with large batches of images.
- Limited Mobile Support: RawTherapee is primarily designed for desktop use, and there is no official mobile version or integration, which may be a drawback for some users.
Getting Started
To get started with RawTherapee, follow these steps:
- Download the latest version of RawTherapee from the official website: https://rawtherapee.com/downloads/
- Install the software on your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
- Launch RawTherapee and familiarize yourself with the user interface and the various editing tools available.
- Import your raw image files into the software by navigating to the "File" menu and selecting "Open".
- Begin editing your images using the various tools and settings available in RawTherapee, such as the Exposure, Color, and Noise Reduction panels.
- Save your edited images by navigating to the "File" menu and selecting "Save As".
- Explore the software's advanced features, such as batch processing, custom profiles, and keyboard shortcuts, to streamline your editing workflow.
Remember, RawTherapee offers a wealth of customization options, so take the time to explore the software and find the settings that work best for your specific needs and preferences.
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RawTherapee is a powerful, cross-platform raw photo processing program, released as libre software under the GNU General Public License Version 3. It is written mostly in C++ using a GTK+ front-end. It uses a patched version of dcraw for reading raw files, with an in-house solution which adds the highest quality support for certain camera models unsupported by dcraw and enhances the accuracy of certain raw files already supported by dcraw. It is notable for the advanced control it gives the user over the demosaicing and development process.
Target Audience
RawTherapee is designed for developing raw files from a broad range of digital cameras, as well as HDR DNG files and non-raw image formats (JPEG, TIFF and PNG). The target audience ranges from enthusiast newcomers who wish to broaden their understanding of how digital imaging works to semi-professional photographers. Knowledge in color science is not compulsory, but it is recommended that you are eager to learn and ready to read our documentation (RawPedia) as well as look up basic concepts which lie outside the scope of RawPedia, such as color balance, elsewhere.
Professionals may use RawTherapee as well while enjoying complete freedom, but will probably lack some peripheral features such as Digital Asset Management, printing, uploading, etc. RawTherapee is not aimed at being an inclusive all-in-one program, and the open-source community is sufficiently developed by now to offer all those peripheral features in other specialized software.
Links
Website: https://www.rawtherapee.com/
Forum: https://discuss.pixls.us/c/software/rawtherapee
Features: https://rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/Features
Documentation: https://rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/
Download RawTherapee: https://www.rawtherapee.com/downloads
Download source code tarballs: https://www.rawtherapee.com/shared/source/
Compilation, Branches and Git
Refer to RawPedia for a detailed explanation of how to get the necessary dependencies and how to compile RawTherapee.
Linux: https://rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/Linux
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