On Raw Therapee

[dimension2]

Hi,

I have recently taken to film, working mostly with C-41 films. I scan negatives (Kodak Portra and BW400CN for most part) with Nikon LS 5000 and Vuescan for software, getting 16-bit (per channel) tiff files as output. So far so good.

I am trying to use RawTherapee for processing these into jpegs. Now, RT can load and process the color scans (48-bit scans for the Portra neg) fairly well, but doesn't seem to load or recognize the 16-bit B&W scans in the folders. Has anyone else faced this issue? What am I missing?

On a related note, I am open to open-source alternatives for Windows, if there are any suggestions (I cannot use GIMP since it can't handle 16-bit files, yet).

Thanks in anticipation. My apologies if a thread on this already exists - couldn't find one on my searches.

 

[charjohncarter]

Raw Therapee on my screen will not pick up 16 bit grayscale. I don't have any to test it with but I'll bet it would in you scanned B&W negatives in RGB. Like you I scan B&W in grayscale. I suppose you would lose them if somehow you converted to grayscale.

EDIT: I just converted a grayscale 16 bit TIFF to RGB and RAW THERAPEE shows it???

 

[colyn]

I am trying to use RawTherapee for processing these into jpegs. Now, RT can load and process the color scans (48-bit scans for the Portra neg) fairly well, but doesn't seem to load or recognize the 16-bit B&W scans in the folders. Has anyone else faced this issue? What am I missing?

I've been using Rawtherapee for several years and have not had any issues with either 8 bit or 16 bit B&w whether they be jpg or tif so I can't help you there.

I cannot use GIMP since it can't handle 16-bit files, yet.

Gimp 2.8 does a fine job with both 8 and 16 bit files.. I scan in 16 bit and edit in Gimp.

If you are a Linux user DigiKam is a good editing program..

 

[dimension2]

Raw Therapee on my screen will not pick up 16 bit grayscale. I don't have any to test it with but I'll bet it would in you scanned B&W negatives in RGB. Like you I scan B&W in grayscale. I suppose you would lose them if somehow you converted to grayscale.

EDIT: I just converted a grayscale 16 bit TIFF to RGB and RAW THERAPEE shows it???

Thanks. I'll give it a shot and see if that works.

Gimp 2.8 does a fine job with both 8 and 16 bit files.. I scan in 16 bit and edit in Gimp.

If you are a Linux user DigiKam is a good editing program..

I was under the impression that current versions of GIMP don't support 16-bit for tiff files yet. I heard this is coming in v 2.10 or 3.0. I run the latest version of GIMP on Windows and it can't open the file.

digiKam looks to have a Windows version - will give it a try. Thanks.

 

[colyn]

I was under the impression that current versions of GIMP don't support 16-bit for tiff files yet. I heard this is coming in v 2.10 or 3.0. I run the latest version of GIMP on Windows and it can't open the file.

Since the introduction of GEGL Gimp has had limited support for 16 bit tif. The Linux version which I am using has better support than the Windows version and works fine for 16 bit. I can edit 16 bit and save as 16 or 8 bit jpg or tif.. I never save edits to the original file but instead save as a tif or jpg..

Understand that for Windows to even be able to run Gimp GTK+ has to be installed with Gimp. Python is also needed for proper operation which may or may not be installed on the Windows version. I've had problems trying to run some scripts in a Windows version of Gimp at work that run fine on my Linux machine..

Gimp is a native Linux program..

I suspect 2.9 and 2.10 will be the beta for 3.0 and will have full support. I'm waiting for the 2.9 beta to be released for testing to see what changes it has..

digiKam looks to have a Windows version - will give it a try. Thanks.

I knew they were working on a beta for Windows. I'll have a look and may install on my test machine at work tomorrow..

 

[charjohncarter]

Hi,

I have recently taken to film, working mostly with C-41 films. I scan negatives (Kodak Portra and BW400CN for most part) with Nikon LS 5000 and Vuescan for software, getting 16-bit (per channel) tiff files as output. So far so good.

I am trying to use RawTherapee for processing these into jpegs. Now, RT can load and process the color scans (48-bit scans for the Portra neg) fairly well, but doesn't seem to load or recognize the 16-bit B&W scans in the folders. Has anyone else faced this issue? What am I missing?

On a related note, I am open to open-source alternatives for Windows, if there are any suggestions (I cannot use GIMP since it can't handle 16-bit files, yet).

Thanks in anticipation. My apologies if a thread on this already exists - couldn't find one on my searches.

I do mostly B&W and process in another post processing software. But I have to say; when I do color (colour, for you that are out of US people) RAW THERAPEE is the best I've tried. I still have a little trouble with saving a file because I don't do that much color/colour.

 

[colyn]

digiKam looks to have a Windows version - will give it a try. Thanks.

I just installed DigiKam on a Windows 7 laptop and it looks good. Runs just as fast and smooth as my Linux version.

First start is slow but afterward works fine..

 

[dimension2]

EDIT: I just converted a grayscale 16 bit TIFF to RGB and RAW THERAPEE shows it???

That seems to work. Thanks for all the inputs and suggestions.