UFRaw, Gimp, Linux processing ??

[alsetalokin]

I hope that everything that PhotoShop is used for can be done with Gimp. It looks like it so far to me, but I'm just starting out so I'm asking for advice and tips from other Linux users. (I use Ubuntu mostly).

UFRaw is the stand-alone and plugin that opens and pre-processes the RAW files from my Canon DSLR, and a bunch of other cameras as well, according to the info.

Does anyone have any experience with UFRaw and/or with using Gimp to process astronomical images?

Thanks--
--Al

[seal killer]

Al--

I downloaded the Vista version of GIMP. The first thing it tells me when I load a 16 bit tif is . . .

Warning:
The image you are loading has 16 bits per channel. GIMP can only handle 8 bit, so it will be converted for you. Information will be lost because of this conversion.

Ignoring that, I am struggling with Gimp whether it will do 8 or 16 bits.

Have your investigations revealed it to be a replacement for Photoshop?

Thanks.

--Bill

[alsetalokin]

That 8 or 16 bit thing is puzzling me too. I know that Gimp will handle deeper bit depth with other file types, like .bmp. I think it is doing 8 bits per layer in the .fit or .tif files. I don't know enough about current versions of PhotoShop to be able to tell if Gimp will in fact be able to replace PS for astroimaging work.

Just now it doesn't sound like it. But I still have very little idea what I'm doing, processing wise. I'll be interested to know what you learn while playing around with Gimp.

[blaise]

I've used Gimp before PS. I refused to beleive that I couldn't do with Gimp what people could do with PS. Fact is, PS is a much more robust package with features that Gimp does not have. However, Gimp is free so who can complain?

As for the 16 bit tiff files, I had the issue as well. I found on the Gimp forums that it will not support 16 bit tiff files.

UFRaw is a neat program. I use it to open FITS files within Gimp. There are two values that should be of concern, one is ensuring that you pick the "By DATAMIN/DATAMAX" and the other is "NAXIS=3..." option. This will allow you to open FITS files in color and work 'em in curves, levels and the like.

As EricFD has explained before, FITS is likely the preferred image format as it contains the most data. However, Tiff files in their 16 bit state may be just as adequate. Where you can't open 16 bit tiff files in Gimp, you can open FITS files.

I have struggled in reasoning that I blew my CGEM fund on Photoshop, but if you have the gear that you are happy with, you may want to consider investing in PS as it is truly a superior tool over Gimp.

By the way, the Gimp Registry is a nice plugin/script stronghold. You should check it out : )

GIMP Plugin Registry | A repository of optional extensions for the GIMP.

[seal killer]

Al--

"Playing around" is exactly what I'm doing! I don't know anything about PS, either.

Currently, I am trying to figure out layers and layer masks. That seems like the concept one might use to combine say, a good star image with a good nebula image.

I'll let you know if GIMP and I get along.

--Bill