cvedeler
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/20/05
Posts: 1490
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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I just upgraded my desktop system and am confronted with the Vista monster with no feasible route of escape. I currently own Photoshop 6.0 which is about 10 years old and does everything I want. However I don't know how stable it will be on Vista and I would really like something that would take advantage of my triple core processor and 6GB of RAM. I could upgrade, but before I spend a bunch of money I wanted to check out some of the cool open source stuff out there.
Does anyone use GIMP instead of Photoshop? How does it compare?
Thanks!
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Chris Vedeler
Astro-Physics 160EDF
Astro-Physics 900GTO
Orion 80mm Guidescope
Canon EOS XT modified with Baader filter by Hap Griffin
Meade DSI Pro / Philips SPC900NC webcam
----------------------------
www.aznightsky.com
Scottsdale, AZ
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Charlie B
super member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Virginia
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I use GIMP and it does everything that I've tried so far.
Charlie B
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Meade SN-8, DS-90, AT-66
DSI Pro II (Schuler Filters), DSI-C, LPI, Canon XTi
AIP4WIN, Nebulosity, DSS, Registrax, GIMP
running on Dell 1420 with Vista
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rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1562
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Quote:
I just upgraded my desktop system and am confronted with the Vista monster with no feasible route of escape. I currently own Photoshop 6.0 which is about 10 years old and does everything I want. However I don't know how stable it will be on Vista and I would really like something that would take advantage of my triple core processor and 6GB of RAM. I could upgrade, but before I spend a bunch of money I wanted to check out some of the cool open source stuff out there.
Does anyone use GIMP instead of Photoshop? How does it compare?
Thanks!
I've tried GIMP...it works...but it ain't no Photoshop. Hell, it ain't even no Paintshop Pro. 
Most fairly recent Win programs are perfectly stable under Vista. I haven't tried 6 on it, but I run 7 on it all the time and it just works great. The only program I've had trouble with under Vista? Starry Night Pro Plus.
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Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using the New CATs--coming soon!
Edited by rmollise (09/26/08 05:45 PM)
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Paul Romero
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 537
Loc: Reno, NV
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Hi,
So then Paintshop Pro is the reasonable choice?
thx,
Paul
--------------------
Nexstar 11 GPS
8'x10' backyard 'skyshed'
and presenting...."Sweet Pudding", my AM 110mm FLT on 'Max', a MI-250 mount.
travel: BORG 45EDII on an Astrotrac.
"Pablito Clavo un Clavito en la Calva de un Calvito"--by Jose A.
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Jeff in Austin
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/26/07
Posts: 581
Loc: Austin, TX
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I think GIMP is 8 bit...you may not have much luck stretching astrophotos. But you can get Photoshop Elements 6 and download Easy.Filter SmartCurve for 16 bit stretches and curves.
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Stellarvue SV102ED
Celestron C8-SGT XLT GoTo
Astro-Tech AT66ED
Canon 50D unmodded, TC80N3 timer, Stiletto Focuser.
DMK21AU04.AS
Coronado PST (Lunt LS60THa on order)
Supportive family, including First Grader w/ scope, curious toddler, and lovely wife.
Sponsor of Austin CSC, Austin CalSky.
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Charlie B
super member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
I think GIMP is 8 bit...you may not have much luck stretching astrophotos
Nope! See http://www.gimp.org/features/! If you have not seen it recently, you will be surprised. Stretches fine 16-bit but the next version is supposed to go to 32-bit. Imports .fit files others. Plus its free!
Charlie B
Edited by Charlie B (09/26/08 08:07 PM)
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astrotrf
sage
Reged: 09/30/07
Posts: 287
Loc: Rodeo, NM
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Quote:
Quote:
I think GIMP is 8 bit...you may not have much luck stretching astrophotos
Nope! See http://www.gimp.org/features/! If you have not seen it recently, you will be surprised. Stretches fine 16-bit but the next version is supposed to go to 32-bit. Imports .fit files others. Plus its free!
I can't find anything about bit depth on that page ...
Actually, GIMP does not yet have 16-bit (or higher) support, although it's coming. It may be able to *read* some 16-bit images now, but internally, it's all 8-bit for a while yet.
See "Under the Hood" in the GIMP 2.5 release notes. Also, see the FAQ on 16-bit support.
And, having tried several times, really WANTING the GIMP to work well (I'm a Unix person, not Windows), I have lots better luck with PS in enhancing my images. It's way too easy with GIMP, at 8 bits, to make your histogram look like a comb filter.
I have to say that even PhotoShop annoys me with its 0-255 Levels tool, so it's not perfect, either.
I find PhotoShop a bit easier to use than GIMP for creating RGB images, but once you get used to how GIMP wants it done, it amounts to more or less the same thing.
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Terry (astrotrf)
Edited by astrotrf (09/26/08 09:39 PM)
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Charlie B
super member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Virginia
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I stand corrected. Mixing up Cinepaint and GIMP.
Charlie B
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Meade SN-8, DS-90, AT-66
DSI Pro II (Schuler Filters), DSI-C, LPI, Canon XTi
AIP4WIN, Nebulosity, DSS, Registrax, GIMP
running on Dell 1420 with Vista
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daev
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 3466
Loc: On the edge of the desert
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Easy mix-up... Cinepaint is essentially the industrial version of GIMP. It does support high bit depths, but I have yet to try doing any astro-processing with it.
dave
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"Yes, I know it's flat here. When the seeing is good you can stand on your toes and see Chicago...."
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Charlie B
super member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Virginia
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I'm waiting for GIMP 2.6, which should support the higher bit depths. I can't really affort the ~$700 for PS. I do use the current version to touch up both astrophotos and regular DSLR terrestrial photos once they have been converted to jpeg. I use it for cropping, scaling, curves, unsharp mask and to adjust the sizes for mailing or uploading. Primary processing is done with AIP4WIN, or Canon's Digital Photo Professional (its also free if you have a Canon). You can use both CR2 and TIFF in DPS.
This Ring Nebula was processed with GIMP.
Charlie B
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Meade SN-8, DS-90, AT-66
DSI Pro II (Schuler Filters), DSI-C, LPI, Canon XTi
AIP4WIN, Nebulosity, DSS, Registrax, GIMP
running on Dell 1420 with Vista
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Charlie B
super member
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Virginia
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I forgot to mention ImagesJ from NIH as another free choice. See http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/
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Meade SN-8, DS-90, AT-66
DSI Pro II (Schuler Filters), DSI-C, LPI, Canon XTi
AIP4WIN, Nebulosity, DSS, Registrax, GIMP
running on Dell 1420 with Vista
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rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1562
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Quote:
Hi,
So then Paintshop Pro is the reasonable choice?
thx,
Paul
IMHO, yes. I've got Photoshop, but I often just use PSP...it's got a very easy, friendly interface. Been using it since the Win 3.1 days, actually.
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Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using the New CATs--coming soon!
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col399
journeyman
Reged: 08/30/08
Posts: 5
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Why not try to install Photoshop 6. It will not cause harm. If it installs and runs then use it. If it doesn't install or crashes then don't use it. There is nothing wrong with trying and it won't break your computer. The absolute worse that can happen is an error message comes up Photoshop6 has crashed do you wish to close the program or check for solutions.
Even though Photoshop 6 is old as dirt there is what 4 or 5 versions from current it is still far better then GIMP.
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Paul Romero
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 537
Loc: Reno, NV
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I have had the unfortunate event of being blacklisted by Adobe. When I bought full legal copy from Amazon, and I broke my CD several months later, they de-serialized my serial number and refused to issue a replacement, citing that Amazon.com was not an authorized dealer. I am taking it as a $260 'water under the bridge' now, but I dare say I will not be purchasing any Adobe products from other than 'authorized dealers' in the future. I am sorry, but purchasing Photoshop 6, considering the Adobe activation requirment, is not going to happen.
I am waiting for the sweet PS elements to PS3 upgrade offer that comes in the email once the PS3 is 'old news' to them.
clear skies,
Paul
--------------------
Nexstar 11 GPS
8'x10' backyard 'skyshed'
and presenting...."Sweet Pudding", my AM 110mm FLT on 'Max', a MI-250 mount.
travel: BORG 45EDII on an Astrotrac.
"Pablito Clavo un Clavito en la Calva de un Calvito"--by Jose A.
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cvedeler
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/20/05
Posts: 1490
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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Thanks everyone. PS 6 seems to work fine on the new computer. I guess I'll just keep what I have until forced kicking and screaming into the future...
One thing I wish my PS did was handle Canon RAW files. I have to convert them to HUGE TIFFs if I want to keep the 14 bit information.
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Chris Vedeler
Astro-Physics 160EDF
Astro-Physics 900GTO
Orion 80mm Guidescope
Canon EOS XT modified with Baader filter by Hap Griffin
Meade DSI Pro / Philips SPC900NC webcam
----------------------------
www.aznightsky.com
Scottsdale, AZ
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2803
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Chris,
Can't you download and install the Camera RAW plug-in for PS?
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Peter
14.5" Starmaster
I hail from the explosive jetsam of a multitude of high-mass stars that died more than 5 billion years ago.
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cvedeler
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/20/05
Posts: 1490
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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Peter,
I can't deal with Canon RAW images in my version of Photoshop. I've checked with Adobe and they didn't start supporting that until much later versions. PS 6 isn't supported anymore. It is only 8 years old... you would think in an industry like computers that was just yesterday. 
--------------------
Chris Vedeler
Astro-Physics 160EDF
Astro-Physics 900GTO
Orion 80mm Guidescope
Canon EOS XT modified with Baader filter by Hap Griffin
Meade DSI Pro / Philips SPC900NC webcam
----------------------------
www.aznightsky.com
Scottsdale, AZ
Edited by cvedeler (09/28/08 09:48 AM)
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Senpai
super member
Reged: 10/20/06
Posts: 106
Loc: Russia, Chuvashian republic
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It is better to use free PixInsight LE to postprocess 48-bit images.
For preprocessing I use IRIS (or DSS for raw preview).
Waiting for 16-bit support of TheGIMP for a long long time...
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Clear skies!
C6N | CG5 (mod.) | SW 80ED Pro APO | SW705 guidescope | QHY6 autoguider | 350D | bino 7x50 | EeePC
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groz
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/14/07
Posts: 540
Loc: Duncan, BC
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Quote:
Waiting for 16-bit support of TheGIMP for a long long time...
Is it possible the wait is over ?? Reading this thread prompted me to go look at the gimp website, and sure enough, 2.6.0 was released on 2008-10-01.
It's downloading as I type, and, I'll see shortly....
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groz
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/14/07
Posts: 540
Loc: Duncan, BC
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Quote:
Quote:
Waiting for 16-bit support of TheGIMP for a long long time...
Is it possible the wait is over ?? Reading this thread prompted me to go look at the gimp website, and sure enough, 2.6.0 was released on 2008-10-01.
It's downloading as I type, and, I'll see shortly....
grumble grumble.
So, I tried pulling in a 16 bit tiff, and got this pop up.
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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.
------------
So, still waiting I guess....
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