I did say “almost”.

I use Lightroom for my photo editing now that I’ve joined the world of digital photography.  I am not a fan of Photoshop mostly because of the cost and complexity.  When I need to do Photoshop like modifications to my images I use GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) which is open source and free.

I found GIMP and started using it when I moved to Linux as my primary operating system back in 2001.  Use of Lightroom has forced me to use Windows more that I like, but that’s just how it rolls sometimes.

Here has been the big problem with GIMP, it doesn’t deal with RAW files.  Then I discovered UFRaw.  It’s a program, also open source and free, which allows you to work with RAW files and them import them in GIMP.

First let me put out a big disclaimer.  I have only played with UFRaw for about 5 minutes so my opinion on how good and useful it is can not be based on any personal experience.  Most of you probably have a method for processing your RAW files and may not need another but since GIMP and UFRaw are free it can’t hurt to try them out.  You might like ’em.

If you run Linux then you know how to use your distributions installer.  Install GIMP first, then UFRaw.

For Mac users, you are on your own.  I don’t have a Mac.

For Windows users (you have my sympathy) first go here:

GIMP installers for Windows

Get GIMP and the GIMP Help files and install those.  You dont’ need the help file, but why wouldn’t you want it?  Especially if you are new to GIMP.

Then go here:

UFRaw for Windows

To get UFRaw for Windows.

Try ’em out.  Who knows.  Maybe it’s good stuff, maybe it’s not.  I can’t say yet.  But what photographer doesn’t like playing with a new toy now and then?