Cl-owned

EKIMIKE · 14-04-2008, 14:15

I've got the free trial of Capture NX and im looking to buy it next month (when i have money). One thing thats bugging me is the absence of a clone tool. Basically im looking for a Free piece of software which will open my RAW photo which i can then clone out the blasted dust spots and then save it again in all its RAW glory to consequently play with in NX.

Any suggestions much appreciated,

MiKE

**Markulous** · 14-04-2008, 15:23

GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program is probably the best freebie photo editing software

Have to say that the Spot Healing Tool is excellent (for when you eventually do get Photoshop CS3!)

EKIMIKE · 14-04-2008, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markulous

Have to say that the Spot Healing Tool is excellent (for when you eventually do get Photoshop CS3!)

That might be a while, i earn pennies in my current job and i need to save for driving in the summer lol. Hmmmmm Driving or CS3?

Thanks for the link

MiKE

EKIMIKE · 14-04-2008, 15:46

It wont recognise any RAW pics on my SD card

Do i need a plugin?

LJR69 · 14-04-2008, 17:08

EKIMIKE - I agree that the omission of a clone tool in CaptureNX is a somewhat bizarre one. However, if the dust spot is on a clean smooth area such as sky, then you can use the colorize tool very effectively.

1) Click the plus selection brush. A new colorize Edit Step will appear in your edit list

2) Double click the brush tool to bring up the brush options. Set the opacity to 100% and hardness to 0% and click OK

3) In the colorize options palette click the eyedropper (next to color indicator). Place the eyedropper on the area of the background near the dust spot and click the mouse.

4) Using the + selection brush paint over the dust spot (ensuring that you make the brush size the same as the dust spot in order to do the 'repair' in a single attempt)

All in all this takes a few seconds. The limitation is that if you are working on dust spots on textured surfaces, complex colour patterns, etc, then it's not as effective. But normal smooth surfaces (where, let's face it, any spots are most apparent) and heavy bokeh backgrounds it works really well on.

silkstone · 14-04-2008, 18:15

The GIMP doesn't recognise (most?) RAW unless you install the UFRaw (I think) plugin. However, even then it won't do what you want because you can't resave a RAW as a RAW - only as a TIFF or JPEG. The idea is to leave the original RAW intact as your 'digital negative'.

Can I persuade you to try Bibble?

**stepheno** · 14-04-2008, 19:19

Why don't you just clean your sensor

EKIMIKE · 14-04-2008, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepheno

Why don't you just clean your sensor

I did pretty recently and i got charged a tenner for it. I think my camera must have holes in it because i can't remeber taking my lens off too many times. I have one of these rocket blower thngs on the way anyhoo.

EKIMIKE · 14-04-2008, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJR69

EKIMIKE - I agree that the omission of a clone tool in CaptureNX is a somewhat bizarre one. However, if the dust spot is on a clean smooth area such as sky, then you can use the colorize tool very effectively.

1) Click the plus selection brush. A new colorize Edit Step will appear in your edit list

2) Double click the brush tool to bring up the brush options. Set the opacity to 100% and hardness to 0% and click OK

3) In the colorize options palette click the eyedropper (next to color indicator). Place the eyedropper on the area of the background near the dust spot and click the mouse.

4) Using the + selection brush paint over the dust spot (ensuring that you make the brush size the same as the dust spot in order to do the 'repair' in a single attempt)

All in all this takes a few seconds. The limitation is that if you are working on dust spots on textured surfaces, complex colour patterns, etc, then it's not as effective. But normal smooth surfaces (where, let's face it, any spots are most apparent) and heavy bokeh backgrounds it works really well on.

Thats perfect thanks. It suffices for dust spots however its not the perfect clone tool. Thank you

LJR69 · 15-04-2008, 06:54

Totally agree. Definitely needs a clone tool.

EKIMIKE · 15-04-2008, 09:48

On a curious note, whats the cheapest i could get CS3 for at this moment in time?

LJR69 · 15-04-2008, 10:01

Well, if you have a child in full time education and you won't use the product for commercial use then you can pick up a copy for around £150

Alternatively I saw some brand new Photoshop CS2 on ebay for £135, an upgrade to CS3 is about £150 resulting in a total price of less than £300 (some £200 less than full retail).

If you do buy from eBay make sure you get a UK version of the product. I don't think you'll be able to activate a US version in the UK.

EKIMIKE · 15-04-2008, 10:06

I am a 'child' in full time education doing A levels so how exactly does this make it cheaper

lol.

.

(Im looking forward to this)

LJR69 · 15-04-2008, 10:15

Just purchase the student edition. Then you have 30 days to send off the enclosed form with proof of your full time education status. Voila! You have a copy of CS3 for £150. Couple of notes though - 1) You can't use it for professional/commercial use, 2) You can't upgrade to the full version so when CS4 comes out you will have to, once again, purchase the student version (no upgrade price)

EKIMIKE · 15-04-2008, 10:42

I might stear clear of it then. So buying CS2 (which would probably do me fine!) and then upgrading to CS3 would be cheaper than just getting CS3 outright?

I googled it quickly and it seems to be (CS3) around £500-£600!!!!

**Dabhand16** · 15-04-2008, 11:31

If you have a registered copy of Elements, you can get CS3 at half price from Adobe. Unless that offer has ended.

Elements users ought to have had an e-mail from Adobe with a discount code. If you have changed your e-mail address since registering Elements, Adobe Customer Services may be able to arrange the discount anyway.

14-04-2008, 14:15	#1 (permalink)
EKIMIKE Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, England Posts: 88	Cl-owned I've got the free trial of Capture NX and im looking to buy it next month (when i have money). One thing thats bugging me is the absence of a clone tool. Basically im looking for a Free piece of software which will open my RAW photo which i can then clone out the blasted dust spots and then save it again in all its RAW glory to consequently play with in NX. Any suggestions much appreciated, MiKE

14-04-2008, 15:23	#2 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,691	Re: Cl-owned GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program is probably the best freebie photo editing software Have to say that the Spot Healing Tool is excellent (for when you eventually do get Photoshop CS3!)

14-04-2008, 15:46	#4 (permalink)
EKIMIKE Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, England Posts: 88	Re: Cl-owned It wont recognise any RAW pics on my SD card Do i need a plugin?

14-04-2008, 17:08	#5 (permalink)
LJR69 Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, UK Posts: 155	Re: Cl-owned EKIMIKE - I agree that the omission of a clone tool in CaptureNX is a somewhat bizarre one. However, if the dust spot is on a clean smooth area such as sky, then you can use the colorize tool very effectively. 1) Click the plus selection brush. A new colorize Edit Step will appear in your edit list 2) Double click the brush tool to bring up the brush options. Set the opacity to 100% and hardness to 0% and click OK 3) In the colorize options palette click the eyedropper (next to color indicator). Place the eyedropper on the area of the background near the dust spot and click the mouse. 4) Using the + selection brush paint over the dust spot (ensuring that you make the brush size the same as the dust spot in order to do the 'repair' in a single attempt) All in all this takes a few seconds. The limitation is that if you are working on dust spots on textured surfaces, complex colour patterns, etc, then it's not as effective. But normal smooth surfaces (where, let's face it, any spots are most apparent) and heavy bokeh backgrounds it works really well on.

14-04-2008, 18:15	#6 (permalink)
silkstone Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Silkstone Common, Yorkshire, UK Posts: 3,415	Re: Cl-owned The GIMP doesn't recognise (most?) RAW unless you install the UFRaw (I think) plugin. However, even then it won't do what you want because you can't resave a RAW as a RAW - only as a TIFF or JPEG. The idea is to leave the original RAW intact as your 'digital negative'. Can I persuade you to try Bibble?

14-04-2008, 19:19	#7 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,634	Re: Cl-owned Why don't you just clean your sensor

15-04-2008, 06:54	#10 (permalink)
LJR69 Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, UK Posts: 155	Re: Cl-owned Totally agree. Definitely needs a clone tool.

15-04-2008, 09:48	#11 (permalink)
EKIMIKE Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, England Posts: 88	Re: Cl-owned On a curious note, whats the cheapest i could get CS3 for at this moment in time?

15-04-2008, 10:01	#12 (permalink)
LJR69 Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, UK Posts: 155	Re: Cl-owned Well, if you have a child in full time education and you won't use the product for commercial use then you can pick up a copy for around £150 Alternatively I saw some brand new Photoshop CS2 on ebay for £135, an upgrade to CS3 is about £150 resulting in a total price of less than £300 (some £200 less than full retail). If you do buy from eBay make sure you get a UK version of the product. I don't think you'll be able to activate a US version in the UK.

15-04-2008, 10:06	#13 (permalink)
EKIMIKE Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, England Posts: 88	Re: Cl-owned I am a 'child' in full time education doing A levels so how exactly does this make it cheaper lol. . (Im looking forward to this)

15-04-2008, 10:15	#14 (permalink)
LJR69 Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, UK Posts: 155	Re: Cl-owned Just purchase the student edition. Then you have 30 days to send off the enclosed form with proof of your full time education status. Voila! You have a copy of CS3 for £150. Couple of notes though - 1) You can't use it for professional/commercial use, 2) You can't upgrade to the full version so when CS4 comes out you will have to, once again, purchase the student version (no upgrade price)

15-04-2008, 10:42	#15 (permalink)
EKIMIKE Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, England Posts: 88	Re: Cl-owned I might stear clear of it then. So buying CS2 (which would probably do me fine!) and then upgrading to CS3 would be cheaper than just getting CS3 outright? I googled it quickly and it seems to be (CS3) around £500-£600!!!!

15-04-2008, 11:31	#16 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,999	Re: Cl-owned If you have a registered copy of Elements, you can get CS3 at half price from Adobe. Unless that offer has ended. Elements users ought to have had an e-mail from Adobe with a discount code. If you have changed your e-mail address since registering Elements, Adobe Customer Services may be able to arrange the discount anyway.