Best way to install photography software

[phd21]

Hi kuzman1,

You are welcome...

[lmuserx4849]

Although not updated any longer, I found the blog clown fish cafe very inspiring. The author has some terrific animal photographs and techniques. All open source. Speaking of that, there is a google community, open source photography. Patrick David is a moderator. Follow him. He runs pixls.

[kuzman1]

Digikam:
used the terminal:

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sudoadd-apt-repository ppa:philip5/extra 

then

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sudo apt-get update

then

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sudo apt-get install digikam

and that installed digikam but was digikam 4
I wanted digikam 5

so I went to the software manager and looked up and installed digikam 5
it came up with the following messages:

'error while opening the database. digikam will try to automatically reconnect to the database' and it freezes for a while. If I click cancel the following messge pops up:
'Failed to open the database.
You cannot use digikam without a working database. Digikam will attempt to start no, but it will not be functional. Please check the database setting in the configuration menu'

where is the configuration menu?

[kuzman1]

ok, managed to get rid of this error message:

Settings.>Configure digikam

Chose 'Database' on the display pane,
Database configuration type: SQlite
Set the location of the database.......clicked on browse and chose the folder. Click ok.

[phd21]

Hi kuzman1,

Nicely done changing DigiKam's default database to the sqlite which is usually already installed in Linux Mint.

As I was stating before, I found that trying to get wonderful digiKam's new versions installed in the typical Linux Mint methods was problematic, even on my KDE systems, which is why I have been strongly suggesting that people download and use their AppImage file which contains all the required packages to install and run it in one file. One of many things that I love about software packaged as AppImages is that even if they were designed and created for a newer version of Linux, they will usually run perfectly well on older Linux systems; for instance, I can use the newer versions of "digiKam" and 'Kdenlive" (video editor) and other software on both my Linux Mint 18.3 system based on Ubuntu 16.04 and my Linux Mint 17.3 system based on Ubuntu 14.04.

Hope this helps ...

[kuzman1]

As I was stating before, I found that trying to get wonderful digiKam's new versions installed in the typical Linux Mint methods was problematic, even on my KDE systems, which is why I have been strongly suggesting that people download and use their AppImage file which contains all the required packages to install and run it in one file.

Thanks.

Yes, you did ask me to download and use their AppImage, but to be honest, I did not how to do that click download and then what should I do?

Do I need to do that now or I'm fine?

[phd21]

HI kuzman1,

If you already have the newer DigiKam installed, do not worry about the AppImage version.

FYI: AppImages are just self-contained software packages with all the necessary components to run it included in the one file. You just download it, give yourself permission to run it by right-clicking it selecting properties, permission tab, check to allow execute, apply and ok. Before running an AppImage for the first time, I usually move AppImage files from my Downloads folder where I download everything to a folder underneath your home folder, like an "apps" folder and run them from there. You can just double-click the AppImage file to run it. Some AppImages will have an installation option when you first run them to add a menu entry or desktop shortcut, others do not, so for those you have to create a new desktop launcher shortcut or menu item.

How To Use AppImage in Linux [Complete Guide]
https://itsfoss.com/use-appimage-linux/


Hope this helps ...

[kuzman1]

HI kuzman1,

If you already have the newer DigiKam installed, do not worry about the AppImage version.

Hope this helps ...

Yes, I do.
Thanks.

Next step is GIMP vs PS

[Moem]

Next step is GIMP vs PS

Maybe this will be of use: http://www.linuxandubuntu.com/home/how- ... -photoshop

[phd21]

HI kuzman1,

You are welcome...

If you are someone who has been using PhotoShop and are coming to Linux Mint, then there are various options to make the transition easier. Gimp and its plug-ins is an excellent advanced image editor option and there are various Raw plugins. There is also a PPA for Gimp to keep it and its plugins current.

Gimp 2.8.22 Stable Version Released, Available via PPA for Ubuntu/Linux Mint - NoobsLab
https://www.noobslab.com/2017/07/gimp-2 ... eased.html

To install this using the PPA method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one: Click "Select All" above command, right-click the highlighted command, select Copy (or Ctrl+Insert), click in the console terminal window, and right click paste (or Shift+Insert), repeat for each command.

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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

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sudo apt-get update

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sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-gmic gmic

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sudo apt-get install gimp-plugin-registry

The link "Moem" provided is one good article. There are many other good posts and articles in this forum and on the internet on this topic, including Gimp "themes" to make Gimp look and feel like Photoshop to an end-user.

This Theme Pack Makes GIMP Look and Work Like Photoshop - OMG! Ubuntu!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/08/mak ... oshop-easy

Turn GIMP look and feel into Photoshop – A Quest for Knowledge
https://ksearch.wordpress.com/2017/08/1 ... photoshop/

"themes" to make Gimp look and feel like Photoshop - Google Search
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8

20 Best Free GIMP Plugins (2017)
https://beebom.com/best-gimp-plugins/

15 Useful GIMP plugins absolutely free of cost | Agatton
https://agatton.com/15-useful-gimp-plug ... free-cost/

Best Free GIMP Plugins for Photographers and Designers
https://geekeasier.com/best-free-gimp-p ... ners/4917/

Tip: One of the easiest way to install the Gimp plugin for "Beautify" is to use the superb "Dhor" PPA which also has easy to install Linux deb files.
https://launchpad.net/~dhor/+archive/ubuntu/myway
then run the command below from a console terminal prompt

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sudo apt install gimp-beautify

To install "Bimp" batch image manipulation in Linux Mint 17.x or 18.x ( it will be under Gimp's "File" options)
64-bit
https://launchpad.net/~dhor/+archive/ub ... _amd64.deb
32-bit
https://launchpad.net/~dhor/+archive/ub ... y_i386.deb

There are also many excellent tutorials on using Gimp and other software on YouTube and the developer's websites. One of my favorite YouTube channels for Gimp is from "PhotoAdvanced".

Hope this helps ...

[BenTrabetere]

Next step is GIMP vs PS

How invested are you in Photoshop? Unless you have a lot of experience with PS, I think you would be better off concentrating on GIMP. It is more than adequate for retouching, refining and editing digital images. I also think that you, as a Linux user, would be better off concentrating on GIMP even if you have a lot of experience with PS.

Don't over-think it. Take pictures.

[absque fenestris]

Brandnew GIMP 2.10

https://www.gimp.org/release-notes/gimp-2.10.html

The long-awaited GIMP 2.10.0 is finally here! This is a huge release, which contains the result of 6 long years of work (GIMP 2.8 was released almost exactly 6 years ago!) by a small but dedicated core of contributors.

[phd21]

Hi "absque fenestris",

I think this newest version is not a "stable" version yet, still in the experimental development cycle.

GIMP 2.10 Release Candidate Released - OMG! Ubuntu!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/03/gim ... e-released

[absque fenestris]

Hi "absque fenestris",
I think this newest version is not a "stable" version yet, still in the experimental development cycle.
GIMP 2.10 Release Candidate Released - OMG! Ubuntu!
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/03/gim ... e-released

Hello phd21

This is from the GIMP page:
Current Stable Version
The current stable release of GIMP is 2.10.0 (2018-04-27).
https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

[phd21]

HI "kuzman1", "absque fenestris", etc...

You can see from links in the posts and replies that the newer Gimp version 2.10.xx is a big upgrade over previous versions and has many new features and options.

As you know there are various ways to install software in Linux. I have not been able to get the new Gimp ver2.10 installed in my Linux Mint 18.x system using their stable PPA. Gimp's developer PPA from the link I provided just updated my Gimp to their 2.99 Development version which looks like it has most of the features of version 2.10.

The only easy ways I see to install Gimp version 2.10.xx is to use their "flatpak", or "AppImage", or by compiling it yourself (not recommended); unless someone else knows of a better option to install v2.10. I prefer "AppImages" over "flatpak" and "snap" packages, but they all work. Tip: AppImages will usually work with older Linux systems, like Linux Mint 17.x versions.

I did find this AppImage for Gimp v2.10.xx from the link below, check the AppImage file names for recent versions by date. I do not see a recently created AppImage for Gimp v2.10.xx elsewhere, but someone else might know. What I thought was smart, is that I can have both versions running because the different versions use different configuration folders now. I did notice that all my Gimp plug-ins were in the versions installed (updated) using the PPA's, but not all of them like "bimp" were in the version 2.10.xx using the AppImage (most were though)? I could probably just copy them from the current plug-ins folder to the newer v2.10 folder assuming they are still compatible with this new version.

Release Continuous · aferrero2707/gimp-appimage
https://github.com/aferrero2707/gimp-ap ... continuous

* Direct download link to Gimpv2.10.1 AppImage file.
https://github.com/aferrero2707/gimp-ap ... 4.AppImage

Hope this helps ...

[absque fenestris]

Thank you phd21 for the download link...
I just tried the AppImage of GIMP 2.10 in a virtual box.
Is very promising: cpu and memory load is very moderate (Mint Mate Rosa with 2GB RAM, VB on a 2009-MacBook) and finally, finally a highpass filter is built in...

[phd21]

HI "absque fenestris",

You are welcome...

I am very impressed with the new Gimp v2.10.xx, although their normal current versions are great image editors as well.

[absque fenestris]

Hello phd21 and other photographers...

Certainly GIMP was never a bad application - but exactly the missing highpass filter was always a reason for me to switch to my old Photoshop CS3.
Over the years I have installed external highpass filters in GIMP... well, they were a little weird...
With the new GIMP 2.10, I hope the old Photoshop workflow - sharpen images with Highpass - will now also work in GIMP.

By the way: XnView also seems to become a very powerful application...