FREE Photo Editors (RAW): Photoscape X & RawTherapee

In this video, Tony Northrup discusses two free photo editing software options, Photoscape X and RawTherapee, that can handle both RAW and JPEG files. Photoscape X is user-friendly with a free unlimited trial version, offering tools like Auto levels, white balance adjustment, and a masking tool for localized edits. It also includes a batch processing feature and the ability to create collages and GIFs. However, it does not save edits between sessions. On the other hand, RawTherapee is more complex and powerful, with a vast array of sliders and options that may be overwhelming for beginners but appealing to those who enjoy fine-tuning their edits. It saves edits between sessions, which is a significant advantage for detailed work. Northrup recommends Photoscape X for most users but suggests RawTherapee for those who are comfortable with more advanced controls.

Takeaways

• 📷 **Photoscape X and RawTherapee** are two free photo editing software options that can edit both RAW and JPEG images.
• 💻 Both applications are compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.
• 🔍 Photoscape X allows users to browse folders and edit images all within a single application.
• 🎨 The free version of Photoscape X offers an unlimited trial with no expiration, providing access to basic editing tools.
• 🌟 Photoscape X includes a variety of tools such as Auto levels, white balance adjustment, and brightness/contrast sliders for image enhancement.
• 🖌 The masking tool in Photoscape X is particularly useful for applying edits to specific parts of a photo.
• 🌄 For challenging photos like high ISO landscapes, Photoscape X provides noise reduction and other corrective tools.
• 📚 RawTherapee is more complex with a plethora of sliders and options, making it suitable for users who enjoy fine-tuning their edits.
• ⚙️ Unlike Photoscape X, RawTherapee saves edits between sessions, which is beneficial for making incremental adjustments.
• 📈 RawTherapee's interface, while powerful, may be overwhelming for beginners due to the extensive number of available settings.
• 🎓 The speaker emphasizes that professional photography is about more than just software, highlighting the importance of lighting, mood, and composition.

Q & A

What are the two free photo editors discussed in the video?

The two free photo editors discussed are Photoscape X and RawTherapee.

What are the requirements Tony Northrup had for the photo editors?

The requirements were that the editors should be able to edit both RAW pictures and JPEG photos, allow browsing of folders on the computer, enable editing within a single app, and work on both Windows and Mac.

How can you download Photoscape X?

You can download Photoscape X by visiting the URL provided in the video, which is SDP.io/px. There's a trick to get the free version by clicking on the 'free trial' link, which actually gives you an unlimited trial version.

What is the difference between the free and paid version of Photoscape X?

The free version of Photoscape X offers unlimited trial capabilities, with some features marked as Pro requiring the paid version. The paid version provides additional tools and features for photo editing.

How does Photoscape X handle RAW files?

Photoscape X does a commendable job of processing RAW files, even very high-resolution ones like 50-megapixel photos. It allows non-destructive editing, meaning the original photo is never overwritten.

What is the benefit of using the 'Auto' features in Photoscape X?

The 'Auto' features, such as Auto Levels and Auto Contrast, can quickly improve most pictures with a single click, providing a good starting point for further manual adjustments.

How does RawTherapee differ from Photoscape X?

RawTherapee is more complex and offers a higher degree of manual control with many sliders and options, which might be overwhelming for some users but is powerful for those who enjoy fine-tuning and tweaking their photos.

What is the advantage of RawTherapee in terms of editing workflow?

RawTherapee saves your edits between sessions, allowing you to return to an image and make further adjustments without starting from scratch.

What is the recommended approach for editing a photo that is underexposed in Photoscape X?

You can adjust the brightness and exposure using the sliders in the Color tab, and use the Dark and Highlights tool to bring down the exposure of the brightest parts of the picture.

How can you apply changes to just a part of the picture in Photoscape X?

You can use the Masking tool to paint over the area of the picture you want to edit, and then apply the changes just to that part of the image.

What is the purpose of the vignette tool in Photoscape X?

The vignette tool darkens the corners of the picture, giving it a vintage or old-timey feel and focusing the viewer's attention on the middle of the picture.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Introduction to Free Photo Editors

Tony Northrup introduces two free photo editing applications that meet his criteria of editing both raw and JPEG photos, browsing folders, and being compatible with Windows and Mac. He emphasizes that while there are paid versions, the free versions are quite capable. The first app discussed is PhotoScape X, which can be downloaded from a specific URL and offers a free unlimited trial version with no expiration.

05:01

🎨 Photo Editing with PhotoScape X

The video demonstrates how to download and use PhotoScape X, including navigating the interface, organizing folders, and using various editing tools. Tony shows how to use the Auto Levels and Auto Contrast features, adjust white balance, and brighten underexposed photos. He also covers advanced adjustments like deepen, clarity, vibrance, and the use of light and shadow tools to enhance details. The importance of saving edits in a new file rather than overwriting the original is highlighted.

10:02

🖌️ Advanced Masking and Cropping Techniques

Tony discusses advanced editing techniques in PhotoScape X, such as using a mask to apply changes to specific parts of an image. He demonstrates how to enhance details in hair using the light and shadows slider with a mask. The video also covers cropping, maintaining aspect ratios, and saving the edited image as a new file to preserve the original. The power of RAW files in hiding details that can be revealed through editing is emphasized.

15:05

🌃 Editing a Challenging Landscape Photo

The video moves on to editing a challenging landscape photo taken at a high ISO during a moonrise. Tony shows how to crop the image, use Auto Contrast, and adjust sliders in the Color tab to improve the image. He addresses issues like noise reduction and blown-out details in the moon, using tools to selectively edit parts of the image and recover details without compromising the overall quality.

20:06

📚 RAW Therapy for Advanced Users

Tony introduces RAW Therapy as a tool for more advanced or tech-savvy users who are comfortable with fine-tuning and tweaking their photos. He guides through the process of downloading and installing RAW Therapy, noting that it remembers edits between sessions, which is a significant advantage over PhotoScape X. The interface is more complex with numerous sliders and options, but it provides powerful control for those who are willing to explore its capabilities.

25:06

🌟 Final Touches and Additional Tools

The video concludes with additional editing techniques in PhotoScape X, such as applying vignettes for a vintage look and using the film tool for quick creative edits. Tony also touches on other tools within the app, like light leaks, duotone filters, frames, and inserting text. He emphasizes that while technical skills are important, the art of photography is about lighting, mood, expression, timing, subject matter, and composition. He encourages viewers to learn these aspects through his book, 'Stunning Digital Photography'.

Keywords

Photo editing

Photo editing refers to the process of altering or enhancing a photo using software tools. In the video, Tony Northrup discusses two free photo editors, Photoscape X and RawTherapee, which allow users to edit both RAW and JPEG photos, emphasizing their ability to handle high-resolution images and provide various editing tools to improve picture quality.

Photoscape X

Photoscape X is a free photo editing software that is highlighted in the video for its ability to edit RAW and JPEG images. It is noted for its user-friendly interface, offering tools like Auto levels, Auto contrast, white balance adjustment, and a masking tool to apply changes to specific parts of a photo. The software also supports browsing folders and editing within a single application.

RawTherapee

RawTherapee is another free photo editor mentioned in the video, which is preferred by users who are comfortable with more technical adjustments and have a background in IT. It is described as a powerful tool with a complex interface featuring numerous sliders and options for fine-tuning photo adjustments, making it suitable for more advanced users.

RAW images

RAW images are a type of digital photo that contains unprocessed data from the image sensor of a digital camera. In the context of the video, RAW images are emphasized for their high quality and the ability to be edited non-destructively using the software discussed. RAW files retain more detail and offer greater flexibility in post-production editing.

JPEG

JPEG is a commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images, which reduces file size for easier sharing and storage. The video mentions JPEG photos in the context of editing and saving files. While JPEGs are compressed and may lose some quality, they are widely supported and convenient for sharing edited photos.

Auto levels

Auto levels is a feature in photo editing software that automatically adjusts the brightness and contrast of an image to achieve a balanced exposure. In the video, Tony Northrup uses this feature in Photoscape X to quickly improve the look of a photo without manually tweaking individual settings.

White balance

White balance is a setting in photo editing that adjusts the color temperature of an image to ensure that white appears truly white under different lighting conditions. The video demonstrates how to use the white balance tool in Photoscape X to correct color casts and achieve more natural skin tones in a portrait.

Masking tool

A masking tool in photo editing allows users to apply changes to a selected area of an image while leaving the rest untouched. In the video, Tony uses the masking tool in Photoscape X to selectively adjust the shadows in a portrait to bring out more detail in the hair without affecting the entire photo.

Noise reduction

Noise reduction is a feature used to minimize the appearance of grain or random speckles in a digital image, often introduced by high ISO settings. The video discusses the use of noise reduction in both Photoscape X and RawTherapee to clean up images, particularly in dark areas where noise is more visible.

Dynamic range

Dynamic range refers to the difference in light intensity that can be distinguished in an image. The video talks about managing dynamic range in landscape photos, where there might be a significant difference between the brightest and darkest parts of the scene, using tools like highlight compression to balance the exposure.

Vignette

A vignette is a gradual transition from the selected area to surrounding areas, typically darker, that allows the main subject to stand out. In the video, Tony Northrup uses the vignette tool in Photoscape X to add a vintage feel to a photo and draw attention to the central subject.

Highlights

Tony Northrup covers two free photo editors, Photoscape X and RawTherapee, that can edit both RAW and JPEG photos.

Photoscape X offers a free unlimited trial version with no expiration.

Photoscape X allows users to browse folders and edit pictures within a single app.

The free version of Photoscape X includes a variety of tools for editing RAW files.

Photoscape X provides a 'Compare' feature to view before and after edits.

The editor in Photoscape X has six different tabs, including a Pro version with additional features.

Auto levels and Auto contrast are quick tools for enhancing photos in Photoscape X.

RawTherapee is a powerful tool with a more complex interface, suitable for advanced users.

RawTherapee saves edits between sessions, allowing for more flexibility in editing.

Both editors work on Windows and Mac operating systems.

Photoscape X includes a 'Masking' tool for localized adjustments in photos.

The 'Vignette' tool in Photoscape X can add a vintage feel to images.

RawTherapee offers a wide array of sliders and options for fine-tuning photo adjustments.

Photoscape X has a simple and intuitive interface, making it user-friendly for most people.

RawTherapee is recommended for users with a background in IT or those who enjoy in-depth photo editing.

Photoscape X provides a 'Batch' tab for processing multiple pictures simultaneously.

Both editors offer tools for cropping, sharpening, and color adjustments.

Tony Northrup emphasizes the importance of lighting, mood, expression, timing, subject matter, and composition in photography.