Recommend me a Linux distro and photo editing software ... please!

[Bristolian]

Howdy folks, I'm giving some serious thought to ditching Windows in favour of Linux but there are so many different distros out there that I am totally confused by it all

Aside from general web surfing, spread sheets and word processing my main computer use is photo editing, for which I use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, plus FastStone Image Viewer and FastRawViewer but could do without the last two.

So, my questions are:
1. Is there a distro that is better for photo editing, or doesn't it really matter which one I choose?
2. What Linux editing software do people recommend, or should I just run LR and PS in WINE?

Your thoughts and guidance would be appreciated

 

[sirch]

I've been a Linux user since the days when you had to compile your own kernel (so a long time) and I whilst I am typing this on a Linux/Ubuntu machine I still use Windows for Adobe stuff.

This is the well-out-of-date WINE view on Lightroom https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=5839

Possible alternatives are Darktable and Gimp to replace LR and PS on Linux. Its been a long time since I have tried either but they are okay.

 

[Cluster]

I've used a Linux system for many years, although I have to keep windows on a the system (dual boot, choose at start-up) because some software that i want runs only on Windows. When I start up Windows, I feel depressed as it first tries to sell me all sorts of stuff, then interrupts me regularly to be advised that my system is at risk and I should buy a package....none of this in Ubuntu.
Ubuntu has run for years, with the odd system upgrade. If you are happy to be away from the mainstream re software etc, there's lots of free and very good software out there. In all the time I have run Ubuntu, I have never had (or heard of anyone else having) a virus, although my Firefox browser once had a virus type of problem.
Ubuntu has a distribution disk that you can download and have a trial run of it without affecting your existing system.
Linux used to be a bit geeky, now with some of the distributions, it's pretty slick. You don't have to be a tekky to maintain the system either.

 

[Cluster]

I should add..... if you have sufficient space on your hard drive (or you can add another) you can install Ubuntu alongside your existing Windows system, you don't have to dump the system you run at present.
Printing and scanning can be a issue in Ubuntu/Linux, as it not supported (AFAIK) by the big manufacturers. This is the main reason I have to boot up Win now and then.

Photo editors are pretty good in the Linux world (the free stuff). I confess that my main use is in simple tasks like contrast adj etc and use the Gthumb photo viewer. If more work is needed I use Gimp which is uber capable, but I don't have the experience to compare with mainstream apps. Darktable is pretty useful too.
I recommend Ubuntu as stable system.

 

[Bristolian]

I've been a Linux user since the days when you had to compile your own kernel (so a long time) and I whilst I am typing this on a Linux/Ubuntu machine I still use Windows for Adobe stuff.

This is the well-out-of-date WINE view on Lightroom https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=5839

Possible alternatives are Darktable and Gimp to replace LR and PS on Linux. Its been a long time since I have tried either but they are okay.

Many thanks for the prompt response. A dual boot system is, of course, an option but would be my least favoured solution.

I have had a bit of a down on Microsoft for the past several years and have already moved away from Office and One Drive for my general computing needs. The latest update to W11 has inflicted more AI rubbish that I neither want nor need and whilst it can be disabled it can't be deleted and will, no doubt, be re-enabled with every future update.

 

[Bristolian]

I've used a Linux system for many years, although I have to keep windows on a the system (dual boot, choose at start-up) because some software that i want runs only on Windows. When I start up Windows, I feel depressed as it first tries to sell me all sorts of stuff, then interrupts me regularly to be advised that my system is at risk and I should buy a package....none of this in Ubuntu.
Ubuntu has run for years, with the odd system upgrade. If you are happy to be away from the mainstream re software etc, there's lots of free and very good software out there. In all the time I have run Ubuntu, I have never had or heard of anyone else having) a virus, although my Firefox browser once had a virus type of problem.
Ubuntu has a distribution disk that you can download and have a trial run of it without affecting your existing system.
Linux used to be a bit geeky, now with some of the distributions, it's pretty slick. You don't have to be a tekky to maintain the system either.

Thanks for your prompt response. It is the imposition of pointless AI just for the sake of it without an option to preventing it being installed that really bugs me with Windows. I know Windows is free but I still want a say in what gets installed onto my PC.

Ubuntu appears to be a very popular distro so I might download the disk and see how I get on with it

 

[Cluster]

The "live system" trial runs from DVD/USB, so will be quite slow. It will give you a good sample of how it works and what it will do.

 

[ancient_mariner]

It is helpful to stick with one of the main distributions based on Ubuntu or Debian, rather than something wacky. There is Ubuntu studio, and there are other similar spins.

Running off a usb isn't too bad to begin, or you can try a small SSD plugged in through USB.

 

[sirch]

I was just adding, when Toni beat me too it, that its perfectly usable on USB 3, Google how to install a bootable version of Ubuntu on a USB stick, you may have to change your computer BOIS to boot from USB first, put the USB stick in and boot up.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I occasionally run a machine using a SATA 128GB drive with SATA-USB adapter, one you would never know it wasn't plugged into the Mobo - boot in 15 seconds etc.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Your thoughts and guidance would be appreciated

You do know that the current versions of Windows include the ability to run Linux as a cooperating system?

Install WSL

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux with the command, wsl --install. Use a Bash terminal on your Windows machine run by your preferred Linux distribution - Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, Kali, Fedora, Pengwin, Alpine, and more are available.

learn.microsoft.com

I use the subsystem much of the time, for the Linux tools I find useful. That way I have the best of both worlds.

 

[Cluster]

You do know that the current versions of Windows include the ability to run Linux as a cooperating system?

Install WSL

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux with the command, wsl --install. Use a Bash terminal on your Windows machine run by your preferred Linux distribution - Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, Kali, Fedora, Pengwin, Alpine, and more are available.

learn.microsoft.com

I use the subsystem much of the time, for the Linux tools I find useful. That way I have the best of both worlds.

It will run whatever is in the second system (or third etc) that you select. Any version of Windows, or even another flavour of Linux.
It's not Windows that manages the two systems, it's a boot loader or even as simple as choosing which partition via bios at boot up.
Windows is not aware of the other system. Optionally it can be more involved, but it is not necessary, a simple option when booting is all you have need.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Windows is not aware of the other system. Optionally it can be more involved, but it is not necessary, a simple option when booting is all you have need.

Windows and Linux can communicate via the default built ins.

At the most basic level, I frequently cut and paste between the systems.

 

[Cluster]

Windows and Linux can communicate via the default built ins.

At the most basic level, I frequently cut and paste between the systems.

I've been using it at it's most basic level where you choose which system to boot when starting the PC. If you can now can use Linux from a running Windows system, or even run both concurrently, that's a feature I had no idea existed. Something to learn every day!

 

[Sangoma]

Gimp, RawTherapee and Darkable if you need it.

Gimp has got a lot better over the years. I used it until Affinity Photo came along.

There used to be an Ububtu distribution for studio work with all you would need

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

or even run both concurrently,

The guest is in its own work space and can access the host's other work spaces, as well as its files. The host can access the guest's files as well.

 

[Bristolian]

You do know that the current versions of Windows include the ability to run Linux as a cooperating system?

Install WSL

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux with the command, wsl --install. Use a Bash terminal on your Windows machine run by your preferred Linux distribution - Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, Kali, Fedora, Pengwin, Alpine, and more are available.

learn.microsoft.com

I use the subsystem much of the time, for the Linux tools I find useful. That way I have the best of both worlds.

My ideal will be to delete Windows altogether rather than just ignore it.

Thanks for the info though

 

[Bristolian]

Gimp, RawTherapee and Darkable if you need it.

Gimp has got a lot better over the years. I used it until Affinity Photo came along.

There used to be an Ububtu distribution for studio work with all you would need

Thanks for the info. I remember using Gimp many moons ago when it was pretty dire - nice to know it's now better.

 

[LancsMak]

I've looked at doing this, the things that have put me off are:

- no lightroom classic
- no pureraw support (I regularly shoot at 12800+ so want to denoise)

 

[Bristolian]

I've looked at doing this, the things that have put me off are:

- no lightroom classic
- no pureraw support (I regularly shoot at 12800+ so want to denoise)

I know where you're coming from My determination to ditch Windows is tempered by not wanting to lose LRc - it's a 50/50 balance at the moment.

Actually my wife, who has no interest in photography or computing (although she uses a Windows laptop) suggested dedicating my desktop PC to be an editing only machine (strip out everything else) and convert my laptop to Linux for everything else. This would result in 90% of my computing being done in Linux and will get careful consideration ... if only to keep her sweet

 

[myotis]

Howdy folks, I'm giving some serious thought to ditching Windows in favour of Linux but there are so many different distros out there that I am totally confused by it all

Aside from general web surfing, spread sheets and word processing my main computer use is photo editing, for which I use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, plus FastStone Image Viewer and FastRawViewer but could do without the last two.

So, my questions are:
1. Is there a distro that is better for photo editing, or doesn't it really matter which one I choose?
2. What Linux editing software do people recommend, or should I just run LR and PS in WINE?

Your thoughts and guidance would be appreciated

I've enjoyed using both Darktable and Rawtherapee on my Mac. Not as my main programs (which are C1 and PS), but more of an experiment. There is a bit of a learning curve, but equally there are a lot of very good tutorials around, especially for Darktable. They are both excellent programs, but Darktable is the more versatile, and a better equivalent to LR.

I like Andy Astbury's tutorials, but he might be an acquired taste. He is principally a LR and PS user, but also uses DT and RT for raw processing in preference to using LR.

Andy Astbury

FOSS raw photo editors, Darktable & Raw Therapee, feature heavily on my channel. I'm a professional image editing trainer, landscape, wildlife and natural history photographer from Cheshire in the UK, who has been making pictures for a living for over 40 years. With my years of experience, I...

www.youtube.com

Another wildlife photographer who uses DT and provides tutorials

Jason Polak Photography

My name is Jason Polak and I'm a wildlife photographer. This channel is a combination of wildlife photography, gear reviews, and darktable/open source photography tutorials. All my videos are 100% AI free: I don't use generative AI, AI audio tools, or other AI content modification tools to make...

www.youtube.com

One of the best-known sets of tutorials is here:

Bruce Williams Photography

darktable is a FOSS (free and open-source software) alternative to apps like Lightroom and Raw Therapee. Bruce Williams will help you get up to speed on this awesome alternative RAW image editor.

www.youtube.com

These tend to be a bit more advanced tutorials, and go into considerable detail

Boris Hajdukovic

Share your videos with friends, family and the world

www.youtube.com

A British Youtuber (as in Andy Astbury) who also uses GIMP and DigiKam, with a focus on landscape

Darktable Landscapes

A channel dedicated to processing landscape and nature photographs using the free, open source software, Darktable.

www.youtube.com

One video here on processing B/W street photographs (not familiar with this Youtuber, and haven't watched it, but I know you do street)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9szYMJ9wYo



And a recent review of DigiKam. Darktable has cataloging tools (RawTherapee doesn't) but DigKam seems to be the program most people refer to when talking about a DAM for Linux

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZhgWgqR5DY


I know nothing about Gimp, but I wouldn't be too upset if I could only use Darktable. Noise reduction might be an issue, for although the noise reduction is pretty good, it's not DXO level.

There are hundred of videos on the links I've posted, and there are lots more that I haven't posted, but skimming through some of them will give you a good idea of these alternatives work, and some directly address the differences between LR and Darktable.

My main concern with these programs is that development of Mac versions tend to be erratic and seems to rely on a single developer to do the Mac port, and there have been periods where an up to date version of the program hasn't been available for the Mac. There are also forks of Darktable (Ansel) and RawTherapee (ART) that don't have Mac versions readily available.

This shouldn't be an issue with Linux

 

[firewireguy]

I have been a full time convert to Linux for around 10 years. Or at least I was until last year when I went through the same struggles as you are now. In the end I disliked all the linux photo editing options and running Windows in a VM I found too slow. So I added a small SSD, installed W10, ran shutup10 to disable as much crap as possible and now I have a dual boot system. I've since downgraded to Windows 11.

I can use PhotoLab in Windows which I much prefer to anything else, especially the Linux alternatives, but for 90% of my time the PC just boots to EndeavourOS.

I also have Line6 HX Edit which I need windows for as well as Garmin's software, so I get a little more than just PhotoLab out of it.

If any of these 3 worked well enough through KVM then I'd use that, but I couldn't get the performance or reliability with hardware that way.

 

[Ghost]

I've run Linux Mint as my main PC for a good few years now. I use RawTherapee, Darktable, GIMP and Digikam (for cataloguing and tagging). I wouldn't go back to Windows now but I was a Windows System Administrator when I worked in IT so that's probably put me off!

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I wouldn't go back to Windows now but I was a Windows System Administrator when I worked in IT so that's probably put me off!

So you're the bloke who let a dozen people use the password "PASSWORD".

I'd like to thank you for all the overtime I got, clearing out the junior crackers' mess, when they got in through that open front door!

 

[myotis]

I've run Linux Mint as my main PC for a good few years now. I use RawTherapee, Darktable, GIMP and Digikam (for cataloguing and tagging). I wouldn't go back to Windows now but I was a Windows System Administrator when I worked in IT so that's probably put me off!

Any thoughts about choosing between Ubuntu and Mint?

When I used Ubuntu (many years ago), Mint always seemed the obvious competitor for a non-techie like me, and every so often I thought about switching, but never did.

I found, at the time, the Ubuntu help forum was especially helpful and was reluctant to give it up. Also the repository seemed to keep the most up to date with the programs I used.

But I'm thinking on running Linux again, and uncertain whether to go back to Ubuntu, or give Mint a try.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I've always preferred Mint - it's like the sensible cousin that doesn't make poor or stupid design choices and isn't tied to being commercial. Perhaps Ubuntu has become better in the last decade, but Mint has always been one of those distros that just works in a way Apple can only envy.

 

[myotis]

I've always preferred Mint - it's like the sensible cousin that doesn't make poor or stupid design choices and isn't tied to being commercial. Perhaps Ubuntu has become better in the last decade, but Mint has always been one of those distros that just works in a way Apple can only envy.

I haven't used Linux for at least 10 years, and while I preferred the feel of Mint ( I had Ubuntu and Mint installed at one point), at the time there were reasons, which I can't fully remember, made me stick with Ubuntu.

I might well give Mint a go, but unfortunately I'm confident I have forgotten everything I once knew about Linux.

 

[Sangoma]

I haven't used Linux for at least 10 years, and while I preferred the feel of Mint ( I had Ubuntu and Mint installed at one point), at the time there were reasons, which I can't fully remember, made me stick with Ubuntu.

I might well give Mint a go, but unfortunately I'm confident I have forgotten everything I once knew about Linux.

Of the "modern" flavours, I have always used Ubuntu (tried it when it first came out because I knew what the word meant) I did try Mint, a long time ago, but gave it up because at the time there was no way to get rid of the sickly green. Maybe there is now, I don't know

 

[myotis]

Of the "modern" flavours, I have always used Ubuntu (tried it when it first came out because I knew what the word meant) I did try Mint, a long time ago, but gave it up because at the time there was no way to get rid of the sickly green. Maybe there is now, I don't know

I didn't mind the green

 

[Ghost]

So you're the bloke who let a dozen people use the password "PASSWORD".

Nah, I'm the girl who tightened up all the security policies and b*llocked people for keeping passwords on sticky notes on their monitor or trying to reply to phishing scams.

 

[Ghost]

Any thoughts about choosing between Ubuntu and Mint?

I have used both (and Zorin, just to throw another distro out there). I prefer how Mint looks more than anything but my friend is very much pro-ubuntu. I'd suggest you try both and see which you prefer - each to their own

 

[JonathanRyan]

If you want to try before you buy, Docker is an extremely easy way to kick the tyres before you install....

https://SPAM/cloud-for-all/running-ubuntu-os-with-gui-in-a-docker-container-rdp-dbecb0880893

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Nah, I'm the girl who tightened up all the security policies and b*llocked people for keeping passwords on sticky notes on their monitor or trying to reply to phishing scams.

Excellent!

 

[Bristolian]

Hi folks, apologies for not having been back here for a while but I've not been on TC at all. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, which are filed away for future use. This whole ditching-Microsoft thing is on the back burner for now as other things need my attention. Life is just another four letter word like work used to be