Multiple developers are available here and on GitHub for dialogue. They are also patient with often very clueless users (thanks!).
Very advanced tools keep coming. Ingo’s sharpening enhancements, for instance. Understanding the mathematics behind this is not required (although welcome), any bimbo can use most of the modules.
The geeks can enjoy the program much more.
Using only the most basic tools provides high quality output. Might be in some cases slightly worse than with the commercial programs, in some cases it is better. This is a lot of good work accumulated in a libre program.
I went from canon dpp3 to RawTherapee 4.2 because I wanted something with more user power, and it had to be free. I wanted a paradigm shift. I wanted something fast and driven by a mathematical approach. The other main option seemed a lot like canon’s software so it did not suit me.
I used Lightroom for about 8 years. I needed to upgrade but wasn’t going to be Adobe a monthly fee for it. In shopping around, I found that RT could do everything that I needed to (and then some), and there was a great community to help with any questions I’ve had along the way. There’s a learning curve, but it wasn’t as steep as I would have expected. It’s a part of my workflow now, and I wouldn’t be able to get along with out it.
You have a photo with very high dynamic contrast? Exposure tab in RawTherapee offers countless possibilities to adjust the dynamic range of the image according to your taste:
When I had troubles understanding the intricacies of post-production (and still have a lot of them), RawPedia took me by hand and gave me some comfort, so yes I love RawTherapee because of RawPedia.
Basically what @sguyader said. The responsiveness and positivity of the dev community and its willingness to try new things and consider our feedback is a breath of fresh air. It isn’t the easiest thing to convey on a website though… I guess the way to do it would be to make all of the support, resource and community links front and centre.
Bad weather. You have seen potential but the result is disappointing. RawTherapee can help you to get the best out of a photo that doesn’t seem to be revealing at first glance. The excellent filters from the Color Tab will make you to a real painter:
Sébastien, there couldn’t have been a better tester for xtrans-processing than you. I remember it took very long time to solve all the issues, but you provided sample files for each case I asked, even for flat field files. Kudos to you for doing that
I think Wavelets is a big attraction. As well as the contrast sliders I like Residual Image adjustments. Wavelets much improved a recent photo I took at a nature reserve, here’s a small section -
Humans are simple, so every screenshot has to show amazing images!!
I remember when I started with RT and looked for youtube videos, the ones I found where explaining the functions of some tools on ugly boring pictures. Now technically that is ok, but emotionally it is a huge turn-off.
Something like @s7habo post where you see a dull before and amazing after image also works great optically.
I would probalby present different topics of interest. Maybe four (amazing) images with titles alluding to specific strengths of RT, and with a link to the specific field of interest. These interesting topics could be imho:
RT does very good and realistic basic processing (noise, sharpen, exposure, lens correction, demosaic, etc)
RT has great possibilies to work on color and luminances (LAB, all the things the color tab)
RT has great tools for images that need special treatment, like high contrast images, flat images (local contrast, dynamic range compression, etc)
RT has great tools if you really need to go the extra mile (Wavelets, Retinex, CIE)
