Nikon Capture NX-D freeware thread - Who's using and comments thoughts?

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hrstrat57

Senior Member
Well I have this on both of my computers, a Windows 7 machine and my Macbook.

Not a lot of experience processing RAW and just beginning to scratch the surface and experiment with this freeware with no baseline of other programs via experience to compare it with.
I have been loading my images into Picasa then opening them in NX-D, processing them and shooting them back to Picasa for organization. On my apple machine I have been using the same "workflow" with iPhoto instead of Picasa. I feel I have got some real nice images tho again, scratching the surface I am sure. I do like how the software replicates exactly the in camera processing menu of my D300/D700 cameras, this has lead to being pretty comfortable using the capture NX-D.

Very interested in beginning a discussion and hearing comments from seasoned digital processing folks regarding thoughts, workflow etc. There are no tutorials up yet on youtube for this freeware, too new I guess.

My thoughts going forward might be to merge this software into a workflow combined with Lightroom or Elements for organization but I have no idea what I am talking about.....:confused: My master plan had been to move to Mac nearly 100% and go with Aperture 3 but we know how that worked out.....

Anybody want to jump in on NX-D discussion? Random comments or observations re capture NX-D are welcome as well!

Thanks all!
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
...for one I know our friend Aroy is using NX-D exclusively I sure would like it if he could post a tutorial here on his workflow/ image organization. The results he posts here demonstrate the power of the program in handling volume and producing nice images....
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
I've downloaded this but not really used it yet and I'm not quite sure where to start, so I too would appreciate any thoughts/discussion of this software...
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
Pic of my pup was edited with capture NX-D a bit too sharp perhaps but I am learning....

D700 Nikkor 35-70 f2.8 AF D

Teddy nikonites 2.jpg
 
R

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I have it loaded on both the desktop and my personal laptop, but honestly haven't deviated outside of my Aperture workflow so far. It's on my list though, as I like the idea of a RAW editor that also understands the camera's picture control settings ... so it gives me a way to play "what if" when I can't get out and do that in the field with the camera.
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
RocketCowboy said:
I have it loaded on both the desktop and my personal laptop, but honestly haven't deviated outside of my Aperture workflow so far. It's on my list though, as I like the idea of a RAW editor that also understands the camera's picture control settings ... so it gives me a way to play "what if" when I can't get out and do that in the field with the camera.
Click to expand...

Real interested in hearing your thoughts after you give capture NX-D a whirl. Visited apple store last night perhaps looking for free Aperture and shockingly saw Apple is still selling download for nearly $80. Is there clarity on Apple status with pro level processing in the future?
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
hrstrat57 said:
Real interested in hearing your thoughts after you give capture NX-D a whirl. Visited apple store last night perhaps looking for free Aperture and shockingly saw Apple is still selling download for nearly $80. Is there clarity on Apple status with pro level processing in the future?
Click to expand...

Apple is not upgrading their Aperture software. I think they will be leaving the Pro versions to Adobe and will concentrate on a maybe improved iPhoto version. I would get Lightroom if I was looking at beginning from scratch.
 
A

aroy

Senior Member
hrstrat57 said:
...for one I know our friend Aroy is using NX-D exclusively I sure would like it if he could post a tutorial here on his workflow/ image organization. The results he posts here demonstrate the power of the program in handling volume and producing nice images....
Click to expand...
I downloaded the beta version before I bought the D3300 in March and used with D70. I have been downloading each successive update. Here are my thoughts

. The first production version changed the sidecar file structure. The production version does not read the beta sidecar files so all edits are lost. Hence I am still using beta.
. Multimonitor support is excellent. I am using it on two HD monitors. The only problem that I see a new comer facing is that all the menus are floating menus, so you have to first display them, then undock from the default location and then place them where you want.
. The menus are extensive. I use only the exposure related functions and noise reduction once in a while.
. Noise reduction is not all that great, but works.
. I have noted that at least D3300 has +1EV highlight protection, that is it can be recovered. The histogram shows the over exposure, but reducing the exposure by 1EV works beautifully. I guess Nikon has intentionally let the meter under expose so that there are few blown highlights.
. Shadows upto 5EV are easily recovered with the active D lighting option.
. You can program your own response curve and store it, but I find packaged one work fine.
. The default colours of the images shown in my monitor match real life, so I guess Nikon has got the colour right.
. Applying settings in a Batch is as easy as selecting the files and then applying the commands, including crop, rotate apart from exposure and tones.
. I have yet to experiment with other controls - tones, LCH (?), custom curves, NR, etc.

On the whole I am quite happy. What is missing?
. Focus and blur adjust like in Focus Magic
. Reversing the colours - required if I digitize colour negatives with my camera
. Cataloging. I do my own, but I believe Lightroom does an extensive job.

I write a lot of code in C++, Fortran and DBMS, so one day I may modify my image processing codes to overcome the shortcomings. I am also thinking of creating a data base of my images in an RDBMS where I can put in all the keywords, so that I can do a free format search.
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
I might have stumbled upon a workflow. I would much rather spend money on fast glass than on slow software.....and time taking pics and living life vs. agonizing over expensive complicated computer stuff. My take, not meaning to offend anyone I know many folks love their computers as much as their Nikon gear!

I import from CF into Picasa. I then open the folder (always start with the word RAW so I can find it quickly) I manipulate the pics to where I like them, rename them and drop them into a named folder. Then I hit batch processing on that folder and voila! The folder appears in Picasa exactly as I manipulated them.

Probably not perfect but it is cheap.

$0

Again, I really like how the Nikon capture NX-D emulates perfectly the camera settings on my D300/D700. Near zero learning curve. Many features and functions of the program need to be played with and learned of course but so far I am super happy.

The Nikon 70-200 VR 1 2.8 my buddy is trying to dump on me could be in range based on zero cash spent on the computer....

:)
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
Oh and one pretty important time saving discovery....despite initial appearances once you have a pic renamed after you are finished processing it you can drag it carefully into your newly named folder awaiting batch processing. Be delicate gentle and precise with your mouse but it works.....super sweet and fast. Then batch process the folder containing your processed images and off it goes to Picasa, magically!

I suspect this workflow might work with Windows Photo Gallery too if someone wants to give that a whirl and report back.....

I'll test it on iTunes soon!
 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
4 Pics shot today processed with NX-D

If I recall correctly saturation and exposure were tweaked slightly on all four and all were cropped. Nikon D300 w Nikkor 70-300 AF VR f 4.5/5.6

Cross posted from the 70-300 thread today. My unique Picasa/ capture NX-D workflow described in this thread was followed.





Jet Shorboard!_00003.jpg

Keith surf_00002.jpg

Curl_00001.jpg

Shortboard_00003.jpg
 
SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Think I'll check it out since I mostly really use 'shop past shot-by-shot RAW converter > save as jpeg; shove in folder, batch resize/watermark. If this can make the processing any "faster" than shop but less awkward and confusing of a layout than Lightroom, then I'll consider using this for the fresh bulk batches.
 
A

aroy

Senior Member
SkvLTD said:
Think I'll check it out since I mostly really use 'shop past shot-by-shot RAW converter > save as jpeg; shove in folder, batch resize/watermark. If this can make the processing any "faster" than shop but less awkward and confusing of a layout than Lightroom, then I'll consider using this for the fresh bulk batches.
Click to expand...
In NX-D you can
. Batch RAW->jpeg convert
. Batch RAW->resize->jpeg convert
. Watermark - NO.

In fact any operation that can be done on an individual RAW file can be done on any number of files by simply selecting them and then applying the operations.

Lately I have been doing the following by selecting the day's images and applying at one time
. Vivid
. Sharpness = 6 or 7 depending on what I shot
. Contrast = 1
. Noise = OFF
. In case of insects with normal lenses CROP (easy as I take the insect in the centre)
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
aroy said:
In NX-D you can
Lately I have been doing the following by selecting the day's images and applying at one time
. Vivid
. Sharpness = 6 or 7 depending on what I shot
. Contrast = 1
. Noise = OFF
. In case of insects with normal lenses CROP (easy as I take the insect in the centre)
Click to expand...

Pretty much the same operations as I use. I add a few other tweaks on some too, but all is pretty good for processing.

I have also started playing with Raw Therapee, but it has quite a LARGE learning curve.
 
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