Lightzone - thoughts?

[Carusoswi]

I use CS3, but am always curious about other editing programs, plus, I would really like to move from XP over to Ubuntu permanently (not very likely, at this point).

Lightzone runs on both platforms, so I've been playing with it of late.

It isn't that hard to learn - but it is quite different from the Adobe offerings.

I've figured out the zonmapper tool, but, for the life of me, cannot get my thinking and technique around Lightzone's clone tools.

Other than that, I find it a useful program, although it is a bit sluggish on both my xp and ubuntu setups.

The application used to be offered free to the linux world, but now is offered only as an expiring trial. My xp version also is an expiring beta.

Would you pay $260.00 for this application?

Curious.

Caruso

[Rense]

I've paid for this program as soon as it came out!
It reminds me of work with light and zones and gives me great flexibility in converting from raw. I never use the clone tools.

[Carusoswi]

I am thinking about paying for it, but I often need to clone distracting background elements, sometimes choose to eliminate shadows (although the zonemapper makes lightening them a realistic option), etc.

I am quite proficient with the CS3 cloning/healing tools. Can't believe I'm having such a difficult time figuring out the equivalent tools in Lightzone.

One poster mentioned that the LZ cloning is much better than CS3's. I'd like to be able to test on my own.

Thanks for the reply.

Caruso

[Rense]

Caruso,
Maybe this twoliner makes it all clear:

Lightzone cloning works in the opposite direction to Photoshop.
First mark the region to copy to and then move the target finder

[Carusoswi]

Originally Posted by Rense

Caruso,
Maybe this twoliner makes it all clear:

Lightzone cloning works in the opposite direction to Photoshop.
First mark the region to copy to and then move the target finder

Thanks, Rense. I'll have to try that.

Caruso

[Carusoswi]

Rense:
I must be dense. I opened an image containing a shadow behind my subject that I would like to eliminate. In CS3, I would simply pick the cloner, size the brush, adjust the alignment of the source to the tarket, and paint the shadow away.

So, with Lightzone, with your "two lines" in mind, I selected the clone tool, poly-zone tool, clicked a zone around an area of shadow I wanted to remove. What's next?

When I move my pointer away from the zone, it reshapes itself ready to draw another zone - I don't want to do that. If I move the freshly defined zone with the pointer, the shadow remains, and the area to which the zone is moved gets some unpredicted part of the picture cloned into it - don't want to do that.

I'm certain it's very simple. My brain is probably just trying to clone my Adobe culture. If you could be so kind as to clarify once more for me, I would be greatly appreciative.

Caruso

[Carusoswi]

Ok, a little more patience and I think I have the idea. You have to pick off that little cross hair that appears after you finish defining your zone. One more question. How do I finish (or disguise) the edges of my newly cloned region? My little test looks as though I clipped an area from another location and pasted it in. Alignment is perfect, but the edges of my clone insert are clearly visible.

I tried adjusting the feather area to zero, but it didn't help.

Thanks for any assistance.

Caruso

[carlalex]

[quote=Carusoswi;382101

Would you pay $260.00 for this application?

Curious.

Caruso[/quote]

I just went to use Lightzone and noticed that an update was available, When I went to their website they also announced that they've drop the price on the pro version to $199. I use basic and am quite happy with that ($ 129)