Mike -- Email Ignored wrote:
On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:19:49 +0000, James wrote:

On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:56:02 +0000, Mike -- Email Ignored wrote:

I use Nikon Capture NX, but I need healing and patch tools. A friend
suggested I try GIMP. Any comments?

Thanks,
Mike.
The Gimp will do that and more. Just browse the plugin page it has most
every tool needed there and more added all the time. And you get to save
the $$ for more camera gear.

Jim

As far as I can see, Gimp allows only 8 bit colors. My camera takes
14 bit. If I am in error, please let me know.

That's right.
Gimp is fine for PP as final step - ie after any large adjustments to
colours, levels etc, which might cause visible integer rounding
posterisation effects. In my case, I'd always do those all of
adjustments using the raw converter, gimp as final step for ie
perspective correction, major cloning etc.

Operations that can be done with PS elements while in 16 bit colour mode
were very limited last time I looked at it - so if fully editing in 16
bit colour-space is needed, then full price PS is also needed.