LightZone for Linux: free commercial quality photo conversion software

[mandy]

Like many companies, Light Crafts releases its flagship application -- the RAW photo converter LightZone -- for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. But although the Windows and OS X versions of LightZone cost hundreds of dollars, the Linux version is absolutely free. It is a lucky break, too, because LightZone is a powerful tool that bests many of its expensive competitors on both quality and ease of use...

Most RAW converters give you one control for each possible image feature -- white balance, exposure compensation, and so on. In contrast, LightZone treats each adjustment you make as a separate entity -- somewhat like an adjustment layer in Adobe Photoshop lingo.

For example, to adjust the color balance, you click on the color balance tool, and it is stacked on top of your previous adjustments. Then you can adjust the color to your liking, and if you wish, add a second color balance action on top of it. Change your mind about the first one? Just click the X button and ditch it; the rest of the adjustments are retained...

full article: http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/02/07/1930237