Hi Stephen,

Where did you here this from? I have read some where it does work if you use the correct .Net Framework version?

Cheers

Dunno what you mean ;)

(need for saint smiley)

Stephen, There are loads of people using Capture NX on Vista, I know Nikon say they are going to bring out a version of NX that is compatible with Vista in the near future, I have not tried myself but I will be loading Vista on my laptop tomorrow and will install Capture NX. I will report back and let you know if there are any problems.

Cheers

Seriously, Nick I think that would be of value.

I'll be interested in your report.

Hi Stephen,

I upgraded my laptop which was running Windows XP Pro with Windows Vista Business which to about 2 hours from start to finish, ran Capture NX V1.01 setup which would not install until .NET Framework 1.1 was installed, this downloaded and installed from the web automatically, Capture NX then proceeded to install.

I ran Capture NX which seemed to work ok but was very slooooooow, I only have 512mb ram in the laptop so I have ordered another 1gb which should speed things up.

There do seem to be issues though with other users who cannot get Capture NX running at all, not sure why? I guess the NX upgrade when it is available will sort out any problems.

Any questions please ask.

Cheers

Thanks for that Nick.

NX runs extremely slow with 512MB RAM under XP so I can imagine how slow it is under a more memory thirsty OS.

I advise 2GB RAM under XP and more if using Vista.

Stephen,

I don't use my laptop for post processing much so I guess 1.5gb will do for that, my desktop xp pc has 1GB which don't run to bad with NX, mind you I only process the small D2Hs nef's!!!

I am getting the hang of NX, I think its great:)

Cheers

Did this happen each time you tried to run NX or did it happen just the once, if it just happened once then it was probably Windows throwing one of it's many tantrums and would probably have run if you had restarted your computer. If it happened several times then it is more than likely you have a software conflict somewhere, have you installed any other software recently, (that is, since you installed NX).

nirofo.

The message comes up every time i tried to open it. In the end i removed the programme and im going to put up without it untill i get a desktop to work on my photos on.
I cant think of any software ive installed since that was not running before i had the error.

Try a restore to an earlier time when NX worked ok !!

Before you do a restore make sure you disconnect broadband connection then disable your antivirus and firewall.

In start click on run, type in msconfig, (all one word), select launch system restore, follow prompts from there and select a time just before NX started going wrong.

nirofo.

As Lello has joined the band of NX users but is finding it harder to understand than Photoshop I thought I should do this post.

I have found far more info in the Help file than the instruction book. Also well worth a look at Nikons Capture NX site. Link ...... http://www.capturenx.com/

I was going to post a simple start guide. A run through this thread suggests quite a bit of info but not in any sensible order for someone just picking up on this program. I will add some more info with screen grabs to make it simple, but with a four a day limit it will take time to cover everything.

To date I suggest this thread is read through in this sequence as there are lots of explanitory graphics.

INTERFACE
Post #23. NX Interface.

'D' LIGHT
Post #29 a graphic explanation of 'D' light which is in Base Adjustments. Refer to image 4 from post 23 for its location in the edit list.

For me the big buzz of NX is control points. You would be amazed at what you can do with these and they work on NEF's, Tiff's and Jpegs. Quite a number of posts here deal with this and I list them in a suggested order - least compex first. Play pics for this - I posted 2 play pics that are quite large in Post #27.

CONTROL POINTS
Post # 8
Post # 9 & 10
Post # 12
Post # 2 & 3

HISTOGRAM
Post # 35

BLACK/WHITE/NEUTRAL POINTS
Post # 14
Post # 28


BLACK & WHITE CONVERSION
Post # 15

Probably the biggest difference's I have found when compared with Photoshop is that you can step back at any time using the edit list without loosing anything else you have done. To turn an action on or off simply click the appropriate tick box. You can use the same to fine tune any previous edit action. The most I have had on the edit list is Base Adjustment, Levels & Curves, B/W/N Points and 54 control points all of which had immediate access for modification. I also find NX curves so much easier than Photoshop, as the action box is live alongside the image and any correction is in REAL TIME on the whole screen image as you move the curve.

Don

Edit - I forgot to add the Capture NX link :o :o

NX interface 5 graphic attatched.

Don

NX new starter play part 1
 

Having spend the afternoon doing these for Lello, I thought it worth posting here as well, as a starter for anyone new to NX.

Anyone giving this a go will need to save the image in post # 27 to their pc as that is the subject image.

The whole thing is split over 2 posts as a set of graphics that can be saved to your pc.

Don

NX new starter play part 2
 

The remaining graphics.

Don

Here is a list of tips and tricks courtesy of Nikon...

http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/c...i=&p_topview=1

Top job Stephen. Downloaded all :D

Don

Nice one Stephen

Hi guys just a marker to say I am joining the club. I have bought the D80 recently offered and have 30 day trial of NX 1.2 (I think 1.3 is for intel macs, I still have the steam-powered one).

So hope to get upto speed on Nikonography fast so I can get fair comparison with Canon + DPP then decide which kit to keep and which is more suitable for my son to start his digital career. (or me to terminate mine)

Any chance of your major posts like 51 being e-mailed Don, as flipping back to 1 image then back to thread, then altered version a bit frustrating?

The link in 55 doesn't work any more Stephen, but it may take me a few minutes to read the manual and help first :D

Chris,

I am currently doing a splurge for my nephew on basics and how to get to the various controls via the menu. Covering three different models, D50, D40 and D40X, Not sure which he will get yet so its quite a long job. Kind of explains my absence from the forum. As part of that I will be doing a set on NX which I will forward to you.

Never quite got the drift of DPP so I have not owned up to a number of images in the gallery ex Canon 350D as being processed in NX. :) :rolleyes:

Cannot pm you as your box is full and I have lost your e-mail address. :(

Don

Chris,

Furstly I hope you enjoy your Nikon. The link in 55 does work on my system showing a number of pdf documents for various tips, well worth reading.

NX 1.3 is universal so should work on a pre-Intel Mac.

Thank you Don & Stephen. On session 1 with NX, my thoughtss would not have been printable, but then probably not sensible to start with the most difficult file I have. On session 2 I am pleased to say I have achieved a far more satisfactory rescue of a Harebell taken with FZ7 than I had previously with DPP (which in turn always scored over PSE4)...so who knows what I may achieve with a Nikon.

Main problem is that I can't get the hang of what is nailed down and what is still open and/or whether different approaches can be cumulative...but I can see it is worth the effort to learn & glad I decided to start learning before camera arrived:)

Chris,

I think the user interface of NX lends itself very well to OS X, notice the arrows are exactly like those used under 'get info' when right-clicking a file. It must have been written by a group of Apple enthusiasts!

Remember editting a Nikon NEF will not change the original RAW data, NX I believe for Nikon is the only RAW edit and conversion software to provide non-destructive editting.

Shall I e-mail you some NEF's so you can enjoy NX ahead of your D80 being delivered.

I hadn't notice the faintest resemblance to Mac OS except for the actual image window, but am pleased it runs well and without so far having had to shut down anything else. I see it is 10.4.10 that NX1.3 needs, which is already pretty unfamiliar (on other folks boxes) to me dragging heels on 10.3.9, was going to skip to 10.5 when I have to.

Maybe if you send me one .NEF it will make sure the camera arrives ;) Ta

The resemblance to the OS... notice the use of arrows on the edit list is identical to those used in Mail for various accounts and mailboxes. The same arrows are used in file properies referred to as 'get info' when right clicking.

See images (below)
First is Mail application embedded in OS X and second is NX. Same arrow, same function.

Hi ,
Have read most of this post and Don has made some excellent contributionsfor users of NX, and is to be congratulated for his efforts.
Can I say there are versions 1.1, 1.2 and the newer 1.3.
I downloaded v 1.3 for use with D300 and D3, and if it has not already been discussed, if you use v1.3 you will find it different to v1.2, if you want to work on a NEF (raw file).
In v1.2 you click on the Left HS of the screen, in the middle ,entitled "camera settings". In v1.3 this has been moved to the RIGHT HS, and you need to click on the "edit list"; when this drops down, you will need to open "base adjustments", this will reveal "camera adjustment" and "raw adjustments" to enable you to carry out changes to the raw file.You can work on D1X, D2H and D2X files with v1.3 , can not speak for D40/50/70/200 files.
If this has already been mentioned , will moderator please delete as no point in cloging up system.
regards Subzero.

Before Capture NX Nikon users had Nikon Capture, known to most as a dog of an application. Most did not like the user interface and others thought it used memory in a poor fashion as was unnecessarily slow. Capture NX was heralded as a redefined Capture but once released some users thought is was the same application with a few new features. When using the camera adjustment on the LHS upto 1.3 was thought to use the old Capture engine and anything from the top toolbar was said to be the new NX including control points.

V1.3 could be 100% NX with the older Capture engine being discontinued.

I have only seen this for myself a few minutes ago so cannot comment if I like it or not but I never used any camera adjustment from the LHS camera settings menu but used the tab for camera settings information.

Well mentioned Subzero. It will help save confusion for those that start with v1.3.
I have not seen the screen for v1.3. I have downloaded it but have not put it on in case I end up the same as I did with v1.2 which I had to kill.

I have done a few more today for Chris on the Gradiant Tool so I thought I should add them to our library.

I will do the selective area bit next but that may be in a couple of days time.

Don

I didn't know what you meant at first Stephen; this swivell triangle is the method that has been used for first identifying then going within folders with sub-folders in OS 10 since it started if you use 'list view' as I always do and a huge improvement on all the double clicking I have to do when revisiting Microstation the only OS9 prog left.

But this is the first prog I have ever come across with a drag bar on the side and bottom of windows rather than the top :mad: , so hope the mac programmers are not going to try borrow back.

You are doing a marvellous job Don, thank you

NX crop and control points
 

Playing with Stephen's DC-3 shot, I wondered why turning crop on/off was also affecting colour. He comments:
"Control points must reference their position by x,y co-ordinates in the frame. If that frame is changed i.e. cropped then the position of a control point changes and has an undesired effect. I have noticed this in all versions of NX with all types of control points. From the edit list you should see the neutral control point is one of the last entries and crop one of the first. When you remove the crop notice the control point move."

If his theory is right, one needs to be a bit careful about peppering control points when intending to crop??

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...1&d=1196511794

At this time the idea remains theory. However I have always cropped an image before working, after-all composition is the first step in creating a photograph.

There does seem to be some dust on my D2Hs :eek: , its only a backup camera and for poor weather. My workflow edits NEF's, save as TIFF (as an intermediary) then finish in Photoshop where all those nasty dust spots are removed before saving as JPEG.

Of course dust spots can removed using NX but I find photoshop easier and I need to use photoshop to finish my photos.

Excuse the ignorance folks, but could someone please explain to me what a 'control point' is. Thank you.

Nikon have this "Upoint technology" to selectively make local bright/contrast/RGB etc adjustments around a variable diameter circular zone based round the "control point", or in the above example to select a neutral point which can be dragged around a bit to get the best position & effect.

In their blurb:
"Use the new Color Control Points to control color and lighting selectively, eliminating complicated processing and tedious manual selection"

Like DPP, NX can be used for .jpg & .tif images & there is a 30 day free trial download if you want a play. I got one day before the D80 and was already half-way to being a Nikonman before I even had the camera.(no loyalty eh?)

Interesting post Chris.

Mmmm. I have not checked this as I always save the whole processed frame as a Tiff and then crop in Photoshop.

I will place a grid on a tiff then check what happens to control points in NX on a crop.

Don

Duncan,

Following Chris's explanation here is what one looks like and an idea of its available adjustments.

Don

I inadvertently did a crop on a pic with some control points in a previous step. Although the points moved on the y axis, their effect remained at their original position.

I don't think Stephen's one moved on the x axis, again only y, so why its effect altered becomes an even deeper mystery. But the obvious thing to do is to do ones crop early on for the sake of safety as well as composition

The control point I commonly use it the neutral one where position is CRITICAL to its implementation. Other control points particular placed on the sky would not exhibit the issue as much.

I straighten then crop as my PC always converted to TIFF quicker with a cropped image, speed gain was proportionate to the severity of crop.

As promised.

To check the movement of Control Points including Black/White/Neutral I resized an image to 2000 wide. I then added a grid at 100 pixel spacing.

Three crop zones were added.
The crops were actually done on the white grid to ensure they were in exact units x 100 pixels. The colour marks being just inside the grid.

Control points were used in these samples, but tests show Black/White/Neutral points behave in exactly the same way when a crop is done after they have been placed. All movement of points on the image is a result of the selected crop.

These show quite conclusively that the points reference the top left of the image. On a crop all points maintain a reference to that position and do not move radomly.

Images attatched.

1) Resized copy of the test target.
2) Placement of control points on the uncropped image.
3) Yellow Crop
4) Green Crop
5) Purple Crop

Don

And most telling the one I could not get in the last post.

A random crop from near a midpoint, so essentially cropping out some points, but to include bottom right hand corner of the image. Notice the displaced Control Points. Quite telling when compared to the Yellow Crop.

Don

that all seems clear enough on the black/white/neutral, but just to fuzz it up a bit, these are the less exact results I reported before from an inadvertant late crop

The crop turned off, a cluster of colour control points on and by the sheep
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...1&d=1196973341

The crop made, the cluster has dropped to the bottom, but the sheep area where they were still brightened as intended
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...1&d=1196973421

with the crop turned on but the effect of the control points turned off, they are clustered down the bottom and the sheep pretty dark

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...1&d=1196973113

If the crop is turned off, they spring back, but they are no longer alive for further editing as they should be, so still not a clever idea!

Chris,

If the crop is turned off the control points can be edited.
Editing any control point that is still visible after a crop will automatically turn the crop off for the edit and it then has to be checked to turn it on again afterwards.

I will see if I can do something on editing tomorrow but it will definately be by Saturday.

I see from your gallery you have been busy. :)

Don