Chuck, I do not think that Lightroom has layers (as I recall from using it, though I'm not at home where I can open it and see) so this may be an issue for you. I checked as well using https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/user-guide.html and looked for layers without success; if you type "layer" in the search box, you'll get results from all of Adobe's products, and they are all Photoshop.
GIMP will allow you to do HDR (some basic options on the Color menu) and blended images among may other things. Don't get hung up on the fact that GIMP won't natively open raw camera images, neither does Photoshop (it uses CameraRaw, a stand-alone application that is well integrated so it appears like it's Photoshop when it's not). The workflow for using a raw processor like RawTherapee is fairly standard -- open raw file in raw processor, make adjustments to white point, etc (the kinds of adjustments on GIMP's Color menu), save as image file (like TIF), open image file in GIMP (RawTherapee has an setting for specifying an application one can use for this purpose, so setting it to your GIMP install means you don't even have to first run GIMP then go find the file), do whatever you want with it. I think you'd like the combination of RawTherapee and GIMP, they are both incredible applications not the least of which is that they are free. Regards, Guy Guy Stalnaker jimmyg...@gmail.com On Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 3:01 PM, Chuck Devlin via gimp-user-list < gimp-user-list@gnome.org> wrote: > I sent an email the other day covering this topic, but did not properly > explain my situation.1. I use Nikon's free VIEWNX 2 viewer to perform basic > editing functions on NEF files. Works well and am pleased with it.2. > However, I want to be able to perform advanced editing functions that > VIEWNX 2 does not support, but GIMP and Lightroom 6 apparently do > support; They are: a. Perform batch processing: Edit one of several > pictures then combine the edits to the other pictures. b. Do Layering / > Masking: Want to do this to perform the following: b1. Create a > long exposure during the daytime without using ND filters. b2. > Create HDR pictures by combining bracketed pictures.So far the replies > indicate GIMP cannot handle Nikon's NEF raw files. Is anyone aware of a > work around for this in GIMP, or do I have to pay about $142.00 for > Lightroom 6 which apparently can handle the NEF file format? > I do appreciate the previous replies and will appreciate any reply to this > email.Thanks:Chuck devlincfdevli...@yahoo.com > > > _______________________________________________ > gimp-user-list mailing list > List address: gimp-user-list@gnome.org > List membership: https://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gimp-user-list > List archives: https://mail.gnome.org/archives/gimp-user-list _______________________________________________ gimp-user-list mailing list List address: gimp-user-list@gnome.org List membership: https://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gimp-user-list List archives: https://mail.gnome.org/archives/gimp-user-list
