Having trouble viewing RAW files in GIMP...

[aRad82]

So, I'm new here and to photography/PP as well. After discovering that the general consensus here is to shoot in RAW ...I now shoot in RAW. I can view all my files no problem in Picasa - I usually look here just to batch view them/show husband my pics etc. However, when I go to edit (I use GIMP), some files I can open no problem, but some I can't...and I get an error message, that reads "TIFF Image Message". Which then completely confuses me because I thought that TIFF files were completely different? So, my question is, what am I doing wrong and how do I fix it? Do I need a RAW image converter? If so, are they free? and can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

I've attached a screen shot of the error message I get in GIMP.

[IABoomer]

If you haven't yet installed it, get UFraw. Chances are GIMP is guessing at what the contents of the RAW files are and getting the guess wrong, thus trying to open RAW as TIFF and creating errors.

UFRaw - Home

[Vagebond]

Hi Ashley,
To start with, I know nothing about GIMP, but I see a little check box in the screenshot: "Select filetype (automatically detected)." Then you get the TIFF messages and the "import from TIFF" dialogue box. Autodetection is having problems. Is it possible to switch autodetection off and select RAW manually?

Just a thought to keep you occupied until the GIMP people wake up

[RLucas]

You have to use a converter with GIMP. UFRaw is good, and I used it a long time, but I like Raw Therapee better. You have way more control with it, and the interface seems a little more intuitive to me.
Some of the color control components are slow though.