-
Personally I do not like or use the import in LightTable. I see no benefit to having all the raw files in a folder imported into Ansel.
I think Ansel should just have a very simple browser that does not import files into Ansel. One can fly through all RAW files quickly and click to import.
I had tried for years to use the Import and just hate it.
Now my workflow is very smooth and quick. (I have the Nikon .NEF file properties associated to Ansel)
My Nikon workflow is...
1 - Open Windows File Explorer on 2nd monitor
2 - Open Nikon NX Studio on main display
3 - Rate all keepers in full screen preview in Nikon NX Studio
4 - Click on any keeper in Windows File Explorer and it imports the file into Ansel
This way I only have the keepers imported.
I would love to see a very simple file browsing ability built into Ansel prior to actual import. One could view/click to import at full screen preview. Once the keeper is importer, then do all that is further needed in LightTable/DarkTable. I know the 'add to library' has the thumbnail view but it it would be a much better UI if the 'add to library' was actually a file preview/browser that could be maximized to full screen with the preview becoming the main object making up 95% of the screen with the ability to zoom into picture at 100% to check for focus etc. and then click on the 'add to library' button to import. Or better still, add a check box to each file and one can go through all the files and click the check box for the keepers and then click the 'add to library' button. Once the 'add to library button has been clicked, the 'add to library' window should not close, there should be a dedicated close button.
-
Import workflow is outside the scope of the current discussion. Ansel needs some sort of file browsing of collections with thumbnails. Having to rely on external apps to select keepers is a no-go.
-
... the 'add to library' has the thumbnail view but it it would be a much better UI if the 'add to library' was actually a file preview/browser that could be maximized to full screen with the preview becoming the main object making up 95% of the screen with the ability to zoom into picture at 100% to check for focus etc. and then click on the 'add to library' button to import. Or better still, add a check box to each file and one can go through all the files and click the check box for the keepers and then click the 'add to library' button.
-
You have a special workflow using other softwares in addition to Ansel (Nikkon NX Studio). It is your choice, so it is your responsability to fit Nikkon Studio with Ansel, not the responsability of Aurélien Pierre to bend Ansel to fit your OWN workflow.
I personnaly use Digikam with Darktable/Ansel. I made my own adaptations to get the two working together, I did not ask A.P to do it for me.
If you wanna use a "Raw converter" with a simple file preview/browser, there is ART/Rawtherapee which already do that.
If you want to use Ansel with a file explorer, you can use Windows/Linux files explorer and right clic "Open with Ansel" to open and import immediately your picture with Ansel. If the picture was already imported in Ansel, it will just open it. You do not need to start Ansel and then "Import".
The Import function of Ansel is essential : this is the way Ansel get the medatada of the pictures and is able to perform quick search in his own library. Lightroom and a lot of other Raw softwares have the SAME behaviour. You can not expect a software to be able to perform quick search based on metadata and at the same time be a simple file browser with no library database.
-
