Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Hi Mike

I'm not sure whether you would prefer folks to post these sorts of queries direct in your mini FAQ.

I'm just starting to try Ultimate.  I can see the virtues of Lightning RAW but as another poster identified it takes forever for a folder to build thumbnails (XP with 2Gb) so it doesn't look like an option I shall use routinely and/or until I get a much faster PC.

There is an option for quad/single core under preferences.  I'll probably upgrade my PC within the next year but it is single core right now, so I assume I should select single core.

Am I correct, the handling of RAW is different from Studio and (hopefully) even better?  I've only just started playing so I cannot make my own judgement yet.

Whenever I select an image in the preview page the print size dialogue pops up.  Can I stop/control this please?

I've asked a few times about being able to build thumbnails for several folders at the same time eg when I have a load of photos from a holiday; I do a sort into folders and I don't want to have to select one folder, allow thumbnails to build for a few minutes, then select the second folder and let that lot of thumbnails build, etc.  I would prefer to be able to select several folders and then have a proper break while they all build.  A thought, I note that if I want to alter under preferences, thumb quality changing, I get a pop up that recommends deleting all thumbnails and rebuilding.  So, if I built my new thumbs in each of my new folders at low quality (faster) and then altered quality (or opted for lightning RAW) I could have my lunch break while the building took place in all folders.  However, I suspect even thumbnails (in other folders) or cached RAW that had previously been at the higher quality would be deleted and rebuilt.

If/when I get a new PC is there a folder of thumbs I can copy across so I don't have to rebuild all my thumbs?  nb I would be changing form XP to Win 7 64 bit

I'm assuming that I cannot alter thumbnail quality for a single folder.  Am I correct?

As another poster commented I would welcome more space for the sliders for Fill light and WB in Refine RAW (as for Studio).

Changing topic.  You might think that a great many of your customers take for granted the substantial (to put it mildly) developments to Qimage over the years at no charge.  I don't think for one instant I am alone in never expecting my initial purchase price (over 10 years ago) would end up getting me Qimage Pro.  Like many I can show my gratitude by thanking you, promoting the superb programme(s) and praising the exemplary after sales service.

Regards

Sandy
 

Just a quick reply to say that a multi-folder thumbnail builder is in the works.  Lightning Raw does bring with it higher demands on the system and thus, works better with (for example) a quad core system.  It's simply a powerful feature that works best on "power" systems.  On a minimal quad core system with 16MP raws for example, it can build the thumbs (and Lightning Raw cache that goes with it) at a rate of about one every 3 seconds.  So about 5 minutes per 100 raws.  But remember, it's not just building thumbnails: it's developing finished copies so that after that 5 minutes, you'll never have to wait for those raws again unless you decide to refine the raw settings.  But you're right, if you have a slower/older system, you can always turn the Lightning Raw off and bump it down one notch under Lightning Raw to go back to non-cached raws the way Studio does it.

Mike