free software that has a densitometer

[mandab99]

Hiya!

Was wondering if anyone knew of a free software package that has a densitometer (RGB readout) as one of its features. I know I can download PS as a free trial but I am saving this for a future assignment...hoping there might be another option out there???

Thanks
Manda

[Kym]

Try the histogram viewer ... at the bottom of this page ... http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showlibrary.php?title=Technology:EXIF_and_Other_Plugins

[mandab99]

Thank you Kym ;)

[arthurking83]

FSViewer (http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm) :th3:

best free image software(I reckon) by far.

If you do try it, do two things. Download the install file(the exe file) and also the 'portable' version too.
The portable version is awesomely handy if you place all the files in the folder onto a USB stick/drive, and use it as the image viewer/manipulator directly off the drive.

NOTE: the only problem with FSViewer's histogram readout, is that while you do get RGB graphs, it doesn't display them at the same time overlaid over each other, as a lot of other software does.
You still get them all, it's just that it's nicer to have them all displayed all together .. at least an an option.

[mandab99]

Thank you Arthur :th3::):)

[reaction]

histogram readout or an actual eyedropper for point checking?

xnview has overlaid histograms
fast,small,free

[mandab99]

Reaction I needed it for the RGB readout...

[arthurking83]

That's a good enough point mandab99, but as reaction points out, the point selection and other tools also come in handy when you are looking a bit more deeply into the image.

Some histogram readouts have this auto spot readout ability, where the cursor position reads out the RGB values as you move it about. Of course this is only useful if you've zoomed in to be as accurate with the positioning of the mouse cursor. That is, as you move your cursor, there will be a small readout of the position(x, y values) of the cursor within the image .. that is, width and height point, and then next to it are three values that represent RGB values for that given point. This is handy, but I think the handier tools are the highlights and shadows indicators that flash when you choose them too.
So, you can then set the histogram to flash the pixels that have been pushed beyond the normal 0-255 value range.