https://www.darktable.org/2024/12/darktable-5.0.0-released/
Been getting a better user interface steadily.
You don't have to pay for it, but that is not it's primary virtue. The latter doesn't interest most people.
I'll be waiting for kit to update in the distribution of software I use, no rush.
Edited by MidgePhoto
"It manages your digital negatives in a database"
One of the things I most love about my current (Bridge/ACR/Photoshop) flow is that I get .xmp (sidecar) files next to the original raw files, so file management (backup utilities etc) is entirely under my control, rather than being in some nebulous database.
Does darktable do this?
Sensual Art said
"It manages your digital negatives in a database"
One of the things I most love about my current (Bridge/ACR/Photoshop) flow is that I get .xmp (sidecar) files next to the original raw files, so file management (backup utilities etc) is entirely under my control, rather than being in some nebulous database.
Does darktable do this?
Yes. Plus it's in the database for speed.
Woo Hoo.
I've been using it since I started back on digital images. Love it. It has its quirks, no AI, but for me it does all I want it to do. And a lot more as I don't use all of its functionality.
I use it a little.
Actually less now by reason of improved capabilities in cameras and in another editor, Gimp.
Lots of changes since the last release. It incredible this is all done by a team of volunteers.
Will wait to upgrade for a couple of weeks. Just in case ;)
And wait to watch Bruce Williamson's youtube video on the changes.
Andy McG said
Sensual Art said
"It manages your digital negatives in a database"
One of the things I most love about my current (Bridge/ACR/Photoshop) flow is that I get .xmp (sidecar) files next to the original raw files, so file management (backup utilities etc) is entirely under my control, rather than being in some nebulous database.
Does darktable do this?
Yes. Plus it's in the database for speed.
Cool!
So darktable + affinity would, functionally, give me everything that I currently use, other than the latest and greatest AI tools that Adobe is pinning its fortunes on?
Sensual Art said
Andy McG said
Sensual Art said
"It manages your digital negatives in a database"
One of the things I most love about my current (Bridge/ACR/Photoshop) flow is that I get .xmp (sidecar) files next to the original raw files, so file management (backup utilities etc) is entirely under my control, rather than being in some nebulous database.
Does darktable do this?
Yes. Plus it's in the database for speed.
Cool!
So darktable + affinity would, functionally, give me everything that I currently use, other than the latest and greatest AI tools that Adobe is pinning its fortunes on?
I can't guarantee that. Its more lightroom replacement that Photoshop. Its a 'developer' not a pixel manipulator.
Free to download and try.
MidgePhoto said
https://www.darktable.org/2024/12/darktable-5.0.0-released/
Been getting a better user interface steadily.
You don't have to pay for it, but that is not it's primary virtue. The latter doesn't interest most people.
I'll be waiting for kit to update in the distribution of software I use, no rush.
Edited by MidgePhoto
I don't think that as of right now (2024-12-21 22:45 UTC) Darktable version 5.0 or 5.1 has hit any of the distro repositories yet. Moreover, both the standard FlatPak and AppImage variants are still at v4.81. We're hoping 5.x will appear in Debian "Sid" in a week or two and perhaps in Debian "Testing" a week or so after that. But I'm not holding my breath
However, for the terminally impatient, there is a "nightly build" AppImage of Darktable 5.1 dated 2024-12-21 and that is available right now from...
I downloaded and tried it and it works a treat! You don't have to install anything. All the dependencies are encapsulated within the AppImage file. Bloody clever stuff, actually. Simply set the the AppImage file's properties as executable, (chmod +x, or so) double click it and off it goes! Should work fine on any modern GNU/Linux distro - Debian, Fedora, Mint, Red Hat, Ubuntu, et al. Try it, use it and simply trash it if you don't like it.
Apparently there are nightly builds for other OS's too, though I cannot guarantee how well or otherwise these will perform. But here's a link anyway for those who want to give one a whirl...
Alternatively, the source code for 5.10 is available right now from Darktable's github. It's developers have provided fairly clear instructions here...
I probably won't bother compiling from source because the Appimage is perfectly adequate for the time being, until the binary hits the Debian repositories in a few weeks time.
________
As an aside: it's actually quite an exciting time in the FOSS graphics world ATM because after a long, long wait, GIMP 3.0 is finally at RC1 (first release candidate) stage. And Debian Testing users have just received the long-awaited KDE Plasma 6 desktop - with full Wayland support. Which I have to say that after a few minor teething problems is staggeringly, stunningly good now.
Don't know if this is of any help or interest to anyone, but this is Darktable 5.1, nightly build AppImage, 2024-12-21, running on Debian Trixie aka "Testing" c/w Plasma 6 desktop, c/w modified "Ghost" plasma theme.
[please click to enlarge].
Sensual Art said
"It manages your digital negatives in a database"
One of the things I most love about my current (Bridge/ACR/Photoshop) flow is that I get .xmp (sidecar) files next to the original raw files, so file management (backup utilities etc) is entirely under my control, rather than being in some nebulous database.
Does darktable do this?
As does lightroom of course - providing you switch the xmp feature on.
A few years ago I tried to use Dark Table. Far too complicated and User Unfriendly. With all the gobbledygook written here, I will not be returning. GIMP is very similar for User Unfriendliness. Good luck to all those who use both but not for me. Sticking with £7.99 a month Adobe package. Less than 2 pints in the pub.
ClickMore 📷 said
A few years ago I tried to use Dark Table. Far too complicated and User Unfriendly. With all the gobbledygook written here, I will not be returning. GIMP is very similar for User Unfriendliness. Good luck to all those who use both but not for me. Sticking with £7.99 a month Adobe package. Less than 2 pints in the pub.
Well it's probably fairly safe to say that FOSS is not for you then Pete, lol :-)
For me, like MidgePhoto , none of Adobe's products will run natively on my choice(s) of operating system. Therefore, assuming I were unfazed by a large foreign tech corporation (with one of the worst privacy records in the business) having its fingers permanently embedded in my wallet, I still couldn't use Adobe's products even if I wanted to.
In any event, this thread is not about persuading anyone to dump whatever they are using and adopt darktable instead. Rather, it is aimed at those who already understand and enjoy the some of the powerful features that darktable has to offer. My contribution was intended to provide links and a little background info for those wishing to try this latest version before it trickles its way through the various distribution chains for the various operating systems it supports.
FWIW I have now downloaded both the new current version, 5.0, and the development version 5.1. It's not been out long, so obviously I've not had time to try all OS's. Moreover, the tests I have performed are very rudimentary. However, I can confirm that both 5.0 and 5.1 will load and run, and perform basic tasks on...
I've not managed to crash it yet either. I have my next model shoot planned for shortly after Christmas, whereupon I intend to give v5.x a damned good thrashing in a real workflow situation. :-)
Like Andy McG my relationship with darktable goes back a long way. I originally flirted with darktable when it was first released back in 2009. I have to admit it was a bit crap back then. However, massive strides were made in its development. By the time v2.01 came along in 2016, darktable had become a seriously useful application. I have been using it as a workflow tool in all my modelling shoots ever since.
I'd add that whilst darktable seems to work well on most OS's these days, IMHO, it really comes into its own on Unix-like systems. I don't want to get too geeky here, but most modern GNU/Linuxes provide connectivity and management tools, as standard, that enable me to treat my workstation(s) my media server, my backup server and my remote dedicated-host web/mail server all as one big single file and command system. This not merely eliminates Adobe, Apple and Microsoft from the equation, it also eliminates the likes of Dropbox et al too.
The upshot of this is that almost all the limitations I face these days are genuine technical limitations, rather than artificial embuggerance placed there by commercial interests in order to screw more money out of me.
Finally a few links, if I may...
Downloads are listed at the bottom of this page. IMHO Windows users should probably consider the version offered here.
Edited by waist.it
