Just been looking at this and downloaded a trial version, main thing is it has apparently lost the ability to import from any drive now only the C drive. Is there an older version before this was lost that I could use.
New to this and ok with getting to know darkroom as I am happy to buy a lifetime licence (don’t like monthly subs) but this is a pain, Gimp allows imports I believe but won’t import CR2 canon RAW files… Can’t win.
I saw that Gimp can use Darkroom to import raw into Gimp but seems strange thing to do.
For me a version that can do everything, regardless of how old it is, I will pay for just not sure about paying for something that dose some of what I want. Any advice appreciated.
Are you on Windows?
Those “external HDDs”, are they so called
netshares, or what?
And, as @rgo told you above: darktable is fully free, there does not exist any “trial” version — unless, of course, you fetched yours from a very fishy source…
Full manual here: darktable 4.4 user manual - darktable
Also: you can find very many good tutorials on YouTube, for instance those from Bruce WIlliams, and from Boris Hajdukovic.
Darktable is completely free and open source. If you paid for it, you got scammed.
The only official distribution channel is the website here:
I know there are some versions on the Microsoft store, for example, but they have been put up by opportunists of questionable morals, and are in no way sanctioned by the developers.
Once you have an officially supported version installed, I recommend the following tutorials and YouTube channels:
Basic workflow tutorial:
It’s based on an older version, so you can skip the parts where he changes settings, and some details have changed, but all concepts are the same still.
Thanks for the quick responses, I as sure this is free but must have been confused. I downloaded Gimp and it imports using Darktable then saves as Jpg so maybe that’s tha answer. Rin gimp save and then process in Darktable. All just a bit complicated as it would be better in one process. Gimp saves it as an XMP file (apparently of edits) and now won’t open any CR2file, oh well remove it again I suppose.
Basic question- What is the last version of Darktable that allowed import of CR2 RAW files ?
Darktable could be worked around I guess, no idea why the obsession with th C drive ? I could put the CR2 files in a folder there then copy them out ? Looks like I am in for a long darktable tutorial video. Can’t even figure out how to open a file now, usual find the menu I think.
Tried Movavi that wants paying, and is a bit basic.
Claes- On windows and just a normal HDD, in this case 2TB storage USB accessed.
Donatzky - Just tried again and now I can see it. I did a search before about importing CR2 and lots of posts on a fix being needed to the new version. Looks ok now.
i need to get to grips with the whole thing, the first part helped so I will watch more of the recommended videos now.
I was right in that it is the case of needing to know what to look at to find stuff. I could see things I had edited in other software but not new ones. I somehow, despite it saying no files in it, to add the RAW folder to the ‘library’ and now it sees them if I open that one. Not quite sure how I did it but it should work once I play around, works now.
I need to get to know it. I looked at a few things and Gimp or Movavi (don’t care now as Darkroom works used Darkroom to import CR2 as they couldn’t
Thanks for the help, I will no doubt be back soon to ask more specific questions.
Add to library is really just creating a catalogue in DT… So it is called import but it is really adding an entry for you image in the DT database. When you look through previews DT can use this and the associated thumbs it creates to locate the file and load it and you begin your edit. After the edit is complete the changes are noted in the database and optionally in an xmp file. Unless you also copied the files from the external drive all that happens on your external and config directory where the database is saved by default. The original file is never touched… The issue is that if you reconnect at a later time and the drive letter changes you will see only skull for icons… you will have to search and try to reconnect the folders… THere is limited file manipulation in DT but you can move things from within DT. If you do everything is fine and DT updates everything… if you do it in an external file manager or locations change on your PC or network then things are messed up… You can also use an option with DT that doesn’t use a database and in that way you simply use it as a pure editing tool…
Thanks Todd, you guessed what I want it for, just editing and I will control the locations.
I am just doing photography as a hobby and so fo a limited number of shots a day, sometimes none, so won’t have lots of locations to worry about. Good to know info.
In that case you can run DT with a command line switch and it will not use the database … look at the --library option and the use of the :memory: parameter… there are other potentially useful ways to control how DT is configured when it runs and you can direct the location of the various config files…
used Darkroom to import CR2 as they couldn’t