Several years ago, I got involved in DarkTable. I wanted something to replace my Adobe software, and since then I have installed DxO PhotoLab, and I am now on version 6, and DarkTable version 4.6.1.
Before I ask much more, is 4.6.1 up to date, or do I need to find an update for it? I’m using it on a MacBook Pro with the V2 chip, and my main cameras are new and old Nikon and Leica, and occasionally my Fuji X100F. From the main marketable window, where do I search for updates?
If possible, I would like to change my “darkroom” page, so the tools I use most often are up at the top, but if this isn’t possible, so be it. This can come later - for now, I’m just getting familiar with the tools.
My second question - do I “import” images into DarkTable as needed, or do I just add them to my “pictures” on my Mac, following the system I set up many, many years ago. Am I supposed to somehow add my entire “pictures” file structure, or just add new folders as needed?
More questions can come later - this is just a start. I think I’m actually involved in more DarkTable discussions, but I believe this one is the best for getting started.
I don’t want to replace PhotoLab with DarkTable; I want to use both. But if PhotoLab goes subscription only, I will likely switch to DarkTable only.
In the meantime, how can I get my DarkTable window back to the way is used to look, with one large image in the middle, and all the thumbnail images across the bottom? Is there a “reset to default” setting someplace?
Maybe I’m losing my mind, but I thought the Lighttable view showed one photo in the middle, and all my images across the bottom. I never saw a view like this before, with “years” across the bottom. I just want to get back to the normal “Lighttable” view for now.
Yes, darkroom is fine - I just finished using it to process an image. Everything actually worked as intended!!
Do I just click on "The GitHub release is here _________.
But it says not to use the “autogenerated tarball provided by GitHub (whatever that is), but only our tar.xz file” So I’m not supposed to click on that link at the top???
I have no idea what I’m supposed to click on - but it sure seems like I should click on the link give near the top.
Look at the bottom…click the icon to the right of the one you have and set the slider to one not 25…might get you closer you may have to click on the bottom arrow as well if you have the bottom panel hidden
Your questions are very, very, very basic. Please read the manual first, at least the first chapters to get the basics. And watch some basic videos as already recommended.
An archive with the sources of darktable. I suspect you are searching for the binaries (OSX build) ? install | darktable ?
I am just looking for whatever I need to click on, to update from DarkTable 4.6.1 to the latest version. The screen I found had what looked like the proper link to click on, but then there was a warning beneath it. So I did nothing - yet.
Yes, now things look much better.
At the bottom of my screen, I have “years”, from 2005 up to 2024.
When I first opened DarkTable before, I think it showed all my photos from the folder I was looking at.
DarkTable thinks I have photos from 2005, 2007, 2019, 2020, and 2024.
Are these the settings to control what is shown at the bottom of the screen?
If I click on the small box for “2005”, is it supposed to change the bottom of the screen to show me all photos taken that year?
I will certainly start reading the manual, but if possible, I would like to get back to a “normal” starting point.
Final question - I there some kind of “RESET” button someplace which will take darktable o a normal starting condition, which will correct any errors from things I click on?
To be honest, if you just started out with darktable, I’d not even bother with filmic as a (linear → display referred) tonemapper, as it is a very advanced tool, which might cause a lot of headaches and waste a lot of time if you don’t completely understand the scene referred workflow.
I’d go with sigmoid first (which you can configure as your default tone mapper in the settings) and try to get the hang of editing in a scene referred workflow, with all it’s advantages and complications. And once you reach the limits of the sigmoid module, you can revisit filmic and invest more time into it.
If you are asking yourself now: WTF does this guy mean with scene referred / linear colour encoding workflow?
Watch this video, IMHO this is a very instructive and easy to understand explanation of what is going on in darktable and why it is so different from most other image editing tools:
If you are running a Linux platform, it may be as simple as using your package manager to upgrade the package. If you run Windows or Macintosh, you’ll have to ask someone else.
