Changed from Mint to Ubuntu. Now using Darktable 4.2.1 to open Raw files for import to Gimp. Tried to find discussion about this but xmp is such a common search term that I’m searching a haystack.
Procedure is to select RAW file, it opens Gimp, then opens Darktable where the xmp is created and after editing and closing Darktable, the file is opened in Gimp, but the xmp file (which used to be deleted) is now not being deleted automatically.
I’m not sure whether this is a Gimp or Darktable issue, but I can’t find any “preferences” in Darktable and I thought I’d ask here. Gimp is version 2.10.34 in case that helps.
Hi Michelle, I used to do the same way of opening raw via GIMP, however now I have learnt DT I rarely use GIMP to touch the images. DT has great localised masking which replaces 99.9% of my need for GIMP in the process. The main advantage of GIMP or Photoshop is layer and masks, but DT has that covered in a none destructive way with its drawn and parametric masks.
That’s a good point. Next time I do a raw image, I’ll keep it purely in DT and see what I can do. I’ll take a closer look at its tools. I’m primarily a Pentax shooter which doesn’t add sharpening, so I will take a look around the options and see what I can find.
There are oceans of good tutorials on dt
on YouTube. Look, for instance, for those
made by forumer Boris Hajdukovic.
And, of course, sooner or later you will
learn to love this: darktable 4.4 user manual - darktable
The diffuse or sharpen module (that is its name) offers a preset for antialaising sharpening which is my default initial sharpening. The denoise (profiled) module will automatically do a great initial denoising based upon the images ISO. It is often enough for most images. DT is just such an awesome program. I used to use Rawtherapee which is also a great program to convert RAW files and produce a lighter version and darker version of the same image. I would then open the exported images in Gimp and use layer and masks to blend the images. Now this is all done in DT. It has a gradient mask which is great for landscapes.
Thanks. I did one, just to try out. If only I could get it to export to the same directory that the original was opened in, I’d be golden. It’s probably in the options somewhere… I’ll find it
Now that things have gone this far, I will do. I’ll find some time and learn Dark Table. Previously it was just a means to get the RAW into Gimp, but it appears I’ve been overlooking a powerful tool.
HI Michelle,
here is a bit of a guide to the modules in DT that I have put together for my students. Ignore the copyright at the bottom of the page. I am happy for people to share this. It is not meant to replace the user guide, but instead complement the guide as a resource.
Exporting to the same folder as the image came from is very simple (see page 10 of my notes). BTW, I would recommend starting off using Sigmoid rather than Filmic for processing. The learning curve is not as challenging. On page 3 of my notes I set the preferences for sigmoid processing as the default.
I plan to add to this guide by putting a section for handling shadow/hights adjustments. DT has a few very good options here including a shadow and highlights module which I like. It also has tone equalizer which is very good. You can also do this using one of the curves modules such as RGB curves. But my new found most used method is the color balance RGB module. I often combine multiple modules to fix dark shadows in troublesome images rather than depending on a single module.
DT has an ongoing learning curve, but that is part of the enjoyment of using such a great program.
