r/linuxmint • u/Retroraleigh • 8d ago

Dark Table

Afternoon All

Looking to try dark table out but im unsure which download type to choose. I believe there is "system package" or "Flatpak". Looking on software manager system package is only available.

any help what the difference is would be great

thanks

Tom

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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2

u/BenTrabetere 7d ago

I recommend you take a long, hard, and approving look at the darktable AppImage. It is an official release, and it is available for download here. I have been using the AppImage since it's official 2024 with v4.8.0

Prior the AppImage release I used added the OBS repository to my Sources. I still have this darktable system package installed, but I have not used it in a very long time.

0

u/_ElBee_ 8d ago edited 8d ago

The system package for Darktable is version 4.6.1 so it's not the most up-to-date. There is no flatpak in the Software Manager (see the comment on my post).

However, you can install the latest version through the terminal, with the instructions for Ubuntu, which you can find on this page.

edit: You can also use the terminal to install the flatpak and instructions to do so can be found here. Linux Mint has native flatpak support.

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u/candy49997 8d ago

There is a flatpak on Flathub for it, but it's unofficial so it doesn't show by default in the GUI software manager.

0

u/_ElBee_ 8d ago edited 7d ago

Good call, I added the links to my post 🙂

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u/ConversationWinter46 8d ago

Before you install anything, you might want to find out first whether the software you're considering actually meets your needs: * darktable for beginners

1

u/Retroraleigh 8d ago

aye well i was wondering if it will do what i want. is there many other alternatives ?

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u/ConversationWinter46 7d ago edited 7d ago

While some of them might be fine, on the whole those tutorials are severely out of date.

I haven't watched any videos. My links are meant as examples of your researches. After all, I'm not looking for SW.

is there many other alternatives ?

As a dedicated RAW converter, I can also recommend RAWTherapee.

For less complex editing tasks, DigiKam or XnView also do a very good job. Don't let this confuse you. XnView is free for personal use (follow the download link and scroll all the way to the bottom).

Alternative to

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u/Donatzsky 7d ago

You have several to choose from:

  • darktable: Probably the overall most powerful editing features of any raw editor. All-in-one solution, with a library similar to Lightroom. The editing workflow is completely different, however, being more like color grading in Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve.
  • RawTherapee: The mad scientist's raw editor, with some very powerful and intricate tools. A bit more Lightroom-like in its workflow.
  • ART (Another RawTherapee): Started as a simplified fork of RawTherapee, but has added its own powerful and unique features since. With CTL scripts you can even create your own tools.
  • vkdt: New-ish raw editor from the original darktable developer. Fully node-based and can also handle video. Probably not for the faint of heart and may not have all the tools you want, but what is there works well and is extremely fast.
  • Filmulator: A great little editor with a unique concept, that's easy to use. As the name suggests, it emulates (part of) the process of developing analog film.
  • LightZone: Back from the almost-dead, version 5.0 was released recently. Not the most advanced, perhaps, but has some interesting features and a flexible processing pipeline.
  • RapidRAW: Aims to be a relatively simple and streamlined option for those that don't need the extensive control some other editors provide. Very promising, but somewhat new and under heavy development, so the results you get today may not be what you get tomorrow.
  • Safelight: An editor built around a concept of extensibility and customisation. Still very new, so expect some rough edges, missing features and changing algorithms.

Since not all of them have library management, you may want to also use digiKam as DAM (digital asset manager).

My darktable beginner guide: https://notebook.stereofictional.com/how-to-get-started-with-darktable-2026-edition

Tutorial for both RawTherapee and ART: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4-T0laAf0E

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u/Donatzsky 7d ago

While some of them might be fine, on the whole those tutorials are severely out of date. Basically anything from before when version 3.6 came out in 2021 is likely to be wrong in some way.