Si are you looking for an application that allows you Non-destructive raw photo management and processing, let me tell you that there is an excellent open source option that may be of use to you.
Darktable, is that application that will allow you to process your photographs and it will also act as a free alternative to Lightroom, since as I mentioned, it specializes in non-destructive work with images in RAW format.
Currently, This application is in version 4.8, which was released a few days ago and in this new version a series of improvements have been included for image processing, support for more camera models, code improvements and much more.
Main news in Darktable 4.8
In this new version of Darktable 4.8, one of the most interesting features is the improvements that were made in the processing mode, since a switch has been added to render mode to use data from the entire image in Pixel Pipe, rather than a separate area, which allows testing the processing result as when exporting in high quality interpolation mode (no internal scaling distortion).
Another improvement that Darktable 4.8 presents is in the map view, as the grouping code has been rewritten, which has significantly accelerated the processing of large collections. Mapping can now be used on over a million select geotagged images. Additionally, in map mode, you can scroll using the cursor keys (Ctrl increases the scroll step).
In addition to this, the new modules for compositional images:
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- Enlarge Canvas: Allows you to add additional areas to the left, right, top or bottom of the image. The added area can be filled with parts of an existing image or painted with a specific color to facilitate masking.
- Overlay: Allows you to add new content on top of the current one. Overlay content can be moved with the mouse from the filmstrip, scaled, rotated, or panned. An example of use is creating a larger scale fireworks image by overlaying multiple images.
Regarding the improvements that stand out, it is mentioned in the announcement of the new version that it is now possible to import images from partitions accessible via GVfs (GNOME virtual file system) on Linux, as well as the image information output module now supports additional EXIF fields such as white balance, exposure schedule, flash and metering mode and now supports handling of DNG files that require CameraCalibration tags to set the correct white balance.
Of the other changes that stand out:
- Added a color equalizer that can be used in place of the color zones module to control the hue, brightness, and saturation of colors.
- When displaying tags, natural sort order is used and is not case sensitive.
- The unlimited operating mode, which was considered unsafe, was removed from the settings. To enable it now you need to manually edit the configuration file.
- Added the ability to add a description to color marks via the menu that appears when right-clicking the color mark icon.
- Due to mediocre quality, AI options were removed from the color calibration module.
- Added support for mask blending in the light processing module.
- Added the ability to disable auto-save mode for individual images, useful to prevent slowdown on systems with slow hard drives.
- The efficiency of the quick access toolbar has been improved, allowing you to reset settings or apply preset profiles without opening the entire module, and more controls are offered by default.
Finally if you want to know more about it of this new version of Darktable, as well as checking the supported camera models, you can consult the original announcement In the following link.
How to install Darktable on Ubuntu and derivatives?
For those interested in installing the new version of Darktable, precompiled binaries for Ubuntu and its derivatives are currently not available, although it is a matter of days before they are available within the repositories.
To install Darktable from the repositories, simply run the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install darktable
In the meantime, if you want to try this new version right away, you can build the app manually by following these steps. First, get the source code with:
git clone https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable.git cd darktable git submodule init git submodule update
Then, proceed to compile and install with:
./build.sh --prefix /opt/darktable --build-type Release