In short
- Your original photos are left untouched: darktable reads them wherever they are.
- XMP files keep your ratings, labels and keywords.
- Your Lightroom edits do not carry over well: export the important ones before leaving.
It’s for you if…
- You develop RAW files and do not want to pay a subscription.
- You want a program with a lot of technical control over colour.
- You use Linux or want everything on your own computer.
Better pick something else if…
- You edit on your phone and depend on cloud sync.
- You need quick results with camera profiles and heavily guided adjustments.
From Lightroom to darktable: equivalents
| Lightroom | darktable |
|---|---|
| Library | Lighttable |
| Develop | Darkroom |
| Collections | Collections |
| Presets | Styles and presets |
| White balance | White balance and color calibration modules |
| Tone curve | Tone curve, sigmoid or filmic |
| Noise reduction | Profiled denoise |
| Masks | Drawn and parametric masks |
Step by step
Save your metadata
In Lightroom Classic, select all photos and use Metadata > Save Metadata to File. This creates XMP files with ratings and keywords next to your RAW files.
Export your finished work
Export the developed photos you want to keep as high-quality JPEG or TIFF. It is the only way to keep their exact look.
Install darktable
Download it free from darktable.org. If you wish, choose the language in the preferences.
Import your folders
In the lighttable, use Import and choose to add to the library: it reads your files without moving them and creates its own sidecar files. Start with a small folder.
Learn the basic modules
Open a photo in the darkroom and try exposure, white balance, sigmoid or filmic, tone equalizer and denoise. Check the official manual, because its logic is different.
Create your styles
When you find an edit you like, save it as a style and apply it to more photos from the lighttable. Export with the export module.
Files and formats
darktable reads RAW files from most cameras, as well as DNG, JPEG and TIFF. Lightroom’s .lrcat catalogue does not open. XMP files bring ratings and keywords, but Lightroom’s develop settings are not reproduced faithfully. Check that your camera is supported before switching.
What you won’t find
- Your Lightroom edits do not carry over faithfully.
- It takes more learning than Lightroom, and some modules are technical.
- There is no phone app or cloud sync.
Tips
- Try it with a recent shoot and leave your old catalogue alone until you are convinced.
- Keep your Lightroom catalogue as an archive in case you need to check an edit again.
- If darktable seems too technical, RawTherapee and ART are other free options.
Comparison: darktable vs RawTherapee, which one to pick?
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Lightroom edits?
Largely, yes. The values are not reproduced the same way in darktable. Export important work as JPEG or TIFF first.
Do I have to move my photos?
No. darktable adds them to its library wherever they are, without touching the originals.
Does it support my camera?
It supports most RAW formats, although very recent cameras may take a while. Check the list on its website.
Independent: we have no commercial relationship, sponsorship or affiliation with Lightroom or with these alternatives, and nobody pays us to recommend them. Links go to their official websites and are not affiliate links; the site is funded only by Google AdSense ads, which don't influence the selection. Learn more.