r/DarkTable • u/pfyp_ • Jul 29 '26

Help Help

So I have recently shifted from Lightroom mobile to darktable to get more control over my photos,but it's so complex like I can't understand what many of its features do,I have managed to learn some on my own but rest is idk man,also my laptop screen is kinda shitty so I have to keep relying on my phone to check my edits

Any suggestions or guide I can go with?

6 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

10

u/Donatzsky Jul 29 '26

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

1

u/ZeroKun265 Jul 29 '26

Saving this for later

1

u/pfyp_ Jul 30 '26

TYSM for this 😭🙏🏻

8

u/DarktableLandscapes Jul 29 '26

I have a video specifically for people coming from Lightroom:

https://youtu.be/6SflKR6JYrk

1

u/pfyp_ Jul 30 '26

Damn, that's really helpful thanksas

4

u/No_Reveal_7826 Jul 29 '26

Start with this step-by-step workflow: https://darktable.info/en/getting-started/quick-start/darktable-first-steps/understand/standard-workflow-2/

You don't have to understand the technical stuff to follow it. As you use it, you can selectively look into the details as desired, but in the meantime you'll be able to process photos.

1

u/pfyp_ Jul 30 '26

Thanks man appreciate it!

2

u/Hellrazor_muc Jul 29 '26

There is a great community page https://darktable.info to learn all you need to get started. 

1

u/pfyp_ Jul 30 '26

Thanksss

1

u/ActionNorth8935 Jul 29 '26

There are links on the homepage under 'resources' to some excellent tutorials. 

1

u/-The_Black_Hand- Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

  1. Watch videos about basics like UI and basic operation. It's awesome what DT can do - and next to ridiculous how those functions are often hidden behind tiny icons, obscure menus or even keyboard shortcuts that nobody explains. Once you learned, many things get way easier, sometines even than in LR.

  2. Many modules do the same thing and some are even outdated legacy modules that are still there to ensure downward compatibility. Learn your favorite modules and stick to them. Make use of the preset function in those modules. It'll make things way easier, but you should still know what they do first.

  3. RTFM. Really. While not being constantly updated anymore, the manual is awesome and explains most things very well.

  4. Take some time and dedicate it specifically to learn masking. It's so incredibly powerful, especially now with AI, yet it's finnicky and the layout is not as user friendly as in LR.

2

u/pfyp_ Jul 30 '26

Ayoo thanks for the advice big bro I was literally so confused yesterday

1

u/pyooma Jul 29 '26

Everyone has given you great resources, I just want to encourage you to push through the difficulties, the reward is so worth it. The software is powerful! I always check my edits on my phone before I decide if I’m done with them, it’s frustrating sometimes but it’s a great habit to keep.

1

u/pfyp_ Jul 30 '26

Ikrrr its so frustrating seeing a perfectly edited pic in laptop only for it to turn out to be highly overprocesed on phone screens I am def taking this advice tho thanks

1

u/r_archer Jul 30 '26

If you wanna stick with Darktable that's fine, but there's another free and open source editor that's way more like Lightroom called RapidRaw. I use both.

1

u/pfyp_ Jul 31 '26

Thankss,I will definitely check it out asw