Frequently asked questions

Where are my settings saved?

In a small <photo name>.darkroom file, next to the RAW. Copy it with the photo to keep its settings (on a backup drive, another computer…). The RAW and Adobe Lightroom's .xmp files are never modified.

The other data is in %APPDATA%\Darkroom: presets, export options, last opened folder, license.

Can Darkroom damage my photos or my memory card?

No. Darkroom never opens a RAW or JPEG file to write to it: settings go to the .darkroom file next to it, exports to new files. No export, import or rename overwrites an existing file: a name already taken gets a number (photo (2).jpg) or the operation is refused.

On a memory card or a connected camera, browsing the photos writes nothing to it (thumbnails are kept in Darkroom's cache). Importing only reads the card: photos are copied, never moved or erased, and an interrupted copy (card removed) leaves no truncated file. Only your own actions write to the card: editing a photo directly on it (its .darkroom), renaming it (not advised: the camera may no longer show it, Darkroom reminds you) or deleting it (permanently erased, the dialog says so). The safest: import first, then edit the copies.

What is the .cache_thumbs folder?

The photos' thumbnails, kept so that folders open quickly. It can be deleted safely: it will be recreated. On a memory card nothing is written: thumbnails are kept in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Darkroom\miniatures_cartes.

The colors are not the same as in Lightroom

Darkroom's rendering is calibrated to be very close to Lightroom's, without being identical to it. If the difference is marked, check that the Adobe profiles are installed (otherwise Darkroom tells you at startup): install the free Adobe DNG Converter, see Installation.

My display is wide gamut (Display P3, Adobe RGB)

Darkroom displays photos according to the color profile of the display its window is on (the one chosen in Windows Color Management, or installed with the display): without this, colors would look oversaturated on a wide-gamut display. The profile is read again when the window moves to another display. Nothing changes for an sRGB display, nor when Windows manages colors itself (Advanced color, HDR). Hovering over View › Use Display Color Profile shows the profile in use; uncheck it to display photos in sRGB. LUT-based profiles (rare) are not supported.

My Fujifilm photos won't open

X-Trans sensors (most Fujifilm X cameras) are supported: their mosaic is demosaiced on opening (a little slower than for other RAW files), then the photo is developed like the others. Fujifilm cameras with a conventional (Bayer) sensor are supported too.

My Sony RAW files in size M or S won't open

On recent cameras (A1, A7 IV, A7R V…), lossless compressed RAW files in size M or S are recorded already demosaiced (in YCbCr, without the sensor mosaic). Darkroom does not open them: it says Already demosaiced photo, not supported. Set the RAW size to L in the camera menu: it opens without any problem. The same goes for "linear" DNG files, which are also already demosaiced.

Does Darkroom need the Internet?

No. Everything, artificial intelligence included, works offline. Only the request for the license (free during the beta) goes through an email.

At startup, Darkroom checks whether a new version has been released: this is its only connection to the Internet; it reads only the latest version number and sends nothing (no photo, no setting). Without a connection, nothing is shown. To turn it off: the Help › Check for Updates at Startup menu item (see Updates).

I have two graphics cards

Darkroom automatically picks the most powerful one.

The first use of an AI feature is slow

AI models are loaded into memory the first time they are used; later uses are much faster. See Artificial intelligence.

Can I use Darkroom without AI?

Yes: View › Turn Off Artificial Intelligence, then restart Darkroom. No model is loaded any more and the AI features disappear; see Artificial intelligence.

Uninstall Darkroom

Delete the application folder and, if you wish, %APPDATA%\Darkroom. The .darkroom files next to your photos can be kept (for a reinstall) or deleted.