January 7, 2026
Who is behind darktable.info?
We are not a traditional team—we are a diverse group of people who love darktable and know what it feels like to be at the beginning.
Behind darktable.info are engineers, software developers, teachers, and professors from countries such as Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and France. What connects us?
- The fascination with photography – from hobbyist to semi-professional.
- The conviction that darktable should be accessible to everyone—if you find the right way to get started.
- The experience of having faced the steep learning curve ourselves—and the desire to make this path easier for others.
Why are we doing this?
- Because we are not paid trainers or marketing experts, but users like you.
- Because we ourselves searched for such resources—and couldn’t find them.
- Because we want to show darktable for what it is: powerful, non-destructive software that anyone can master—given the right guidance.
Our approach is simple: we don’t explain all the options (there are plenty of them), but rather the methods that work—so you can see results quickly and feel inspired to continue experimenting.
Our approach & target audience
1. Who is the target audience for darktable.info?
Darktable.info is aimed at:
- Beginners in photography who use darktable as their first RAW development software.
- Users switching from Lightroom, Capture One, or other programs who are looking for a practical introduction to darktable.
- Users who want to achieve initial results and success quickly—and who want to build a solid foundation for more complex editing.
We are NOT a substitute for:
- The official darktable documentation (covering all technical details).
- Experimenting with niche modules or advanced techniques (we strongly encourage this once you feel confident!).
2. Why does darktable.info exist?
Darktable is an extremely powerful piece of software—but this freedom can be overwhelming. Many users give up in frustration because they:
- Do not know where to start.
- Are paralyzed by the abundance of options.
- Miss classic workflows (like in Lightroom).
Our goal: We simplify the entry process by:
- Explaining proven workflows step by step.
- Providing specific recommendations (e.g., “Use these mask settings to start with”).
- Prioritizing shortcuts and modules that deliver 95% of the results—without overwhelming you.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll automatically want to experiment further—and then the official manual or community threads are the next places to go.
3. Do we want to change Darktable as software?
No! We are not developers and do not evaluate darktable as a program.
What we do:
- We show you how to use darktable as it is—but with a clear common thread.
What we don’t do:
- We do not request features, criticize design decisions, or offer technical support for all possible use cases.
Darktable is intentionally complex because it offers (professionals) endless possibilities. We simply help you to gradually unlock this complexity—like a guide through a jungle who shows you the safest paths without clearing the wilderness.
4. Am I learning darktable correctly with this “simplified” method?
Yes, absolutely—and above all, future-proof.
For us, simplification does not mean “cheating,” but rather focusing. Our approach is like a driving school:
- At the beginning, you learn the basics (braking, steering, traffic rules).
- Later on, you can race or go off-road—but without the basics, you won’t get anywhere.
It’s the same with darktable:
- We teach you how the software “thinks” (e.g., scene-referred vs. display-referred).
- We show you tools that work immediately—so you can be successful and stay motivated.
- After that, everyone decides for themselves whether they want to experiment.