December 6, 2025

The Standard Workflow: In 5 + 1 Steps to the Image

Whether landscape, portrait, or architecture – 90% of all images can be developed with the same few modules. This workflow is scene-referred, which means: We work physically correctly and do not destroy any image information.

Step 1: Exposure

Goal: Set the brightness of the midtones.

Ignore blown-out highlights or crushed shadows. Focus only on your main subject (e.g., the face or the central object).
Adjust the slider so that this subject looks correctly exposed.
Tip: Use the automatic picker in the module if you are unsure.

Step 2: Color Calibration

Goal: The correct white balance.

The old “White Balance” module remains at “Camera Reference”.
Use Color Calibration to adjust the color temperature.
Why? This module (CAT) works much more precisely and prevents color shifts in the highlights better than the old white balance.

Step 3: AgX (or Sigmoid/Filmic)

Goal: Taming contrast and dynamic range (Tone Mapping).

Here we map the huge dynamic range of the camera to the limited range that your monitor can display. Thus, you bring the too-bright highlights and too-dark shadows back into the visible range.
The image gets its “look” and global contrast here.

Step 4: Tone Equalizer

Goal: Local brightness adjustments (Dodge & Burn).

If AgX makes the image look good globally, but the foreground is still too dark or the sky too bright, this module comes into play.
It is the modern, better replacement for “Shadows and Highlights”.
Operation: Hover the mouse over the area in the image you want to change and scroll the mouse wheel (if the cursor mode is active).

Step 5: Color Balance RGB

Goal: Saturation and Color Grading.

Here you give the image “pop”.
Use the “Global Saturation” slider (or “Vibrance” in the preset) to boost colors.
This is the modern replacement for almost all old color sliders.

Optional: Sharpness, Details & Noise

Once exposure and color are correct, it’s time for details. Here you have three tools to choose from, depending on the goal:

The Basis: Capture Sharpening (New since Darktable 5.4)

Where: In the Demosaic module.
What: Simply check the box for “Capture Sharpening”.
Why: This removes the slight blur of the camera sensor directly at the source. It is the cleanest and fastest way to basic sharpness. Make this the standard!

The Creative: Contrast Equalizer

Where: Module Contrast Equalizer.
What: Your tool for “crispness” and “pop”.
How:
- Pull the curve up on the far right for fine sharpness.
- Pull the curve up in the middle for more “clarity” (local contrast/structure).
Why: It is extremely intuitive. You determine exactly which details should be emphasized (fine pores or coarse structures).

The Perfectionist: Diffuse or Sharpen

Where: Module Diffuse or Sharpen -> Preset “Lens Blur Removal”.
Why: If you need the absolute maximum quality for large prints. It calculates more physically correctly than the Contrast Equalizer but requires much more computing power.

Denoise (Profiled)

Where: Module Denoise (Profiled).
When: Only if necessary (high ISO). Darktable detects your camera automatically.

Summary: The 5+1 Workflow

Darktable automatically sorts the modules correctly internally (pixelpipe). So you don’t have to worry about where a module is technically located. But for your workflow, this order has proven itself:

Exposure:
The foundation. Set brightness of midtones (main subject).
Color Calibration:
The base color. Correct white balance so that white is actually white.
AgX (or Sigmoid):
The frame. Set contrast and define black/white point (dynamic range compression).
Tone Equalizer:
The balance. Brighten too-dark shadows or dampen too-bright highlights.
Color Balance RGB:
The look. Increase saturation, shift colors, and give the image character.

+1. Sharpness & Details (Optional):
At the very end, when the look is set.

Capture Sharpening (in RAW)
Contrast Equalizer or Diffuse/Sharpen (for the “pop”)
Denoise