Yesterday darktable 4.8.0 was released, and what a release it is!
The release of darktable 4.8.0 marks a significant update, packed with numerous changes and additions. Among the highlights is the Color Equalizer, a module designed to control hue, lightness, and saturation based on color. This innovative tool serves as a scene-referred alternative to the legacy color zones module.
New Modules.
Having tested the Color Equalizer, I can attest to its power and user-friendliness. It’s a standout feature that I anticipate incorporating frequently into my workflow. Additionally, darktable 4.8.0 introduces two new modules to enhance image composition.
Other Noteworthy additions
The ‘Enlarge Canvas’ module allows users to expand the canvas, adding space to any side of the image. This added area can be color-customized for easier masking and subsequently filled using the Retouch module, Liquify tool, or the new Overlay module for smaller areas.
The ‘Overlay’ module offers the ability to superimpose new content onto the image, either from the current image or an external source. This content can be manipulated—scaled, rotated, and shifted—to seamlessly integrate into the original image. It’s particularly useful for filling spaces created by the Enlarge Canvas module or for adding new elements into the image through masking. A practical application could be combining multiple images of fireworks to create a more impressive display.
The Overlay module holds great potential for in-app compositions within darktable, although the full extent of its capabilities remains to be explored.
Update now!
To update to darktable 4.8.0, access the Start Menu, launch the Update Manager, refresh, and proceed with the update. Alternatively, for those who prefer command-line operations, the update can be initiated through the terminal. Push Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard and then input sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade. to upgrade darktable.
Other additions
In addition to the Color Equalizer and new composition modules, darktable 4.8.0 has introduced several other features and improvements. A notable enhancement is the rewritten clustering code in the map view, which now offers dramatically faster performance on large collections. This optimization makes mapping feasible even with over a million geotagged images selected. The update also includes various bug fixes, changes in dependencies, updates to the RawSpeed component, and expanded camera support compared to the previous 4.6 version. Moreover, the translations have been updated, improving the user experience for non-English speakers. For a comprehensive list of changes and detailed descriptions of each feature, users are encouraged to consult the user manual provided with the release.
Read more about the changes here
