darktable can be customized and extended using the Lua programming language. This repository contains the collected efforts of the darktable developers, maintainers, contributors and community. The following sections list the scripts contained in the repository, whether they can be run by themselves (Standalone - Yes) or depend on other scripts (Standalone - No), what operating systems they are known to work on (L - Linux, M - MacOS, W - Windows), and their purpose.
These scripts are written primarily by the darktable developers and maintained by the authors and/or repository maintainers. They are located in the official/ directory.
| Name | Standalone | OS | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| check_for_updates | Yes | LMW | Check for updates to darktable |
| copy_paste_metadata | Yes | LMW | Copy and paste metadata, tags, ratings, and color labels between images |
| delete_long_tags | Yes | LMW | Delete all tags longer than a specified length |
| delete_unused_tags | Yes | LMW | Delete tags that have no associated images |
| enfuse | No | L | Exposure blend several images (HDR) |
| generate_image_txt | No | L | Generate txt sidecar files to be overlaid on zoomed images |
| image_path_in_ui | Yes | LMW | Plugin to display selected image path |
| import_filter_manager | Yes | LMW | Manager for import filters |
| import_filters | No | LMW | Two import filters for use with import_filter_manager |
| save_selection | Yes | LMW | Provide save and restore from multiple selection buffers |
| selection_to_pdf | No | L | Generate a PDF file from the selected images |
These scripts are contributed by users. They are meant to have an "owner", i.e. the author, who maintains them. Over time the community has helped maintain these scripts, as well as the authors. They are located in the contrib/ directory.
| Name | Standalone | OS | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| autostyle | Yes | LMW | Automatically apply styles on import |
| clear_GPS | Yes | LMW | Reset GPS information for selected images |
| copy_attach_detach_tags | Yes | LMW | Copy and paste tags from/to images |
| cr2hdr | Yes | L | Process image created with Magic Lantern Dual ISO |
| enfuseAdvanced | No | LMW | Merge multiple images into Dynamic Range Increase (DRI) or Depth From Focus (DFF) images |
| fujifilm_ratings | No | LM | Support importing Fujifilm ratings |
| geoJSON_export | No | L | Create a geo JSON script with thumbnails for use in ... |
| geoToolbox | No | LMW | A toolbox of geo functions |
| gimp | No | LMW | Open an image in GIMP for editing and return the result |
| gpx_export | No | LMW | Export a GPX track file from selected images GPS data |
| hugin | No | LMW | Combine selected images into a panorama and return the result |
| image_stack | No | LMW | Combine a stack of images to remove noise or transient objects |
| kml_export | No | L | Export photos with a KML file for usage in Google Earth |
| LabelsToTags | Yes | LMW | Apply tags based on color labels and ratings |
| passport_guide | Yes | LMW | Add passport cropping guide to darkroom crop tool |
| pdf_slideshow | No | LM | Export images to a PDF slideshow |
| quicktag | Yes | LMW | Create shortcuts for quickly applying tags |
| rate_group | Yes | LMW | Apply or remove a star rating from grouped images |
| rename-tags | Yes | LMW | Change a tag name |
| select_untagged | Yes | LMW | Enable selection of untagged images |
| slideshowMusic | No | L | Play music during a slideshow |
| video_mencoder | No | L | Export video from darktable |
These scripts provide examples of how to use specific portions of the API. They run, but are meant for demonstration purposes only. They are located in the examples/ directory.
| Name | Standalone | OS | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| api_version | Yes | LMW | Print the current API version |
| gettextExample | Yes | LM | How to use translation |
| hello_world | Yes | LMW | Prints hello world when darktable starts |
| moduleExample | Yes | LMW | How to create a lighttable module |
| multi_os | No | LMW | How to create a cross platform script that calls an external executable |
| preferenceExamples | Yes | LMW | How to use preferences in a script |
| printExamples | Yes | LMW | How to use various print functions from a script |
| running_os | Yes | LMW | Print out the running operating system |
Tool scripts perform functions relating to the repository, such as generating documentation. They are located in the tools/ directory.
| Name | Standalone | OS | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| executable_manager | Yes | LMW | Manage the external executables used by the lua scripts |
| gen_i18n_mo | No | LMW | Generate compiled translation files (.mo) from source files (.po) |
| get_lib_manpages | No | LM | Retrieve the library documentation and output it in man page and PDF format |
| get_libdoc | No | LMW | Retrieve the library documentation and output it as text |
| script_manager | No | LMW | Manage (install, update, enable, disable) the lua scripts |
The recommended method of installation is using git to clone the repository. This ensures that all dependencies on other scripts are met as well as providing an easy update path. Single scripts listed as standalone may be downloaded and installed by themselves.
The snap version of darktable comes with lua included starting with version 2.4.3snap2. It is currently in the edge channel, but should reach the stable channel soon.
Ensure git is installed on your system. If it isn't, use the package manager to install it. Then open a terminal and:
cd ~/snap/darktable/current
git clone https://github.com/darktable-org/lua-scripts.git lua
These packages run in their own environment and don't have access to a lua interpreter, therefore the scripts can't run. The packagers could enable the internal interpreter, or allow the package to link the interpreter from the operating system, or bundle a copy of lua with the package. If you use one of these packages and wish to use the lua scripts, please contact the package maintainer and suggest the above fixes.
Ensure git is installed on your system. If it isn't, use the package manager to install it. Then open a terminal and:
cd ~/.config/darktable/
git clone https://github.com/darktable-org/lua-scripts.git lua
Ensure git is installed on your system. Git can be obtained from https://gitforwindows.org/, as well as other places. If you use the gitforwindows.org distribution, install the Git Bash Shell also as it will aid in debugging the scripts if necessary. Then open a command prompt and run:
Open a command prompt.
cd %LOCALAPPDATA%\darktable
git clone https://github.com/darktable-org/lua-scripts.git lua
When darktable starts it looks for a file name ~/.config/darktable/luarc (%LOCALAPPDATA%\darktable\luarc for windows) and reads it to see which scripts to include. The file is a plain text file with entries of the form require "<directory>/<name>" where directory is the directory containing the scripts, from the above list, and name is the name from the above list. To include GIMP the line would be require "contrib/gimp".
You can also create or add lines to the luarc file from the command line:
echo 'require "contrib/gimp"' > ~/.config/darktable/luarc to create the file with a gimp entry
or echo 'require "contrib/hugin"' >> ~/.config/darktable/luarc to add an entry for hugin.
On windows from a command prompt:
echo 'require "contrib/gimp"' > %LOCALAPPDATA%\darktable\luarc to create the file with a gimp entry
or echo 'require "contrib/hugin"' >> %LOCALAPPDATA%\darktable\luarc to add an entry for hugin.
To disable a script open the luarc file in your text editor and insert -- at the start of the line containing the script you wish to disable, then save the file.
To update the script repository, open a terminal or command prompt and do the following:
cd ~/snap/darktable/current/lua
git pull
cd ~/.config/darktable/lua/
git pull
cd %LOCALAPPDATA%\darktable\lua
git pull
Each script includes its own documentation and usage in its header, please refer to them.
Lua-script libraries documentation may be generated using the tools in the tools/ directory.
More information about the scripting with Lua can be found in the darktable user manual: https://www.darktable.org/usermanual/en/lua_chapter.html
The darktable Lua API documentation is here: https://www.darktable.org/lua-api/
Running darktable with Lua debugging enabled provides more information about what is occurring within the scripts.
Open a terminal and start darktable with the command snap run darktable -d lua. This provides debugging information to give you insight into what is happening.
Open a terminal and start darktable with the command darktable -d lua. This provides debugging information to give you insight into what is happening.
Open the Git Bash Shell. Start darktable with the command /c/Program\ Files/darktable/bin/darktable -d lua. This provides debugging information to give you insight into what is happening.
In order to have your own scripts added here they have to be under a free license (GPL2+ will definitely work, others can be discussed).