# darktable / RawTherapee

RAW photography on the workstation. darktable is GPL-3.0; RawTherapee is GPL-3.0 — Adobe Lightroom without the Creative Cloud seat.

**Replaces:** Adobe Lightroom

**Tier:** Easy

## Problem

Adobe Lightroom is a Creative Cloud catalog and RAW editor. You wanted a non-destructive editor on a machine you control. darktable is GPL-3.0 (photography workflow and RAW developer). RawTherapee is GPL-3.0 if you want that processor. This is a workstation install, not a Railway web app. Immich stays the camera-roll backup (/replace/google-photos). GIMP stays general raster (/replace/photoshop). This is not Lightroom's every cloud sync, Sensei mask, or mobile companion SKU.

## Stack

- [darktable](https://www.darktable.org) — GPL-3.0 photography workflow and RAW developer
- [RawTherapee](https://rawtherapee.com) — GPL-3.0 raw photo processor if darktable is not the shape

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Adobe Lightroom (Creative Cloud, one seat) | $1,200 | darktable or RawTherapee on the workstation |

**About $1,200 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

This is a workstation install, not a hosted app. Start on Railway only if you also want a photo library — that stack is /stacks/immich-photos. No one-click desktop template in this repo.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/darktable-photos?from=%2Fstacks%2Fdarktable-photos.md)

[Immich if this is a camera-roll backup, not a RAW editor](https://c17.io/stacks/immich-photos)

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Adobe Lightroom with darktable (preferred workflow) or RawTherapee.

- Install on the workstation from the official site. Open one RAW you still have. Do not claim Lightroom cloud sync or every Sensei mask.
- A camera-roll backup is /stacks/immich-photos. General raster is /stacks/gimp-photo. Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.
```

## FAQ

### darktable or RawTherapee?

darktable if you want the Lightroom-shaped workflow (the published path). RawTherapee if you want that processor. Pick one catalog on day one.

### Why not Immich?

Immich is a phone camera roll (/replace/google-photos). Lightroom is a RAW editor. darktable is that job.

### Why not GIMP?

GIMP is general raster (/replace/photoshop). This page is RAW photography.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/darktable-photos