How to invoke a raw processor from iMatch

[LateJunction]

This is my second day of trialling iMatch, so I have many questions in mind, which I should be able to answer from available sources - however I am still trying to understand how/where to access and use those resources, so apologies if this question is obviously answered elsewhere:

Is it possible to invoke the raw processor app. DarkTable on a specific raw image which is being managed in the iMatch database and for DarkTable to return an edited version of the image - I assume with the edits held in a Darktable-style xmp file - which is then displayed correctly in iMatch? If so, how is it done?

[Mario]

I suggest you start with the IMatch help. Just press <F1> anywhere in IMatch to open it. Or use the Help menu at the top of the IMatch window.
You can also reach it directly via https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/

For your question, I typed open into the search bar at the top of the help system web site and then clicked on open files in an external applications, which is the 3rd hit in the result list.
This leads to File Management in IMatch, which explains all things related to files (copy, move, paste, delete, rename, ...).

Near the top of this help topic, you'll find the dedicated section Opening Files in Other Applications, which explains the many ways you can open files in other applications. From the standard Ctrl+Enter to Favorites.

return an edited version of the image - I assume with the edits held in a Darktable-style xmp file - which is then displayed correctly in iMatch? If so, how is it done?

This cannot work. All RAW processors store 'instructions' for their proprietary processing engine and pipeline somewhere linked to the image. Some do in databases or catalogs (Lr) and some store the info in a bunch of sidecar files (C1) or even dump everything into the XMP metadata associated with the file.

But the key is that these instructions are useless for other applications. Only when you persist the changes done in a RAW processor into a standard image file format like JPG or TIFF you can see the final result also in other applications.

Files in the DNG format are an exception, because here the RAW processing application can update the embedded preview in the DNG with your latest changes. And this allows IMatch and other applications to display the file as you see it in your RAW processor.

IMatch also allows you to use proxy images to 'represent' RAW files. The proxy version is usually a JPG file you save in your RAW processor and which is then used by IMatch instead of the RAW for display purposes.

I recommend you start with the Working with RAW Images topic in the IMatch help, especially the IMatch and RAW Processing Software section.

[jch2103]

Also check the Help for Favorites https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/#fav_basics.htm. This can be very helpful in sending images to a raw processor (I use DxO PhotoLab, but don't know how Darktable handles things). In the case of PhotoLab, you can drag and drop a selection of files onto a Favorite, causing it to open all the files in the target program.

[LateJunction]

[Sorry, don't know, yet, how to insert a quote in this forum]

"This cannot work. All RAW processors store 'instructions' for their proprietary processing engine and pipeline somewhere linked to the image. Some do in databases or catalogs (Lr) and some store the info in a bunch of sidecar files (C1) or even dump everything into the XMP metadata associated with the file."

Yes, I think I understood this, but was hoping that, in some way, iMatch might be able to understand those .xmp files. There is a specific difficulty with Darktable however: most other apps which operate like LightRoom create a side-car file for an image named 'filename.raw' as 'filename.xmp', but Darktable creates the file 'filename.raw.xmp' (I think).

From my earlier reading about iMatch I had formed the impression that iMatch's integration with LightRoom was such that it could understand .xmp files and that one could 'round-trip' an image from iMatch into Lightroom and back again, with the updates being displayed in iMatch. It seems you are advising me that I have mis-understood this integration between iMatch and LightRoom - and, by implication, integration with all other raw processors, notwithstanding the peculiarity of DarkTable.

This a bit of a'road to Damascus' event for me (sorry about very British terminology): I am looking for an escape route from Adobe, where I have been a LightRoom user from the very first beta of Lr 1.0. I'm looking for an effective DAM (which iMatch is without question) plus a better raw processor than Lr 6 (which, given the age of that version, should not be difficult). Darktable is a candidate, whereas DXO is quite definitely not (I am a Fujifilm x-Trans user) and Capture One might be except for its cost compared to DarkRoom. But the integration of iMatch with any external raw processor does not seem to be as transparent as that in a single product (combined DAM and image processor) as Lightroom. Worse, the DAM features in all other image editing applications are just not comparable to iMatch.

Is there a recommended workflow to make this combination of iMatch and a raw processor as 'seamless' as possible?

[edit] The forum software is telling me that I did not answer the verification questions correctly. The question  "Which letters appear twice in 'bananna'"  has the correct answer 'none' or blank - irrespective of the word 'bananna' not being a correct spelling for 'banana'. The forum software does not accept this answer.

[Mario]

I think the n appears twice. These questions are not designed to be logical, they are to prevent automatic spam bots from flooding the forum again. You can request new questions with the button/link.

Yes, I think I understood this, but was hoping that, in some way, iMatch might be able to understand those .xmp files.

To insert a quote, clikc on the "Quote button" on the right or in the toolbar.

IMatch understands XMP perfectly. And IPTC. GPS. EXIF and many other metadata formats. But from your comment I thought you've meant the actual image processing done in Lr.
These processing instructions are proprietary to Lr and just stored in the XMP and probably also in part in the Lr Catalog.

I link again to the "How IMatch works with RAW Files" help topic, which explains this in more depth: IMatch and RAW Processing Software

There is a specific difficulty with Darktable however: most other apps which operate like LightRoom create a side-car file for an image named 'filename.raw' as 'filename.xmp', but Darktable creates the file 'filename.raw.xmp' (I think).

The XMP standard defines this. It is always filename.XMP for filename.raw. All other naming schemes are non-standard and not supported.
And I don't even know if DarkTable really supports XMP metadata or how much of it. If it does the proper synchronization between legacy IPTC, EXIF, GPS or not.
If they use their own file naming scheme, maybe their XMP files are special and contain no real XMP data?

[LateJunction]

I think the n appears twice. These questions are not designed to be logical, they are to prevent automatic spam bots from flooding the forum again. You can request new questions with the button/link.

OK, I'm just having a bit of fun here: when I count the 'n's in bananna' I get to three, which doesn't qualify as 'twice', in my opinion. It might qualify if the question asked for 'at least twice', hmm?

Thanks for the excellent support; as my 3rd day of exploring iMatch draws to a close, I have to say that I am really enjoying using it. It has a  feel of maturity/stability and depth of functionality about it that I do not experience with the majority of the (dozens) of other applications I use under Windows and Linux. It is a remarkable achievement.

[Mario]

Excellent.
I've replied to your question at dpreview about getting proper groupings by DOF. This should work for you as well.

And yes, IMatch is indeed a mature product. But it still evolves quickly, based on direct person-to-person user feedback and of course all the feedback I get from this community and via email.