New AI tools in darktable 5.6 (www.darktable.org)

darktable 5.6 has introduced its first AI features, including an AI object mask that creates vector masks around subjects with a single click and a neural restore module for machine learning-based denoising and upscaling of images. These advancements are significant for the AI/ML community as they provide photographers with powerful, efficient tools that integrate AI tasks directly into their workflow without relying on cloud services, ensuring privacy and control over data. The AI object mask utilizes local processing, allowing users to make precise selections by clicking on an object, which then generates a vector path that can be refined or adjusted. This feature significantly streamlines the masking process, especially for subjects in complex backgrounds. In addition, the neural restore module offers capabilities for reducing noise and enhancing image quality based on learned patterns, making it ideal for photographers working with low-light images. Both features underscore darktable’s commitment to open-source principles and extensibility, inviting users to customize their AI tools by supporting additional models that conform to the defined ONNX interface.