How to Install digiKam on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 or 20.04

This guide will demonstrate how to install digiKam on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS Linux releases using the command-line terminal and either the APT Package Manager or a third-party package manager such as Snap or the Flatpak with Flathub for an alternative installation.

digiKam is a sophisticated photo management application, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for importing, managing, editing, and sharing photos and raw files. It stands out in the open-source world for its ability to handle large volumes of images, making it an ideal choice for professional photographers and photography enthusiasts alike. Here are some key features that make digiKam a powerful asset in digital photography:

• Versatile Organization Tools: Tag, rate, and categorize photos for efficient management.
• Advanced Editing Capabilities: A wide range of editing tools, from basic adjustments to more complex effects and corrections.
• RAW File Support: Comprehensive support for RAW files from various camera manufacturers.
• Geotagging: Associate photos with geographical data, offering a unique way to organize and find images based on location.
• Face Recognition: Automatically identify faces in photos, simplifying the task of tagging friends and family.
• Batch Processing: Apply edits to multiple photos at once, saving time and ensuring consistency.
• Plugin System: Extend functionality with plugins, adding new tools and features to fit your workflow.
• Cross-Platform: Available for Linux, Windows, and MacOS, ensuring accessibility for all users.

Diving into the technical aspects, let’s get started with the installation process.

Install digiKam on Ubuntu via APT

Update Ubuntu Before digiKam Installation

Before starting the installation process, ensuring your Ubuntu system is up-to-date is essential. This practice helps avoid conflicts during the installation and keeps your system secure.

To update your system, open the terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade 

Install digiKam via APT Command on Ubuntu

The first option for installing digiKam is to use the default APT repository in Ubuntu. This method provides a stable and secure version of the software. Although it might not always have the latest features, it is recommended for those who prioritize stability over cutting-edge functionality.

To install digiKam using the Ubuntu repository, enter the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt install digikam

Install digiKam on Ubuntu via Flatpak and Flathub

An alternative method for installing digiKam is Flatpak, a versatile package management system that provides a sandboxed application environment. To install digiKam via Flatpak, you must add the Flathub repository containing the digiKam package.

Note: If Flatpak isn’t installed on your system, please refer to “How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu with the Flatpak Team Official LaunchPAD PPA.” This guide offers instructions for obtaining the latest supported version using the Flatpak Team Official LaunchPAD PPA.

Add Flathub Repository For digiKam

Begin by opening the terminal and entering the following command to integrate the Flathub repository:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command ensures that the Flathub repository is added to your system if it isn’t already present.

Install digiKam on Ubuntu via Flatpak Command

Now, you can proceed with the digiKam installation using the following Flatpak command:

flatpak install flathub org.kde.digikam -y

This command will download and install digiKam from the Flathub repository using the Flatpak package manager.

Install digiKam on Ubuntu via Snapcraft

The third method to get digiKam on Ubuntu involves utilizing the Snapcraft package manager. Snapcraft is typically pre-installed on Ubuntu systems unless it has been removed earlier.

Install Snap Core

To prevent conflicts, initiate the installation of the snap core using the command below:

sudo snap install core

Install digiKam on Ubuntu via Snap Command

Proceed to install the digiKam snap package with the following command:

sudo snap install digikam

Launch digiKam on Ubuntu via CLI Commands or GUI Path

Now that you have digiKam installed, you can launch the application in a few different ways. Depending on your preference, you can use the Command Line Interface (CLI) or Graphical User Interface (GUI).

CLI Method to Launch digiKam

If you prefer using the terminal, you can launch digiKam immediately with the following command:

digikam

For Flatpak users, you can run digiKam from the terminal using the following command:

flatpak run org.kde.digikam

Lastly, if you installed digiKam on Ubuntu via Snapcraft, run the following command:

snap run digikam

GUI Method to Launch digiKam

If you’d instead use the GUI to launch digiKam, follow the steps below:

1. Click on “Activities” in the top left corner of your desktop.
2. Select “Show Applications” (represented by a grid icon) to view all installed applications.
3. Search for “digiKam” in the search bar or scroll through the list of applications to find it.
4. Click on the “digiKam” icon to launch the application.

First Time Set-Up digiKam on Ubuntu

When you launch digiKam for the first time on Ubuntu, you must go through some initial configuration options. These options include setting default locations, image previews, and other preferences. If you are unsure about any settings, you can keep and adjust the default selections later.

Configure digiKam General Settings on Ubuntu

You will be presented with a series of options during the first setup. Carefully review each option and make changes if necessary.

Download digiKam Binary Files

After completing the initial configuration, you will be prompted to download some binary files. These files are essential for the proper functioning of digiKam. Click “Download” to proceed.

Start Using digiKam

Once the binary files are downloaded and installed, digiKam will be fully set up and ready for use. You can now organize, edit, and share your digital photos.

First-Time Tips with digiKam on Ubuntu

Now that you have successfully installed digiKam on your Ubuntu system, here are some first-time tips to help you get started with the software effectively:

Optimizing Your Workflow in digiKam

To enhance your photo management and editing workflow, consider these tips:

• Configure Your Collections: Organize your photo collections by specifying the folders digiKam should monitor. This setup ensures your library is neatly organized from the get-go.
• Use Tags and Ratings Wisely: Early on, adopt a consistent tagging and rating system for your photos. This habit will pay off immensely as your library grows, making searches more efficient.
• Explore the Color Labels: Assign color labels to your photos to categorize them further, such as indicating editing status or priority.
• Customize the Interface: Tailor the digiKam interface to suit your workflow by adjusting the layout, toolbar settings, and shortcut keys through the Settings menu.

Enhancing Photos with digiKam

digiKam provides a rich set of tools for enhancing your images:

• Master the Basic Edits: Familiarize yourself with the basic editing tools like crop, straighten, red-eye correction, and exposure adjustments.
• Dive into the RAW Editor: Take advantage of digiKam’s RAW processing capabilities to make non-destructive edits to your photos.
• Use the Curve Adjustments: Learn how to use curve adjustments to fine-tune the exposure and contrast of your images for that perfect look.
• Experiment with Filters and Effects: Explore digiKam’s vast array of filters and effects to add a creative touch to your photos.

Organizing with Efficiency

Effective organization is key to managing a growing photo library:

• Smart Albums: Leverage smart albums to automatically group photos based on criteria like date, rating, tags, or camera used.
• Geotagging: Using the geotagging feature to map your photos makes finding images based on location easier.
• Face Recognition: Spend some time training the face recognition feature to recognize people in your photos, simplifying the process of finding and tagging friends and family.
• Batch Processing Tools: Use batch processing to apply common adjustments or renaming schemes to multiple photos simultaneously, saving you significant time.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Efficiency

Keyboard shortcuts can dramatically speed up your workflow. Here are a few to get you started:

• Toggle Full Screen: F11 allows you to switch between full screen and windowed mode quickly.
• Switch Between Modules: Use Ctrl + 1 through Ctrl + 8 to switch between the various digiKam modules.
• Refresh Album: F5 refreshes the current album, ensuring any new changes or additions are displayed.
• Quick Zoom: Use Ctrl + Mouse Wheel to zoom in and out of photos swiftly.

Remember, spending a bit of time configuring digiKam and learning its features can greatly enhance your photo management and editing experience. As you become more familiar with the software, you’ll find your own tips and tricks that suit your personal workflow. Happy photo managing!

Additional Commands for digiKam on Ubuntu

In this section, we will cover some additional commands for updating and uninstalling digiKam on Ubuntu. It is essential to keep your applications up-to-date to benefit from new features, bug fixes, and security updates.

Update digiKam

Updates for digiKam should appear in notifications for APT installation but not for Flatpak. To check manually, which is recommended, use the appropriate command based on your installation method:

APT Update Method for digiKam

sudo apt update

Flatpak Update Method for digiKam

flatpak update

Snap Update Method for digiKam

snap refresh

Remove digiKam

If you no longer need digiKam, you can uninstall it using one of the following commands based on your original installation method:

APT Remove Method for digiKam

sudo apt remove digikam

Flatpak Remove Method for digiKam

flatpak remove  --delete-data org.kde.digikam -y

Snap Remove Method for digiKam

sudo snap remove digikam

Conclusion

In this guide, we walked through the steps to install digiKam on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS, offering insights into optimizing your workflow, enhancing photos, and efficiently organizing your image library. As you dive into using digiKam, remember to customize it to fit your needs, explore its powerful editing tools, and leverage the organizational features to keep your photo collection manageable. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or a professional, digiKam on Ubuntu is a robust tool that can significantly streamline your photo management and editing process. Give yourself some time to explore all its features, and you’ll soon be making the most of your digital photography experience. Happy editing!