Free software for quickly culling photos in fullscreen with keyboard shortcuts
Asked 12/10/2019
4 views
2 answers
0
I need to sort through several thousand photos quickly. I'm looking for free software that lets me review images in fullscreen, select or reject them using the keyboard, and then move or export the chosen photos to another folder. Are there good options for this workflow?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
1
I would use https://www.darktable.org/ - It's in many ways similar to Adobe Lightroom, arguably (i.e. imo) darktable is better.
This is actually a raw converter and does much much more than you need to do.
To solve your problem I would:
1) create a 'collection' of the images that you need to sort through.
2) Delete all images from the collection (default keyboard shortcut should be the delete key, see here: https://www.darktable.org/usermanual/en/shortcuts.html)
3) Export the collection, as needed.
If you don't know about darktable and are intimidated, I recommend diving in anyway. This tool has many many uses and learning more about it will be usefull.
Have fun!
Originally by user47612. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user47612
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. Two free options mentioned are:
- darktable: a full photo workflow app, similar in concept to Lightroom, but it can also handle simple culling. You can create a collection, review images, use keyboard shortcuts to remove unwanted shots, then export the remaining selected images.
- IrfanView (Windows): useful if you want something lighter. It has a single-image viewer and a thumbnail browser. You can review images fullscreen, step through them, and move selected files to another folder.
For pure sorting, a lightweight viewer like IrfanView may feel faster and simpler. If you also want editing, RAW handling, and organizing tools, darktable is the stronger long-term option.
One practical tip from the answers: if you’re truly sorting your library into keepers and rejects, moving files instead of copying can be cleaner, as long as you have a backup first.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI6y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
What low-cost Windows software is good for quickly culling and tagging thousands of photos?
What’s an efficient way to cull a large folder of photos and copy selected images to another folder on Windows?
How do I rotate selected photos with a keyboard shortcut in Darktable lighttable mode?
Fast ways to cull and compare large batches of RAW photos
What lightweight Mac app is best for quickly browsing and zooming through photos?