Detailed usage guide
This guide is written for beta users who want a practical, repeatable workflow: install, open files, adjust, save sidecar data, export, review history, and report useful feedback.
01
Treat Bandit DarkRoom like beta software. Use backup copies of important images, keep original camera files safe, and test with a folder that you can afford to experiment with.
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Open the Download page and select Download Bandit DarkRoom Beta. The current placeholder package is named Bandit_DarkRoom_Beta.zip.
Extract the package to a clean folder. Avoid running the app directly from a compressed archive because it may prevent supporting files from loading correctly.
Run the included application or installer. Review any beta notes shown on launch, then open a small test folder before trying a large shoot.
03
The desktop layout is organized so the photo stays central while the supporting tools remain close. The exact controls may change as the beta evolves, but the main workflow is consistent.
04
Use Open Image for a single file or Open Folder to browse a set. Start with a known image so you can judge behavior accurately.
Use the fit or zoom tools to inspect sharpness, highlight clipping, deep shadows, color shifts, and any loading issues.
Test core sliders and controls such as exposure, contrast, highlight recovery, shadow lift, color response, and geometry tools where they are available.
Use the before/after or split comparison controls to verify whether each adjustment is predictable and visually useful.
Use Save Edit when you want to preserve the current adjustment state for later testing.
05
Bandit DarkRoom is designed around sidecar-based edit data. This makes it easier to keep the original image separate from the edit instructions and to inspect what the beta is writing.
06
Use Export Current to create an edited copy. Check naming, destination, size, color, and whether the output reflects the active edit.
Use this workflow when you want to inspect an exported or adjusted version in another editor after Bandit DarkRoom creates it.
Begin with a small folder. Confirm which files are exported, where they go, and whether individual edits remain consistent.
Use export history to confirm that finished files are easy to track during a beta session.
07
The bottom filmstrip helps you move through a folder and test how Bandit DarkRoom behaves with related images. It is especially useful for event sets, bracketed images, repeat compositions, and images with similar lighting.
08
Helpful reports are specific. Include the app version, your operating system, the type of file being tested, what you expected, what happened, and whether the issue repeats.
Version: 0.2.0 Core RAW Beta RC1 Operating system: Windows 11 Camera/file type: Example RAW/JPEG What I did: Opened folder, adjusted exposure, exported current image Expected result: Exported copy matched preview Actual result: Export looked darker than preview Repeatable: Yes / No Notes: Include screenshot or file details when useful
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