Can it handle large archives?
Yes. SQLite cataloging, virtualized galleries, and parallel processing remain usable on tens of thousands of images.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Obscura Flow.
Every answer on this page comes from a single shared source, so it says the same thing here as everywhere else on the site.
Product
How do I get support?
For a studio or institution, we can help with framing, migration, and integration. Use the contact page to describe your context.
How is this different from an enterprise DAM?
An enterprise DAM is usually an online service centered on distribution and rights, billed per seat. Obscura Flow is a local application centered on documenting and preserving a photographic body of work, usable offline.
Download
Which platforms does Obscura Flow run on?
Obscura Flow is a native macOS application. There is no Windows or Linux version today, and on-device analysis relies on Apple technologies.
How do I get the application?
Public downloads are not open yet. Releases are published on GitHub Releases and access can be arranged case by case: describe your context through the contact page.
Plans
Is there a free version?
Local offline use is available without a license. Online plans add quotas, sync, and advanced features depending on needs.
Lightroom
Does Obscura Flow replace Lightroom?
No. Obscura Flow complements development and editing tools with a durable layer for organization, documentation, and archiving.
Can I import a Lightroom catalog?
Yes. Lightroom Classic catalog import (.lrcat) preserves originals, ratings, captions, color labels, keywords, collections, virtual copies, and stacks without changing your Lightroom catalog.
Metadata
Are my original files modified?
No. The app is non-destructive: enriched metadata is written to XMP sidecars, never into the original files.
Are EXIF/IPTC/XMP metadata supported?
Yes. They are read through ImageIO, and ExifTool when available, and underpin cataloging, search, migration, and preservation.
Archiving
How is archive integrity verified?
Each archive includes a SHA-256 manifest and an Ed25519 signature. Scheduled fixity audits and format validation reveal drift or corruption.
How does restore work?
Verified restore extracts a local or off-site archive after signature checks, with conflict options and overwrite safeguards.
Are encrypted archives portable?
AES-256-GCM encryption is optional. An encrypted archive can only be restored on the Mac that created it because the key stays in that Mac's keychain.
How often should an archive be verified?
A quarterly fixity audit is enough to catch silent corruption before it propagates into backups. Scheduled audits remove the need to remember.
Backup
Which backup destinations are supported?
Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Cloudflare R2, any S3-compatible storage, NAS, and local folders for a 3-2-1 strategy.
AI analysis
Does AI analysis upload my images?
No. Captions, objects, OCR, faces, and near-duplicate detection run on your Mac through Apple Vision and are disabled by default.
Privacy
Is the cloud required?
No. Obscura Flow is local-first and fully usable offline. Cloud features are only used for backups, publishing, and sync that you choose.
Do I need an account?
No. Local use requires neither an account nor a connection. Login only adds licensing, sync, and optional remote logging.
What happens if I stop using Obscura Flow?
Your originals never left your disks, and metadata is written to XMP sidecars, a standard format other tools can read. Archives remain packages accompanied by their manifest: nothing depends on the application still being installed.
Institutions
Is it suitable for heritage institutions?
Yes. Persistent inventory numbers, structured indexing, Dublin Core export, provenance, and reports support photographic collections.
Decision
Build an archive that stays understandable.
Tell us about your context before the public opening of downloads and commercial offers.