Raw file import Integration between darktable 5.4.1 and GIMP 3.2.0 is broken

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I checked and did not find my issue in the already reported ones

Describe the bug

This was reported in issue #19988 (now closed due to inactivity)

#19988

Although this issue was "CLOSED", and there is a comment describing it as "FIXED", the behavior continues.

When opening a .CR2 (raw Canon image file) using GIMP 3.2.0, Darktable 5.4.1 does get called (as a raw import plugin?) where a blank darktable window is opened, followed by a darktable application window (showing the image to be imported/converted) and then nothing else happens.

Steps to reproduce

STEPS TO RECREATE:

1. Open GIMP 3.2.0
2. In the Welcome to GIMP 3.2.0 dialog box, click the "Open" button (Open an Existing Image)
3. Select a .CR2 image file and click the "Open" button
4. A new (darktable) window will appear with the title: C:\Program Files\darktable\bin\darktable.exe (this window is blank and will remain open indefinately)
5. Within 5-10 seconds, the darktable application will appear and display your .CR2 image within the darktable GUI (The version of darktable 5.4.1 is shown at the upper lefthand corner)
6. When darktable is closed, a GIMP Message dialog box appears with an

WORKAROUND:
Since the integration between GIMP and Darktable appears to be broken, the only way to proceed is to export the .CR2 image to one of the formats that GIMP can read/import.

Expected behavior

seamlessly import the image after the user closes darktable

Logfile | Screenshot | Screencast

Message text in GIMP Message reads:
Opening 'C:\Users\john_\OneDrive\Pictures\IMG_1589 - Copy.CR2' Failed:
(NULL) plug-in could not open image

Commit

Unknown

Where did you obtain darktable from?

darktable.org / GitHub release

darktable version

5.4.1

What OS are you using?

Windows

What is the version of your OS?

Edition: Windows 10 Home Version 22H2, OS Build 19045.7058

Describe your system

Device Name Johns-GamePC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700K CPU @ 4.20GHz 4.20 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB
Storage 477 GB SSD INTEL SSDPEKKW512G7
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (11 GB)
Device ID 61F7A69B-5904-400A-A278-FE107B5699AE
Product ID 00325-96277-74749-AAOEM
System Type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Are you using OpenCL GPU in darktable?

Yes

If yes, what is the GPU card and driver?

Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (11 GB)

Please provide additional context if applicable. You can attach files too, but might need to rename to .txt or .zip

NVIDIA System Information report created on: 03/23/2026 08:43:54
System name: JOHNS-GAMEPC

[Display]
DirectX version: 12.0
GPU processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Driver version: 581.80
Driver Type: DCH
Direct3D feature level: 12_1
CUDA Cores: 3584
Core clock: 1480 MHz
Memory data rate: 11.01 Gbps
Memory interface: 352-bit
Memory bandwidth: 484.44 GB/s
Total available graphics memory: 19431 MB
Dedicated video memory: 11264 MB GDDR5X
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 8167 MB
Video BIOS version: 86.02.39.00.01
IRQ: Not used
Bus: PCI Express x16 Gen3
Device Id: 10DE 1B06 120F10DE
Part Number: G611 0050

Can you reproduce with another darktable version(s)? I have not attempted to do so
Can you reproduce with a RAW or JPEG or both? RAW file format / JPEG / both: RAW Canon .CR2 file
Are the steps above reproducible with a fresh edit (i.e. after discarding history)? Unknown
If the issue is with the output image, attach an XMP file if (you'll have to change the extension to .txt)
Is the issue still present using an empty/new config-dir (e.g. start darktable with --configdir "/tmp")? Unknown
Do you use lua scripts? NO

[Components]

nvui.dll 8.17.15.8180 NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvxdplcy.dll 8.17.15.8180 NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvxdbat.dll 8.17.15.8180 NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvxdapix.dll 8.17.15.8180 NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
NVCPL.DLL 8.17.15.8180 NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvCplUIR.dll 8.1.940.0 NVIDIA Control Panel
nvCplUI.exe 8.1.940.0 NVIDIA Control Panel
nvWSSR.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Workstation Server
nvWSS.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Workstation Server
nvViTvSR.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Video Server
nvViTvS.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Video Server
nvLicensingS.dll 6.14.15.8180 NVIDIA Licensing Server
nvDevToolSR.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Licensing Server
nvDevToolS.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA 3D Settings Server
nvDispSR.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Display Server
nvDispS.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA Display Server
PhysX 09.23.1019 NVIDIA PhysX
NVCUDA64.DLL 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA CUDA 13.0.97 driver
nvGameSR.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA 3D Settings Server
nvGameS.dll 32.0.15.8180 NVIDIA 3D Settings Server

Start by reproducing the Windows workflow with a Canon .CR2 file using GIMP 3.2.0 and darktable 5.4.1, then trace the raw-import handoff and the reported GIMP plug-in error. Done means closing darktable returns the converted image to GIMP instead of showing a failed plug-in message.