Darkroom vs The New Black

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-10-09
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At a glance

DimensionDarkroomThe New Black
PlatformApple only (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS)Web-based (any browser)
Primary UsePhoto & video editingAI fashion design
Key FeatureNon-destructive editing, AI masksText-to-design generation, tech pack export
IntegrationsiCloud Photos, Leica LUX Pro, Halide, etc.API access (Business tier)
Best ForApple ecosystem photographersFashion brands & designers

Choose Darkroom for professional photo/video editing on Apple devices, with seamless iCloud integration and a non-destructive workflow. Choose The New Black for AI-powered fashion design, offering text-to-design generation and tech pack exports. They serve entirely different needs—pick based on your creative domain.

Try DarkroomTry The New Black
Darkroom
Darkroom

Darkroom is a non-destructive photo and video editor for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro that edits files already in your Apple Photos library.

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The New Black
The New Black

AI fashion design that takes a garment from prompt to model shot, video, Shopify page and tech pack.

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Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
$0
$2.99/mo
$19.99/yr
One-off top-up
$15/mo
$35/mo
$65/mo
$195/mo
Popularity
19 views
7.3k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Intermediate
API Available
Platforms
MobileDesktop
WebAPIPlugin
Categories
✨ Photo Editing & Enhancement🎬 Video & Audio
🎨 Image Generation📦 Product & Ecommerce Visuals🧊 3D Generation & Scanning
Features
Non-destructive editing with full reversible edit history
Unified photo and video editing, including 4K and 8K footage
Edits directly in Apple Photos with no import step
AI Masks for subject and sky selection (Darkroom+)
Unconstrained Curves, including per-channel RGB (7.4)
Remastered White Balance with Auto WB and neutral color picker (7.4)
Five new HSL Curves (7.4)
Color Grading across shadows, midtones, and highlights (Darkroom+)
Selective Color to shift individual hues (Darkroom+)
Bloom & Halation vintage-lens glow (Darkroom+)
Batch editing: copy and paste edits across photos and videos
3,961 free community presets
Metadata editor: aperture, shutter speed, date, location, keywords
Watermarking with image or text (Darkroom+)
Flag and Reject culling for library review (Darkroom+)
AI clothing generator: describe a garment and get a photorealistic design on a model or white background
Sketch to design: a hand-drawn or digital fashion sketch becomes a realistic product image keeping the original lines
Image to flat sketch: a garment photo becomes a clean technical flat that feeds a tech pack
Change fabric, print and colour on an existing garment photo without booking a reshoot
AI fashion model generator: product photo, flat lay or mannequin shot to on-model imagery in any scene
Swap the model while keeping the outfit, and pull a product back out of a model shot
AI virtual try-on for clothing, jewelry, bags, shoes and accessories from a product photo or flat lay
Ghost mannequin images from worn or hanging garment photos with the inside of the collar visible
AI tech pack generator: auto-drafted size charts, grading and a bill of materials with AI review credits
AI fashion video: image to video, UGC clips, lookbook videos, product 360s and fashion ads
Ultra AI video model producing clips up to 30 seconds; AI PRO video in 1080p
Ultra AI photos: 4K image model, plus enhance to HD 2K or 4K
AI music composed as an original, licence-free track for product pages, reels and UGC clips
Brand Manager: Shopify sales, traffic, SEO, ad spend and profit and loss in one dashboard
Fashion AI agent that designs, writes pages, reads store figures and posts on a schedule
Integrations
Apple Photos
Siri Shortcuts
Shopify
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
Pinterest
X
Threads
LinkedIn
Klaviyo
Google Analytics
Google Search Console
Claude
ChatGPT
Meta Ads

What real users say: Darkroom vs The New Black

Not marketing copy and not our opinion — a structured sweep of public discussion (reviews, forums, communities and video comments), showing what people praise and what they complain about for each tool.

Darkroom

54 mentions across 3 sources · 27% positive — critical (averaged across 3 sources)

Hacker News, App Store, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Non-destructive editing with full history across photo and video.
  • • Deep iCloud integration eliminates manual imports for Apple users.
  • • Supports RAW, ProRAW, 4K, and 8K video editing.
  • • Clean, intuitive interface that prioritizes essential tools.

What frustrates them

  • • Edits don't sync between iOS and macOS.
  • • Export frequently crashes or errors out.
  • • Aggressive subscription prompts annoy users.
  • • Presets sometimes revert to previous selection unexpectedly.

Researched Jul 3, 2026

The New Black

68 mentions across 5 sources · 18% positive — critical (averaged across 5 sources)

Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, Stack Overflow, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Purpose-built for fashion: tech packs, virtual try-on, model generation.
  • • Saves costs on photoshoots and technical drafting for small brands.
  • • Brand DNA ensures consistency across designs.
  • • Bulk generation speeds up catalog creation.

What frustrates them

  • • Very little verified community feedback outside Product Hunt.
  • • Not for non-fashion creative work; limited to apparel.
  • • Pricing may be opaque; credits and hidden costs not clear.
  • • Learning curve for tech packs and fashion-specific features.

Researched Aug 29, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Mobile photographer
    Pick: Darkroom

    Non-destructive editing, AI masks, and iCloud integration on iPhone/iPad.

  • Fashion startup founder
    Pick: The New Black

    Text-to-design generation and tech pack exports accelerate concept-to-prototype.

  • Apple ecosystem power user
    Pick: Darkroom

    Seamless integration with iCloud Photos and third-party camera apps.

  • Fashion design team
    Pick: The New Black

    Custom AI models and team management (Business tier) ensure brand consistency.

  • Budget creator
    Pick: Darkroom

    Affordable Darkroom+ at $3.99/mo vs. The New Black's $59/mo Pro tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Darkroom vs The New Black: which should you choose?

Choose Darkroom for professional photo/video editing on Apple devices, with seamless iCloud integration and a non-destructive workflow. Choose The New Black for AI-powered fashion design, offering text-to-design generation and tech pack exports. They serve entirely different needs—pick based on your creative domain.

Can Darkroom edit video?

Yes, it handles up to 8K video with non-destructive editing.

Does The New Black work on mobile?

It's web-based, accessible via any browser but not a native app.

Is Darkroom free to use?

Yes, with a free tier; advanced features require Darkroom+ subscription.

What does The New Black's free tier include?

Limited design generations; Pro and Business unlock unlimited designs, tech pack exports, virtual try-on, etc.

Can I batch edit in Darkroom?

Yes, batch copy/paste edits are supported.

Does The New Black integrate with Adobe Illustrator?

No direct integration, but tech pack exports can be used in other software.

Which app has better AI features?

Darkroom uses AI for masks and selection; The New Black uses AI for fashion design generation—different purposes.

Are there discounts for annual subscriptions?

Darkroom+ is monthly-only at $3.99/mo; The New Black offers yearly billing at a discount.

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Explore each tool further

Darkroom
View Darkroom reviewDarkroom alternatives
The New Black
View The New Black reviewThe New Black alternatives

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Best AI Photo Editing & Enhancement toolsBest AI Image Generation toolsBest AI Video & Audio toolsBest AI Product & Ecommerce Visuals tools
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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026