As big as it sounds, Sombra is a new Desktop Photo Editor built from the ground up by photographers.
(best on desktop.
Backers get 70% off + Early access.
Your dream editor is finally built for real.
Sombra Studio brings tools we wanted years ago, but that never got built. A slew of features, stuff we wanted but they never made. Things that don't exist in any editor today, based on 20+ years of teaching and reviewing photo apps and listening to the wants of other photographers.
The studio version pre-orders include every Sommr tool, like.... Real burn and dodge, curve inversion for editing scanned negatives using normal settings. Real film grain options. Enhances B&W tools that go beyond HSL, Zone system , and so much more. It's working, so why not ship now? Because for the next few months we'll be refining and adding features so that on Launch Day, Sombra knocks your socks off.
Your Photos - Forever
Your photos should be yours. Your edits are your creativity. Not a paywall opportunity. Sombra will NEVER lock you out because you didn't pay more.
Your wishes made a better app
The days of app makers not listening are over. Years if listening to users helped us create a better faster app. And founders get to add feedback to the process.
Better layers, more tools, faster.
You don't want photos created out of thin air. You want tool always improving to help you edit and create your art. Sombra masters, the essentials then does more.
Flash-Cubes - The true modular interface!
When you open Sombra, it will feel familiar and simple. Use it as is or move everything where you want it with Flash Panels. Adjust your panels, rearrange the order, and add or remove those you don't need.
Dragging panels to the side creates Icon-Mode so you can save room and still access tool flyouts with a single click. Drag it back, and everything is the way you left it.
You decide where you want the filmstrip, what side you want develop tools on, and even where rating bars live. You arrange, use extended panels to see info even on closed panels. It's your interface, and it's amazing.
Quick Loupe Sorting.
An amazing develop loupe, plus its brother an quick loupe letting you expand images in grid, rate and sort with a keystroke.
Live Zones and Luma Layers
Sombra builds better faster layer system, lets you add any tool to any layer fast and even select based on Lumist Zones.
Super Export
The export panel you've always wanted. Built ion borders, logos and LIVE previews are just one of the extras that set Sombra apart.
No Import Needed
Sombras new hybrid catalog lets you have the collections and tools but browse and edit folders freely. Only adding the ones you want to catalog.
New innovative features
Subscription apps keep you paying for access, giving you the most basic updates and pretending they are game-changing. Sombra has to win your love. It does it by being better. Sombra brings the tools you've imagined having.
Things you never thought you would have in a RAW style editor, like....
- Zone system-based luminosity masking.
- Real burn and dodge tools.
- Instant layers with integrated editing tools.
- Live preview export module and more
The Shadow Engine
Sombra is backed by the Shadow Engine. Instead of having to update an app based on 20-year-old tech, we started over to make editing faster and fun.
Shadow engine is a multi-threaded, GPU-accelerated backend. It allows all the parts of the image pipeline to be clean and separated. Long term it means we can update and improve Sombra easily.
The engine makes Sombra fast and lean. Spark and Wave are the intelligent behind-the-scenes modules that predict what you need to open and keep everything a click or a keystroke away. It happens too fast to see. But when you're ready, so is Sombra.
The Light Engine
Sombra does not try and copy. We started over. Of course, the essential features like curves and HSL and everything else are there, working better than ever. But Sombra goes further, creating all-new RAW editing panels made for photographers.
This means better tools that before we needed workarounds for,. Using zones, burning and dodging natively. Zones and luma masking integrated. All without opening a pixel-based editor.
Sombra Light Engines is where shadows and light and tools meet art and just get our of the way and let you create.
Sombra's lead designer: PPA Master Photographer Gavin Seim
I'm Gavin. I've been a photographer and tool developer for over 20 years. I've watched big apps fail us, lock us out of our work, and keep charging us for decades-old technology. That ends in 2027 - We built a better photo editor from the ground up.
Sombra is created for speed and quality. Created to make pros and amateurs alike love their editor again. We're close; I just need your help to finish. Become a founder to support this epic project and get early access to Sombra.
