How to Build a High-Volume Server–Client Workflow with Darkroom Core and Pro
If you run big, busy photo events and you love squeezing every ounce of power out of Darkroom… this one’s for the geeks. 🤓
This post is based on a video walkthrough from Darkroom’s software specialist Eugene, where he shows how to set up a server–client workflow using Darkroom Pro and Darkroom Core. It’s aimed at high-volume shooters and lab-style setups: think Santa photos, Easter Bunny, amusement parks, restaurants, mascot photos, or large-scale corporate activations where you’ve got different people capturing, selling, and printing all at once.
Why bother with a server–client setup?
If you only ever run one computer that captures and prints, a simple single-station setup is fine.
But as soon as your world looks like this…
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One or more capture stations (tethered cameras, roaming photographers, tablets)
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A dedicated sales station where customers choose their favorite photos
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A centralized print station pounding out 4x6s, 5x7s, 8x10s, or photo gifts all day
…a server–client setup in Darkroom starts to shine.
With Darkroom Pro as the server and Darkroom Core as the clients:
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Capture stations send photos to a shared folder on the server
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Sales stations can browse, edit, and order from that shared pool of images
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The server handles all the printing, so you don’t need a printer at every workstation
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You can scale up easily: more shooters, more stations, same shared catalog
If you’re running high-volume events, taking the time to set up a proper Darkroom Pro server with Darkroom Core clients pays off in:
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Faster lines
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Cleaner workflow
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Fewer print bottlenecks
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Happier customers (and staff)
Is it a little nerdy? Sure. But if you’re reading this far, you’re probably one of us Darkroom geeks anyway. 😉
What you need (licenses & hardware)
To follow Eugene’s setup, you’ll need:
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Darkroom Pro
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This will act as your server machine.
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Darkroom Core
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One Core license for each workstation you add (capture, sales, etc.).
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A router
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Strongly recommended: it automatically hands out IP addresses and keeps things much simpler than a crossover cable or manual IP setup.
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Wired router = more stable; wireless = more flexible. Both work.
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Windows PCs on the same network
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One running Pro (server), others running Core (clients).
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Check out Eugene’s step-by-step video below. For a written guide you can follow, check out this article on the Darkroom Software Support Site. If you have any questions or need some help with your setup, be sure and contact our support team by emailing support@darkroomsoftware.com