digiKam 8.8 adds hierarchical tag import, focus point preview, and new blur tool

digiKam 8.8 introduces workflow improvements with the ability to import and export hierarchical tags in the Controlled Vocabulary Keyword Catalog (CVKC) format, helping maintain consistent structures across projects. Tag management is also more reliable, with improved import/export handling and drag-and-drop operations that reduce previous errors.

The update enhances editing with a new background blur tool for creating bokeh effects directly in digiKam, and an upgraded G'MIC-Qt 3.6.x plugin that expands image processing for single or batch editing. The Preview module now displays focus points for Fujifilm and Olympus/OM Systems cameras using Exif metadata through ExifTool.

Under the hood, digiKam 8.8 moves to the Qt 6.10 framework for better performance and responsiveness, adds native desktop notifications on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and improves stability on Wayland and Windows 11. It also fixes crashes related to face recognition, the DLNA server, and database operations, refines sorting and thumbnail behavior, and extends translation support to 61 languages.