DUSTINATORv1.0.1 Try free • 24 frames

How to install and use Dustinator

From download to your license key in seven steps. It takes about 5 minutes.

You need: an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or newer) and Lightroom Classic. It works on scanner DNG, TIFF and camera raw files.

01Download

Click Download plugin (v1.0.1). You get one installer file (.pkg), about 110 MB.

02Install

  • Quit Lightroom Classic.
  • Open the .pkg file from your Downloads folder and follow the installer.
  • It's signed and checked by Apple, so macOS opens it without warnings.

Installing a newer version later works the same way and replaces the old one. Your license and trial count stay.

03Open Lightroom Classic

Start Lightroom Classic again. Dustinator is added by itself. You'll find it under File → Plug-in Extras → Dustinator… (in the Library module also under Library → Plug-in Extras).

04Crop and convert first

Crop your scans and convert negatives (Negative Lab Pro, a profile, or any other way) before cleaning. Dustinator only looks inside the crop, so the film edges and holder are left alone.

05Clean

  • Select the photos: one frame or a whole roll.
  • Open File → Plug-in Extras → Dustinator…
  • Tick what to remove: Dust and Lint. Scratches is in beta and off by default.
  • Press Clean. Progress shows in the window.
  • Press Apply to keep the result, or Cancel to put everything back.

The first time, Lightroom may ask to confirm reading metadata from the file. Confirm it (you can tick "Don't show again").

06Check and fix

  • Zoom to 100% and look over each frame. Dustinator can miss a few specks.
  • Every fix is a normal Heal spot in Lightroom's Remove tool. Drag one to move it, press Delete to remove it, or add your own for anything missed.
  • To undo all of Dustinator's spots, select the photos, open Dustinator, press Revert, then Apply. Your own spots are never touched.

07Add your license

The first 24 photos are free. A photo counts the first time Dustinator puts spots on it. Cleaning it again is free.

  • Buy a license (€36, once). The key is shown on screen and sent to you by email.
  • In Lightroom, open the Dustinator window and click Enter license key, or go to File → Plug-in Extras → Dustinator License…
  • Paste the key. That's it.

A key works on 2 Macs. To move it to another Mac, deactivate it in the same License window first.

Updates

When a new version is out, the Dustinator window says so, with a Download link. Install it the same way as above.

Something not working?

Email support@dustinator.app. Tell me what you did and what happened, and I'll get back to you.