How To Install Nomacs on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Nomacs stands out as one of the most versatile and lightweight image viewers available for Linux systems. This comprehensive guide will walk you through multiple installation methods for Nomacs on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensuring you can choose the approach that best fits your needs and technical preferences.

Whether you’re a photographer managing RAW files, a developer working with various image formats, or simply someone who appreciates a powerful yet simple image viewer, Nomacs delivers exceptional functionality without the bloat of commercial alternatives. The installation process is straightforward, and this tutorial covers every method available for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS users.

What is Nomacs Image Viewer?

Project Background and Development History

Nomacs originated as part of the Image Lounge project in 2011 and has maintained active development ever since. This open-source image viewer represents a collaborative effort by developers who recognized the need for a cross-platform solution that could handle modern image formats while maintaining excellent performance across different operating systems.

The project has evolved significantly from its initial release, incorporating user feedback and expanding functionality to meet the demands of both casual users and professional photographers. Its GPL v3 license ensures that Nomacs remains free and accessible to everyone, while the active development community continues to add features and improve stability.

Core Features and Capabilities

Nomacs excels in providing comprehensive image viewing and basic editing capabilities. The software supports an extensive range of image formats including PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIF, BMP, PPM, ARW, PSD, DNG, TGA, ICO, CRW, MPO, GIF, XPM, XBM, PBM, PGM, NEF, CRW, ARW, and CR2 formats. This broad format support makes it particularly valuable for photographers working with RAW files from different camera manufacturers.

The application includes essential editing tools such as cropping, color correction, brightness and contrast adjustments, resizing, saturation control, hue modification, gamma correction, and exposure adjustments. These features position Nomacs as a capable alternative to basic Photoshop functionality for everyday image editing tasks.

One unique feature that sets Nomacs apart is its synchronization capability. Users can synchronize multiple Nomacs instances across the same computer or different computers via LAN connection. This functionality proves invaluable for professional workflows where image comparison and collaborative review are essential.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

Hardware Specifications

Before installing Nomacs on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensure your system meets the minimum hardware requirements. Nomacs is designed to be lightweight, requiring minimal system resources. A computer with at least 2GB of RAM and 100MB of available storage space will sufficiently run the application.

The software performs optimally on systems with dedicated graphics cards, though integrated graphics solutions handle basic functionality without issues. For users working with large RAW files or high-resolution images, additional RAM beyond the minimum requirement will improve performance significantly.

Software Prerequisites and System Setup

Your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system should be properly configured with an active internet connection for downloading packages and dependencies. Administrative privileges are essential for installation, requiring either root access or sudo capabilities for your user account.

Ensure your system package database is current before beginning the installation process. This preparation step prevents potential conflicts and ensures access to the latest package versions. Terminal access is necessary for most installation methods, though some graphical alternatives exist for users preferring GUI-based installation approaches.

Installation Method 1: Using APT Package Manager

Updating System Packages

The APT (Advanced Package Tool) method represents the most straightforward approach for installing Nomacs on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Begin by updating your system packages to ensure compatibility and access to the latest software versions.

Open your terminal using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T and execute the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command combination refreshes the package database and upgrades existing packages to their latest versions. The process typically takes a few minutes depending on your internet connection speed and the number of packages requiring updates.

Installing Nomacs via APT

Ubuntu’s Universe repository includes Nomacs packages, making installation through APT seamless and reliable. The Universe repository contains community-maintained open-source software that undergoes testing for compatibility with Ubuntu systems.

Execute the following command to install Nomacs:

sudo apt install nomacs

The APT package manager automatically resolves dependencies and downloads the necessary files. Installation typically requires downloading approximately 15-20MB of data, depending on already installed dependencies. The process completes within minutes on most systems with standard internet connections.

Verification and Initial Launch

After installation completes, verify the successful installation by checking the installed version:

nomacs --version

Launch Nomacs from the terminal using:

nomacs

Alternatively, access the application through Ubuntu’s Activities overview by searching for “Nomacs” or navigate to Applications → Graphics → Nomacs.

Advantages and Limitations of APT Installation

The APT method offers several advantages including seamless integration with Ubuntu’s package management system, automatic dependency resolution, and inclusion in system-wide updates. Security updates and bug fixes arrive through the standard Ubuntu update mechanism, ensuring consistent maintenance.

However, APT repositories may not always contain the absolute latest Nomacs version immediately upon release. Users requiring cutting-edge features might need to consider alternative installation methods for access to the most recent updates.

Installation Method 2: Using Flatpak

Installing Flatpak Package Manager

Flatpak provides universal package management across different Linux distributions, offering applications in sandboxed environments with enhanced security. If Flatpak isn’t already installed on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system, install it using:

sudo apt install flatpak

Add the Flathub repository, which serves as the primary source for Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Restart your system to ensure proper Flatpak integration:

sudo reboot

Installing Nomacs via Flatpak

After system restart, install Nomacs from the Flathub repository:

flatpak install flathub org.nomacs.ImageLounge

The installation process downloads the Nomacs Flatpak package along with its runtime dependencies. Flatpak packages are typically larger than traditional packages due to bundled dependencies, but this approach ensures application compatibility across different Linux distributions.

Running and Managing Flatpak Installation

Launch the Flatpak version of Nomacs using:

flatpak run org.nomacs.ImageLounge

Create a desktop shortcut or launcher for convenient access. Flatpak applications integrate with the desktop environment, appearing in application menus alongside traditionally installed software.

Update Flatpak applications, including Nomacs, using:

flatpak update

Installation Method 3: Using PPA Repository

Adding the Official Nomacs PPA

Personal Package Archives (PPAs) provide access to software versions that may be newer than those available in standard Ubuntu repositories. The official Nomacs PPA offers stable releases with regular updates directly from the development team.

Add the Nomacs stable PPA to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nomacs/stable

Update the package database to include packages from the newly added PPA:

sudo apt update

Installing from PPA Repository

Install Nomacs from the PPA using the standard APT command:

sudo apt install nomacs

The PPA method combines the convenience of APT package management with access to more recent software versions. Updates arrive through the normal Ubuntu update process, ensuring consistency with system maintenance routines.

Benefits of PPA Installation

PPAs often provide access to the latest stable releases before they appear in official Ubuntu repositories. The official Nomacs PPA receives regular updates from developers, ensuring users have access to new features and bug fixes promptly.

Security updates and compatibility patches arrive through established Ubuntu update mechanisms, maintaining system stability while providing enhanced functionality.

Post-Installation Configuration and Usage

Launching and Initial Setup

Access Nomacs through multiple methods depending on your installation approach. Command-line users can execute nomacs directly from the terminal. Desktop environment users can locate Nomacs in the Applications menu under Graphics or use the Activities overview search function.

Configure file associations to open image files with Nomacs by default. Right-click on an image file, select “Properties,” navigate to the “Open With” tab, and choose Nomacs as the default application.

Interface Customization and Preferences

Nomacs offers extensive customization options accessible through the Preferences menu. Adjust interface themes, modify keyboard shortcuts, and configure display options to match your workflow preferences.

Set up thumbnail view preferences, adjust zoom behavior, and configure metadata display options. The histogram panel can be toggled for professional image analysis, while the information panel provides comprehensive EXIF data for supported image formats.

Basic Operations and Navigation

Navigate through images using keyboard shortcuts or mouse controls. The arrow keys advance through images in a directory, while the mouse wheel controls zoom levels. Drag and drop functionality allows easy loading of images or entire directories.

Basic editing operations include brightness and contrast adjustments, color correction, and resizing functionality. These tools provide sufficient capability for most everyday image enhancement tasks without requiring complex professional software.

Advanced Features and Professional Capabilities

Image Editing and Enhancement Tools

Nomacs provides professional-grade image analysis tools including histogram display and manipulation capabilities. The histogram panel offers real-time feedback during color correction and exposure adjustments, enabling precise image enhancement.

Advanced color correction tools include saturation, hue, gamma, and exposure controls. These features provide sufficient capability for RAW processing workflows and professional image adjustment tasks. The crop tool offers precise selection capabilities with aspect ratio constraints for professional output requirements.

Synchronization and Collaboration Features

One of Nomacs’ unique capabilities is multi-instance synchronization across local and network environments. This feature enables collaborative image review sessions where multiple users can view synchronized content across different computers connected via LAN.

Synchronization includes zooming, panning, and file navigation, making it invaluable for professional photography workflows requiring collaborative decision-making. The overlay functionality allows comparing multiple images with adjustable opacity for detailed analysis.

Metadata and Technical Information

Nomacs displays comprehensive EXIF metadata for supported image formats, providing essential technical information for professional photographers. Camera settings, exposure data, GPS coordinates, and other metadata appear in the information panel.

The search functionality enables quick location of images based on metadata criteria. This capability proves valuable for managing large image collections where specific technical parameters or capture dates are important for organization.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Dependency Resolution Problems

Occasionally, package dependency conflicts may arise during installation. If APT reports unresolved dependencies, update the package database and attempt installation again:

sudo apt update
sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt install nomacs

For persistent dependency issues, consider using the aptitude package manager which provides more sophisticated conflict resolution:

sudo apt install aptitude
sudo aptitude install nomacs

Repository Access and Network Issues

Network connectivity problems can interrupt package downloads. Verify internet connectivity and DNS resolution if installation fails. Try switching to different Ubuntu repository mirrors if the default servers are experiencing issues.

For Flatpak installations experiencing network problems, verify Flathub repository configuration:

flatpak remotes --show-details

Permission and Authentication Errors

Ensure your user account has sudo privileges for administrative tasks. If authentication fails, verify your user is in the sudo group:

groups $USER

For Flatpak installations, some systems require additional user configuration for proper integration with desktop environments.

Performance and Compatibility Issues

If Nomacs exhibits poor performance with large images, consider adjusting memory usage settings in the preferences menu. Graphics driver issues can affect image rendering; ensure proper drivers are installed for your graphics hardware.

For users experiencing crashes with specific image formats, verify the installation includes all necessary codec libraries. The APT installation typically includes comprehensive format support, while Flatpak versions are self-contained.

Updates and Maintenance Procedures

Maintaining APT Installations

Regular system updates include Nomacs when installed via APT. Execute standard Ubuntu update commands to maintain current software versions:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Security updates arrive automatically through Ubuntu’s update mechanism, ensuring protection against discovered vulnerabilities. Configure automatic updates for hands-off maintenance if preferred.

Flatpak Update Management

Flatpak applications require separate update commands. Check for available updates:

flatpak update

Configure automatic Flatpak updates using systemd timers or cron jobs for regular maintenance. Flatpak updates are independent of system updates, requiring separate attention for optimal security.

PPA Maintenance and Updates

PPAs integrate with standard APT update procedures, receiving updates through normal system maintenance. Monitor PPA status occasionally to ensure continued availability and compatibility with newer Ubuntu versions.

Remove outdated or discontinued PPAs to maintain system cleanliness and security. Check PPA descriptions periodically for important announcements regarding version support and migration paths.

Uninstallation Procedures

Removing APT Installation

Complete removal of APT-installed Nomacs includes the application and its configuration files:

sudo apt autoremove --purge nomacs

This command removes the package and automatically installed dependencies no longer required by other applications. Configuration files in user directories remain unless manually deleted.

Flatpak Uninstallation

Remove Flatpak installations using the specific package identifier:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.nomacs.ImageLounge

The --delete-data flag removes user configuration and data files associated with the application. Flatpak runtime dependencies remain available for other applications unless explicitly removed.

PPA Cleanup and Removal

Remove the Nomacs PPA repository before uninstalling the application to prevent future conflicts:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:nomacs/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt autoremove --purge nomacs

This procedure ensures clean removal and prevents repository errors during future system updates.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Nomacs. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Nomacs image viewer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Nomacs website.