This repository contains the build scripts and configuration used to create the Imprint Rescue ISO — a lightweight, KDE‑based live environment designed for safe, reliable offline backup and restore operations using Imprint.
The ISO provides a clean, modern environment with excellent hardware support (including USB4/Thunderbolt enclosures, NVMe bridges, and newer chipsets), making it ideal for full‑system imaging and recovery.
Imprint is a modern, Linux‑native front-end for partclone that can be used from inside your operating system. It provides a clean, safe, and fast way to back up and restore partitions using partclone, with strong integrity guarantees and a simple Zenity‑based UI.
Main project:
https://github.com/jalongx/imprint
The rescue ISO in this repository is simply a convenient way to run Imprint on any machine — even when the main OS cannot boot or when system partitions must remain unmounted.
- KDE Plasma desktop: Lightweight, focused configuration
- Arch Linux base: Excellent hardware and driver support
- Imprint preinstalled: Ready to run out of the box
- Network support: Wired and wireless networking
- Maintenance tools: Useful CLI and GUI utilities for troubleshooting
- Recovery‑focused environment: Clean, minimal, and purpose‑built for imaging tasks
The Imprint Rescue ISO is not Secure Boot–signed. Boot behavior depends on how you launch it:
Recommended: Ventoy - https://www.ventoy.net
Imprint boots reliably on Secure Boot systems when launched through Ventoy.
- Boot Ventoy
- Enroll Ventoy’s MOK when prompted
- Copy the Imprint ISO to the flashdrive data partition
- Select the Imprint ISO after ventoy has booted
After the MOK is enrolled once, Secure Boot can remain enabled.
Booting an ISO that has been burned directly to a flashdrive will usually fail with Secure Boot enabled. To boot directly, you must either:
- Disable Secure Boot, or
- Manually sign the kernel/initrd and enroll your own MOK
Ventoy is the simplest and supported method.
The ISO is fully open‑source and reproducible.
You can build it yourself using the included scripts.
- Arch Linux or an Arch‑based environment
archisopackage installed- Sufficient disk space (approx. 3–4 GB)
git clone https://github.com/jalongx/imprint_iso_kde
cd imprint_iso_kde
sudo mkarchiso -v -w work -o out .
The finished ISO will appear in the out/ directory.
- Building must be done as root (required by mkarchiso)
- The build process may take several minutes depending on hardware
- The ISO includes the latest version of Imprint available at build time
- Imprint (main project):
https://github.com/jalongx/imprint - Imprint Rescue ISO (this repo):
https://github.com/jalongx/imprint_iso_kde