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DxO Updates PhotoLab, ViewPoint, Modules
5 October 2022
DxO has released updates to PhotoLab and ViewPoint while extending its Optic modules to new cameras and lenses. The releases mark the first ones to feature Apple Silicon support.
We were briefed on the new releases by DxO several days ago but the review copies have only today arrived, postponing our full coverage of them.
Following are the highlights of the new releases.
PHOTOLAB 6
PhotoLab 6 features:
- DeepPRIME XD, an AI-powered Raw conversion technology
- A new color management system with an extended working color space
- Spoft proofing mode
- Perspective tools from ViewPoint 4 embedded in the Elite version
- Improved Crop tool adds a horizon control
- Improved stability
- Apple Silicon native version
The Photolibrary functions add:
- New Exif and IPTC fields
- Color label support
- Project hierarchies
While we did see a demo of DeepPRIME XD in our Zoom session briefing, it was difficult to appreciate what it brings to the party. There was a difference between its rendering and DeepPRIME but it would be stretch to call it significant without hands-on testings.
It's also a bit premature to tout the advantage of DxO's new color space, except to point out it seems to correct some of the out-of-bounds green/blue color plotting of current standard professional color spaces. DxO claims it's more accurate and that may be the reason. But it also seems tailor made for PhotoLab's soft proofing facility.
Those are the tires we'll be kicking on our test drive.
Price, Availability
Available for both macOS and Windows now directly from DxO, PhotoLab 6 is:
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Essential Edition: $139
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Edition: $219
Owners of DxO PhotoLab 4 or 5 can take advantage of a special upgrade price:
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Essential Edition upgrade price: $75
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Edition upgrade price: $99
To upgrade, customers should log into their customer account at https://shop.dxo.com/login_upgrade.php/en. A free trial is also available.
VIEWPOINT 4
ViewPoint 4 is a long-awaited update to the company's perspective control tool. Functioning as a standalone application or a plug-in, the new release features a ReShape tool, improvements to its crop and rotation tools, the addition of guides, an updated interface and full support for Apple Silicon machines.
Highlights includes:
- ReShape tool
- Flip, mirror and rotate
- Unlimited guides
- Source tree view
- Crop tool with image rotation
- Apple Silicon native version
The demo we saw of ReShape was intriguing. Like Photoshop's Warp tool, it allows you to view your image through a grid that you can warp in any direction. This is a local distortion that can correct optical distortions common with wide angle lenses that noticeably affect prominent features in an image rather than an overall distortion correction.
Some of this functionality has been added to the stripped-down version of ViewPoint now included with the Elite version of PhotoLab 6 but you'll need a ViewPoint 4 license for the whole enchilada.
Price, Availability
vailable for both macOS and Windows now directly from DxO, ViewPoint 4 is $99 for a new license and $59 for an upgrade from ViewPoint 3. A demo version is also avaiable.
MODULES
DxO has also added support for nine new lenses, bringing its support to over 77,00 camera and lens combinations to PhotoLab, PureRAW, ViewPoint, FilmPack and Nik Collection.
The update available now includes the following lenses:
- Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM
- Nikkor Z 28-75mm f2.8
- HD Pentax-D FA 21mm f2.4 ED Limited DC WR
- HD Pentax-FA 31mm f1.8 Limited
- HD Pentax-FA 43mm f1.9 Limited
- HD Pentax-FA 77mm f1.8 Limited
- Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN | C
- Sigma35mmF2DGDN|C
- Sony E 11mm f1.8
Optics modules are downloaded on demand for any particular image by each of the applications. So no formal update is required.
MORE TO COME
We'll have full reviews of both PhotoLab 6 and ViewPoint 4 after we've had a chance to test drive them.
Meanwhile for more information see the news releases below.
DxO PhotoLab 6, the Raw photo editing software, redefines industry standards for denoising with groundbreaking AI technology -- again
In addition to its brand-new DeepPRIME XD denoising technology, this major new version introduces advanced color management featuring a vast working color space, powerful new retouching tools and refinements to its elegant library system.
PARIS, France -- DxO Labs, the company which kick-started modern Raw processing and lens correction, today announces the immediate availability of DxO PhotoLab 6, its flagship Raw image editing and workflow software. The latest version features DxO DeepPRIME XD, an AI-powered Raw conversion technology that pushes the boundaries for noise reduction and detail enhancement; a new color management system with an extended working color space; new retouching tools that redefine what photographers should expect from their software; and an upgraded library system that allows easy organization and quick access to images.
DxO DeepPRIME technology gets even better
Experts have long rated DxO's DeepPRIME technology as the world's most effective denoising and detail enhancement tool. Now, DxO PhotoLab 6 introduces the new DeepPRIME XD (eXtreme Details) mode which adds further quality to photographers' Raw files. Ideal for high-ISO images, it removes noise, retrieves previously unseen details and restores vibrant, natural color.
DeepPRIME XD uses a neural network trained using billions of image samples and routinely gives photographers improvements of more than 2.5 stops. For example, an image shot at 4000 ISO will more closely resemble an image captured at 500 ISO in terms of noise, color and clarity. And because it is fundamental to the Raw conversion process, DeepPRIME XD can even increase dynamic range, providing photographers with greater flexibility when shooting in low-light situations. The original DeepPRIME mode is also still on board for faster enhancements or for images that simply need less adjustment.
"We were thrilled by the response to DeepPRIME in DxO PhotoLab 5, but we knew we could do more" explains DxO's VP of Marketing and Product Strategy, Jean-Marc Alexia. "The new DeepPRIME XD has been a year in development and the AI has literally been teaching itself how to do its job better. The results speak for themselves."
More accurate color for better images
DxO PhotoLab 6 introduces re-engineered color processing algorithms that push the boundaries of color management and a new, extended working color space. These are complemented by a Soft Proofing mode to ensure accuracy throughout the entire workflow, allowing photographers to make adjustments according to how their photographs will be reproduced for display, whether it's on a high-definition screen or as a fine-art print.
The upgrades allow authentic reproduction for even the most saturated colors and ensure that photographers can harness the full potential of the latest monitors and printers.
New tools for more powerful retouching
DxO PhotoLab 6 adds the new ReTouch tool that extends the capability of healing and cloning well beyond that of other Raw processing software. Photographers can now transform the source through mirroring, rotating and scaling or use brushes to fine-tune the area they're editing into a more accurate shape. The new tool ensures fewer trips outside of DxO PhotoLab for complex cloning and healing tasks and speeds up workflow while ensuring that editing never moves away from the original Raw file and therefore remains non-destructive.
A refined library system for smarter workflow
Building on its simple but powerful PhotoLibrary system, DxO PhotoLab 6 extends its range of Exif and IPTC tags, adds nesting for Projects and introduces color labels for easier organization and management of files -- all without clumsy, time-consuming catalogs.
Comprehensive and precise lens and camera profiles
Core to DxO PhotoLab 6 are DxO's pioneering Optics Modules. Almost 20 years ago, DxO patented the concept of lens corrections and since then, the analyses performed in its purpose-built laboratory have set the standard for the digital photo editing industry. The quality and precision of DxO's Optics Modules remain unmatched by its competitors, partly because lenses and cameras are tested in combination, giving photographers profiles that are tailored specifically to their equipment. With all the latest modules automatically downloaded to DxO PhotoLab 6, you'll be assured of the best quality results every time.
Price and availability
The Essential and Elite editions of DxO PhotoLab 6 (Windows and macOS) are available to download now from the DxO Web site at the following prices:
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Essential Edition: $139
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Edition: $219
Owners of DxO PhotoLab 4 or 5 can take advantage of a special upgrade price:
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Essential Edition upgrade price: $75
- DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Edition upgrade price: $99
To upgrade, customers should log into their customer account at https://shop.dxo.com/login_upgrade.php/en.
The DxO PhotoLab does not require a subscription. The Essential version can be installed on up to two computers and the Elite version can be installed on up to three.
A full one-month trial of DxO PhotoLab 6 is available from the DxO Web site:
DxO ViewPoint 4, the software that fixes geometry and perspective, introduces the powerful new ReShape tool to help perfect any shot
DxO ViewPoint 4, the software that gives photographers ultimate control over perspective, geometry and image quality, gains a host of new tools and updates, including the innovative ReShape tool for local adjustments, improved cropping and rotation, new guides for perfect alignment, an easier-to-use interface and full Apple Silicon support.
PARIS, France -- DxO Labs, one of the most innovative companies in photo editing software, today announces the immediate availability of DxO ViewPoint 4, the unique and powerful software for perfect geometry and perspective. Thanks to ViewPoint 4's tools, photographers can fix imperfections in framing, defeat optical flaws and rebalance subjects like never before.
The latest version -- available as standalone software, a palette within DxO PhotoLab or as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom Classic -- features the new ReShape tool that allows users to warp specific regions of an image, improvements to its crop and rotation functionality, the addition of guides to ensure the most precise adjustments, an updated interface for a more refined user experience and full support for Apple Silicon machines.
Perfect every last detail with the new ReShape tool
Headlining DxO ViewPoint 4 is the new ReShape tool, a powerful feature that eclipses rival software in its ability to warp and repair individual parts of a scene. It is now possible to realign nagging details like crooked architecture and broken patterns so that images have greater impact and improved balance. The ReShape tool's customizable grid and extensive control points ensure precise manipulation and adjustments are quick and intuitive.
Fabrizio Dei Tos, Product Manager at DxO, explains: "We created ViewPoint 4 as the next step in DxO's continued pursuit of optical and imaging perfection. The ReShape tool is the best solution out there for warping local details and provides a truly powerful solution for photographers. ViewPoint 4's other upgrades expand and refine its usability, so whether you're perfecting architectural images, ensuring distortion-free landscapes or improving group portraits, this is the software you need."
Smarter and easier ways to improve your photos
Other upgrades include the ability to swiftly flip and mirror images, enhanced integration between the Crop and Horizon tools for quick and easy adjustments, the option to add guides for more accurate adjustments to vertical and horizontal lines and a redesigned toolbar for a better user experience.
Price and availability
DxO ViewPoint 4 (Windows and macOS) is available to purchase now from the DxO Web site for $99.
Owners of DxO ViewPoint 3 can upgrade for $59. To upgrade, customers should log into their customer account at https://shop.dxo.com/login_upgrade.php/en.
A license for DxO ViewPoint 4 does not require a subscription.
A full one-month trial of DxO ViewPoint 4 is available from the DxO Web site.
DxO's cutting-edge Optics Modules now include support for 9 new lenses
DxO Labs, the company that invented optical corrections for digital photography, has completed its detailed analysis of nine new lenses and added them to its list of supported equipment.
DxO now offers photographers access to more than 77,000 camera and lens combinations across its software -- DxO PhotoLab, PureRAW, ViewPoint, FilmPack and Nik Collection -- offering unrivaled quality.
Photographers receive corrections that are tailor-made for their specific equipment as each new Optics Module is created from individual camera and lens combinations -- not simply the lens on its own. As a result, DxO offers the most complete and high-quality approach to optical correction.
The latest update -- available now -- includes the following lenses:
- Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM
- Nikkor Z 28-75mm f2.8
- HD Pentax-D FA 21mm f2.4 ED Limited DC WR
- HD Pentax-FA 31mm f1.8 Limited
- HD Pentax-FA 43mm f1.9 Limited
- HD Pentax-FA 77mm f1.8 Limited
- Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN | C
- Sigma35mmF2DGDN|C
- Sony E 11mm f1.8
"We're committed to giving photographers the best possible results from their gear and we're delighted to add these nine new lenses," explained Marie-Catherine Fargnoli, DxO product owner and laboratory manager. "DxO has never used off-the-shelf lens corrections and no other software company matches the quality that we're able to achieve through the work carried out in our laboratory."
Two decades of innovation
Almost 20 years ago, DxO created the world's first lens corrections in its unique, purpose- built laboratory. Today, DxO's Optics Modules continue to lead the industry thanks to their quality and precision.
What makes DxO's corrections superior?
DxO creates an exclusive set of characteristics as it assesses lenses and cameras together, rather than simply assessing a lens on its own. These bespoke optical corrections offer two significant advantages:
- DxO Optics Modules assess 100 percent of the pixel area as being the true field of capture. Other solutions -- including those from camera brands and competitor software -- are forced to crop the resolution when reducing optical distortion. Compared to the competition, DxO Optics Modules can keep up to 10 percent more pixels.
- DxO delivers tailor-made adjustments and corrections across each lens's field of view thanks to an exclusive lens sharpness algorithm. Unlike the standard lens libraries used by other software, sharpening is applied at different levels according to a lens's unique characteristics. For example, sharpening increases toward the edge of the frame to account for subtle changes in radial softness.
DxO Optics Modules also correct the following imperfections as standard:
- Vignetting
- Geometric distortions
- Longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberrations
In addition, DxO's Optics Modules are the only way to benefit from anamorphic deformation compensation -- exclusive technology that restores the natural proportions of a scene or subject after it has been distorted by a wide-angle lens. This means that using shorter focal lengths is no longer an issue when photographing large groups of people (particularly at weddings) or in landscape and architectural photography.