It’s been a busy week for photo editing software announcements. The day after Adobe announced the latest versions of Lightroom and Photoshop, DxO has joined the party with its announcement of DxO PhotoLab 4.
PhotoLab 4 includes numerous new features and improvements, but the highlight is DxO’s new DeepPRIME technology. DeepPRIME utilizes artificial intelligence to perform improved demosaicing and denoising in a single step. DxO has used machine learning and millions of images to train the DeepPRIME algorithm. The result is that all images, particularly those captured at high ISO settings or with smaller sensors, will look better than ever before. DxO also states that photos captured with early-generation cameras will experience a pronounced gain in overall quality.
A traditional approach to processing raw images comprises demosaicing and noise reduction separately. However, with DeepPRIME and its deep learning, these two steps are combined into one ‘to deliver exceptional performance.’ Compared to DxO’s previous denoising algorithm, DxO PRIME, DeepPRIME ‘delivers a gain of around two ISO sensitivity values at a comparable level of quality.’
Of DeepPRIME, Jérôme Ménière, DxO’s CEO, says, ‘There are a number of applications for DxO DeepPRIME. [It] creates new creative opportunities by helping expert photographers overcome digital noise or a lack of light. For amateur photographers, DxO DeepPRIME compensates the drawbacks of the smaller sensors on compact and bridge cameras, which can typically only take high-quality images in bright light. Lastly, it can also be used to revamp photos taken by less advanced cameras from the start of the digital era.’ The idea of breathing new life into old images is certainly appealing and it will be interesting to see how much of an improvement DeepPRIME delivers.
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| DxO’s new DeepPRIME algorithm promises improved performance and image quality compared to the former DxO PRIME tech. DxO states that the most noticeable gains will be experienced when working with high ISO images and photos captured using small or older image sensors. Image credit: DxO |
In addition to the new DeepPRIME technology, DxO PhotoLab 4 incorporates a new workspace, dubbed DxO Smart Workspace. The workspace is centered around a system of filters accessible via the toolbar. DxO describes it as follows, ‘It allows users to show tool palettes by correction type, only display their pre-selected favorite palettes, or only show palettes with activated corrections.’ You can also utilize a dedicated search field to locate a specific tool. DxO states that the new workspace will not only allow experienced PhotoLab users to work more efficiently, but it will also allow new users to acclimate to the software and its available tools more quickly.
Another workflow improvement includes the ability to batch rename multiple files at once. This can be achieved via the DxO PhotoLibrary or Photo Browser. You simply select multiple files and then use a dedicated dialog box to rename the files.
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| The new DxO Smart Workspace promises improved access to image editing tools plus a new search function, allowing experienced and novice users alike to track down a specific tool. Image credit: DxO |
There’s a new History palette in DxO PhotoLab 4 as well. This displays all edits in chronological order and shows the specific edits made to an image, allowing you to go back at any time to a specific change you made to your image. For example, if you adjust exposure, it will show this adjustment and the amount that exposure was adjusted. Adjustments can also be grouped by type and then hidden if you don’t need to see the full list.
Similarly, PhotoLab 4 allows the user to selectively copy and paste edits across multiple selected images. DxO states, ‘From the Photo Browser, users can select the specific edits they want to apply to one or several other images by editing type, such as lighting, color, detail, local adjustments, geometry, or watermarking.’
In order to protect your images when sharing them online, PhotoLab 4 includes a new Instant Watermarking feature. You can embed text and/or an image on selected photos simultaneously and get a live preview of the watermarking. You can adjust placement, scale, orientation, opacity, and margins. There are also seven available blend modes, something DxO says is unique to PhotoLab 4.
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| DxO believes its new Instant Watermarking tool is the best in the business. Image credit: DxO |
More than 60,000 camera and lens combinations are supported in PhotoLab 4, including new camera support for the following cameras: Canon EOS R5, EOS R6, and EOS 850D, the Nikon D6 and Z5; the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV; and the Panasonic Lumix S5 cameras.
DxO PhotoLab 4 is available now from DxO on Windows and macOS. Until November 19, DxO is offering promotional prices. DxO PhotoLab 4 Essential Edition is available for $99.99 USD and the Elite Edition is $149.99. This represents a savings of around $30 and $50, respectively. Existing owners of PhotoLab 3 can purchase an upgrade license by signing into their customer account on this webpage. You can also download a fully-functional one-month trial. For more information, visit DxO.
