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DxO Updates OpticsPro To PhotoLab With U Point Technology
25 October 2017
DxO has updated OpticsPro, its image editing software, with U Point technology from the Nik Collection. By adding Nik's powerful local adjustment tools, DxO OpticsPro ushers in a new era, DxO said. Consequently the company has changed the name to PhotoLab.
PhotoLab. An example of U Point local adjustments. Not the central point on the rose and the sphere of influence enlarged around it. See also the set of sliders to adjust the local image attributes.
DxO PhotoLab introduces a comprehensive local retouching solution that is fully integrated into a non-destructive Raw workflow and includes former Nik Software's U Point technology, an auto mask brush, a graduated filter and a new Repair tool.
In addition to these brand-new features, its Raw-file automatic Lens Sharpness correction feature has also been dramatically enhanced.
LOCAL CORRECTIONS
To provide all the tools you need to make local corrections, DxO has added an auto mask retouching brush for making precise selections, especially on portraits, as well as a graduated filter tool that's useful for landscape photography.
Masking Tools. U Point is at the top.
To access them, select the Local Adjustments button in the tool bar. A grayed help screen tells you to right-click to select a tool.
The tools share many similarities with Control Points, providing access to essential settings options, including Exposure, Contrast, White Balance, Micro-Contrast, Vibrancy, Sharpness and the addition of a Bokeh effect.
As you can see in our screen shot above, these options are displayed in the Local Equalizer above the image, right next to the area being retouched.
The controls are also fully integrated in DxO PhotoLab's Raw conversion feature and are non-destructive. For example, you can restore highlights locally by using the extra data contained in the Raw file without changing the rest of the photo.
JPEG files can take advantage of these local adjustment tools as well.
REPAIR TOOL
DxO PhotoLab includes a Repair tool, which resembles Photoshop's Healing Brush, that has been rebuilt from the ground up. The interface is just as simple as before, featuring a brush that can be used on the areas that need retouching.
But the underlying algorithm provides much better -- and faster -- results, the company said. This revamped Repair tool is now a fully-formed corrective tool that lets you quickly and easily get rid of undesirable elements in your photos.
PRICE, AVAILABILITY
The Essential and Elite editions of DxO PhotoLab [MW] can be downloaded from the DxO Web site or from specialized retailers for an introductory price through Nov. 30:
United States:
- DxO PhotoLab Essential Edition: $99 instead of $129
- DxO PhotoLab Elite Edition: $149 instead of $199
Great Britain:
- DxO PhotoLab Essential Edition: £79 instead of £99
- DxO PhotoLab Elite Edition: £119 instead of £159
Europe (VAT included):
- DxO PhotoLab Essential Edition: €99 instead of €129
- DxO PhotoLab Elite Edition: €149 instead of €199
If you have a license for DxO OpticsPro, you can get a discounted upgrade license for DxO PhotoLab by signing into your customer account. If you purchased or updated a DxO OpticsPro on or after Sept. 1, you can upgrade your software for free.
A full, one-month trial version of DxO PhotoLab is available at DxO's Web site.
For more information see the news release below.
U Point Local Adjustment Technology Now Available in DxO OpticsPro Raw Converter, Which Becomes DxO PhotoLab
By adding a comprehensive local adjustments solution, a new Repair tool and improved unique DxO Lens Sharpness technology, DxO PhotoLab sets the new bar in Raw processing for pro and enthusiast photographers.
PARIS -- DxO, a pioneer in digital imaging technologies, today announces the immediate release of DxO PhotoLab, formerly DxO OpticsPro, its award winning Raw conversion software for Mac and PC. DxO PhotoLab introduces a comprehensive local retouching solution that is fully integrated into a non-destructive Raw workflow and includes former Nik Software's U Point technology; an auto mask brush; a graduated filter; and a new Repair tool. In addition to these brand-new features, its Raw-file automatic Lens Sharpness correction feature has also been dramatically enhanced.
DxO OpticsPro becomes DxO PhotoLab
First released thirteen years ago, DxO OpticsPro revolutionized image processing with the first software-based optical corrections based on laboratory-grade mathematical models. Today
DxO OpticsPro represents a complete Raw conversion solution that has far outgrown its initial scope, with unique features like DxO PRIME, the gold standard in noise reduction technology and DxO Smart Lighting, an intelligent exposure tool. By adding powerful local adjustment tools, DxO OpticsPro now gives photographers new creative opportunities and ushers in a new era. Thus, DxO is proud to highlight this important evolution by giving its award-winning software a new name that reflects its power and versatility: DxO PhotoLab.
Universally accessible U Point technology in a non-destructive workflow
Through the acquisition of the Nik Collection assets from Google, DxO has integrated U Point technology, a favorite feature of millions of photographers who use Nik Software products. This local adjustment technology allows users, with just a few clicks, to make complex selections, which would normally take meticulous, time-consuming work using a brush tool. Following this recent acquisition, DxO PhotoLab is now the only software to offer U Point technology in a non-destructive Raw workflow.
"Nik Software plug-in and its U Point technology have always been part of my workflow," explains professional photographer David Cardinal. "Now, thanks to DxO PhotoLab, I can use them to do all my retouching in the same software program, without having to use an intermediary image and without ever losing the full potential of my Raw files."
A comprehensive local adjustment solution
To provide photographers with all the tools they need to make local corrections, DxO is rounding out DxO PhotoLab's feature list with an auto mask retouching brush that's perfect for making precise selections, especially on portraits, as well as a graduated filter tool that's useful for landscape photography. These tools share many similarities with Control Points: they give all users access to essential settings options, including exposure, contrast, white balance, micro-contrast, vibrancy, sharpness and the addition of a bokeh effect. For an even better user experience, all of these options are displayed in the Local Equalizer above the image, right next to the area being retouched.
These controls are also fully integrated in DxO PhotoLab's Raw conversion feature and are non-destructive. For example, users can restore highlights locally by using the extra data contained in the Raw file without changing the rest of the photo. Photographers who use JPEG files can use these local adjustment tools as well. DxO PhotoLab also lets users work with maximum efficiency by allowing them to use several different tools within the same selection.
New Repair tool
DxO PhotoLab includes a repair tool that has been rebuilt from the ground up. The interface is just as simple as before, featuring a simple brush that can be used on the areas that need retouching; but the underlying algorithm provides much better -- and faster -- results. This revamped Repair tool is now a fully-formed corrective tool that lets users quickly and easily get rid of undesirable elements in their photos.
Optimal Lens Sharpness in Raw files even at the highest sensitivities
Lens Sharpness has been an exclusive feature of former DxO OpticsPro for the last decade. Available for the nearly 40,000 camera-lens combinations DxO has analyzed in its laboratory, this feature applies the most appropriate sharpness correction to each point in the image's field of view, while also accounting for the type of equipment and shooting settings used. So as to not detract from the quality of the image, the Lens Sharpness optimization feature also adapts to the image's ISO level -- a part of the tool that was a particular point of focus in the new DxO PhotoLab release. Raw images are now much sharper when shot at medium-sensitivity settings, while noise levels remain well-controlled. This improvement, especially when used in conjunction with DxO's exclusive PRIME noise-reduction technology, opens up even more opportunities for low-light photography.
Prices and availability
The Essential and Elite editions of DxO PhotoLab for PC and Mac can be downloaded from the DxO Web site (shop.dxo.com) or from specialized retailers, for an introductory price through Nov. 30:
United States:
- DxO PhotoLab Essential Edition: $99 instead of $129
- DxO PhotoLab Elite Edition: $149 instead of $199
Great Britain:
- DxO PhotoLab Essential Edition: £79 instead of £99
- DxO PhotoLab Elite Edition: £119 instead of £159
Europe:
- DxO PhotoLab Essential Edition: €99 instead of €129
- DxO PhotoLab Elite Edition: €149 instead of €199
(Recommended retail price, VAT included)
Photographers who purchased a license for DxO OpticsPro can get a discounted upgrade license for DxO PhotoLab by signing into their customer accounts at http://www.dxo.com. Photographers who purchased or updated a DxO OpticsPro license on or after Sept. 1 can upgrade their software for free.
A full, one-month trial version of DxO PhotoLab is available at DxO's Web site: http://www.dxo.com/us/photography/download.