dxo photolAB elite edition
Improved local adjustments enable DxO’s RAW conversion software to stand on its own two feet www.dxo.com £159 / $199
PhotoLab is the successor to DxO Optics Pro. Like its predecessor, it uses data from DxO’s in-depth camera and lens analysis to enable automatic image-enhancing corrections. What sets PhotoLab apart from Optics Pro is that the new software enables you to make local as well as global adjustments.
There’s no need to import images into PhotoLab, you locate them using the standard filing structure visible in the Organise section. Once you’ve clicked on the folder of images that you want to work with, the software automatically detects which camera and lenses were used to capture the photographs and prompts you to download the necessary correction modules if you haven’t done so already.
On the right of the Customise area there’s a column of tools for honing your image; these are organised into groups called Essential Tools, Light, Detail, Geometry and Color. Activating options like DxO Smart Lighting, DxO Clearview, Vignetting and Distortion often has a noticeably beneficial impact in the default settings, but you can tweak their effect if you like.
Clicking on the ‘Local adjustments’ button to the top of the image preview accesses the targeted controls. Right-clicking (Ctrlclicking on a Mac) reveals the selection tools that are available: these include a Brush, Graduated Filter, Control Point and Auto Mask. These are backed up by an Eraser, Reset and New Mask controls.
Once you’ve made a selection, a collection of sliding controls appear to enable you to adjust a range of parameters that govern exposure, colour and sharpness. This needs a gentle touch as the sliders are quite small and their impact can be dramatic.
On the whole DxO PhotoLab is easy to use, but there’s some duplication within the tools panel that can be a bit confusing. However, the end results are superb, and in some cases you realise that your images have flaws that you did not know about until you see them corrected. The software does an excellent job of extracting detail, concealing noise and generally enhancing your images. The localised adjustments are a fabulous addition and they’re very easy to use.