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The software is divided into two sections: PhotoLibrary and Customize. The PhotoLab 2 interface is simple and clear, with strong similarities to other Raw editing software so there will be no surprises. Plus, the Repair tool intelligently helps you to remove dust spots and small unwanted elements.
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Local adjustments are possible using U-Point technology and are a new feature that has been integrated into the software since DxO’s acquisition of the Nik Collection.Īlongside these control points are also an adjustment Brush and Graduated filter, which allow you to control the look of specific parts of images. SmartLighting reveals detail in dark and light areas of images with the ability to adjust the effect manually. DxO ClearView removes haze from images and works well, but like Dehaze in Lightroom, it has to be used sparingly to avoid adding too much contrast to images. DxO Prime Denoising technology reduces chroma and luminance noise in high ISO shots to reveal more detail and sharpness. The powerhouse behind all this is its Prime technology, which makes light work of getting images to look their best. These can be left in place, increased or switched off with additional manual controls available for processing your images. Then, when you open an image in the Customize tab, a number of corrective adjustments are applied automatically that include lens corrections, noise removal, haze removal, sharpening and tonal improvements.
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When you open images in PhotoLab 2, one of the first things you’ll notice is that the software will scan your images and offer profile downloads for the camera and lens combinations used to take the images. A free 30-day trial of the Elite version is available with no restrictions in features so you can fully try the software before committing.
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The software is also a one-off payment with no subscription, which may appeal to photographers unhappy with Adobe’s subscription-based model. And makes the perfect accompaniment to DxO’s new and improved Nik Collection 2 plug-ins, which will be reviewed in our September 2019 issue. PhotoLab 2 is available in two flavours: Essential, which costs £99 and Elite that’s a little more expensive at £159. While the name PhotoLab may not be familiar, the software is the natural evolution of DxO Optics Pro and features a number of upgrades that make it a more well-rounded option for image cataloguing and Raw processing. With unique features that take it above and beyond basic Raw processing, let’s take a look at what makes PhotoLab 2 a worthy consideration for your editing workflow. Operating system: OS X 10.12 (Sierra) and above /Windows 7 (64-bit) with Service Pack 1 and aboveĭxO is best known for its highly-regarded Raw optical and noise correction tools, but with the launch of PhotoLab 2 it’s soon to be known as one of the most powerful Raw image editing packages, holding strong against competitors such as Adobe Lightroom, Capture One Pro and Skylum Luminar.
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