DxO PhotoLab 8 Improves Noise Reduction, Adds Hue Masks and a Helpful Preview Magnifier

DxO, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has done a solid update to PhotoLab, its class-leading RAW editor.

This latest version, PhotoLab 8, can really push the quality of your RAW files, something DxO has been an expert at for years.

DeepPrime XD2s

This version adds DeepPRIME XD2s, which the company says "offers unprecedented levels of noise reduction and detail extraction. With it, photographers can use higher ISO settings with confidence, breathe new life into old shots, and enjoy previously unseen image quality from even the latest cameras."

Lens Softness Compensation

There are also improvements to DxO Optics Modules, already a global standard. DxO Optics Modules are mathematical models developed from observing the performance of each lens across the entire field of view and focal range. These models ensure precise, incremental levels of sharpening depending on the characteristics of the lens. Software that uses global sharpening cannot compete with DxO’s laboratory-based lens testing. The DxO database of lenses is incredibly large, and it's rare that a lens I buy is not covered by their modules. Still, new lenses from all manufacturers are frequently added.

In this latest version of PhotoLab, new exclusive lens softness algorithms reveal detail without adding fringing artifacts in high-frequency areas.

Preview Raw Denoising and Demosaicing in Full Quality

The newest, most useful feature in this latest version of PhotoLab is a large live preview magnifier that shows photographers exactly how their images will be improved by the software’s DeepPRIME engines, as well as all other adjustments. For example, as well as previewing DeepPRIME XD2s, it shows Exposure, ClearView, Smart Lighting, Tone Curve, etc.

Hue Masks Feature

PhotoLab 8 features new Hue Masks. Powerful and ultra-accurate, these masks let photographers pick out individual hues and hue ranges for targeted editing. For the smoothest, most photographic transitions, photographers can pick from eight predefined hues or sample directly from the image before fine-tuning the selected range, which they can accomplish by using either the Brush/Eraser tool or the micro input and output controls.

Tone Curves

Version 8 adds on-image control whereby photographers can edit the curve by selecting the Tone Picker and then clicking and dragging on the part of the image that relates to the tones they wish to adjust. The brand-new Luma channel sits alongside the Red, Green, and Blue channels and lets photographers make tonal adjustments without impacting color levels.

Four more improvements were made to increase usability. First, it now displays the histogram to guide adjustments. Second, photographers now get a visual cue when making changes to the RGB channels thanks to bi-color tints in each graph using the relevant colors. Third, each point on a curve has an editable number value, allowing photographers to dial in very precise changes. Finally, photographers can save their own presets.

Using PhotoLab 8

Once you have familiarized yourself with the basics of file handling, PhotoLab 8 is powerful and fun. You can open a folder of images, as you can with Lightroom, and see them in front of you. You can select any photo for the editor, and depending on how you have configured PhotoLab 8, you'll immediately see improvements in your image in terms of noise reduction, color purity, and lighting. These settings are all under your control, but it's possible to have them run when the image appears.

I've used many editors over the years, but none that can reduce noise as well as DxO does, improve the optics of your lenses as perfectly, or give you as precise control of color and tone.

Plus, PhotoLab 8 is fast. I did all my testing on my year-old MacBook Pro with an M3 chip. It flies. Using the compare mode, in combination with the magnifier, makes for a very fast and effective workflow.

Some Things to Watch Out For

PhotoLab 8 is powerful and complex, like all DxO products, and has its own way of doing things. Photoshop or Lightroom users can't jump in and expect to know everything. But the online help is very complete, and pointing to any control will identify it and often offer more explanation of the tool and how it works.

Still, PhotoLab 8 doesn't follow the conventions you may be used to. The File menu does not have the option to open an image or to export an image. Those controls are in the app but not where you expect them. These choices can slow down your learning of file handling in PhotoLab 8, but I think the tradeoff in terms of image quality is worth it.

Still, DxO might want to think about making parts of the program more similar to other editors. I've seen this in software before. The creators have a "better" idea of how the GUI should act. But we've all been trained to expect certain things, and at least software that wants to take a different path should offer the option to have more conventional controls.

Summing Up

As a raw editor, PhotoLab has always been best in class. For noise reduction, color purity, lens correction, and sharpening, it's unmatched. The new tools in PhotoLab 8 enhance what is already a winning editor.

Still, it is a bit of a challenge to migrate from Adobe and some other editors just because of the user interface differences. It's not that they are bad, just that they are different and take getting used to. There should be an export option, for example, on the File menu. Instead, it's a green button on the lower right of the screen.

That being said, photographers who make the leap will quickly adapt. There are some incredibly smart photographers and programmers behind this and the other DxO apps.

There's so much more to say about this app that I can't cover in a review, but you can download a free trial and see if it fits into your workflow.

How to Buy PhotoLab 8

PhotoLab 8 is not a subscription app, a decision by DxO to be praised. You can buy this app and it will work forever unless there are changes in your OS that break something. There are yearly updates, which you can take or not take. It's a sane way to deal with customers.

DxO PhotoLab 8 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website at the following prices:

• DxO PhotoLab 8: $229
• DxO PhotoLab 8 upgrade from v6 and v7: $109

A free, 30-day trial is available from the DxO website.