DxO PureRAW 3 Offers Better Noise Reduction, Color Enhancement, and Lens Corrections

I didn't think DxO PureRAW 2 for Mac and Windows could be improved, but it has been, in a variety of both subtle and not-so-subtle ways that improve workflow. The latest, version 3, is out today, and the company says PureRAW 3 features DxO’s latest artificial intelligence technology, DeepPRIME XD, delivering industry-leading noise reduction and RAW image enhancement; greater control over which corrections are applied through DxO’s renowned Optics Modules; and user interface modifications that offer improved integration with every photographer’s workflow.

If you're not familiar with the software, it processes raw files and should be the first stage of your editing process. DxO, with its large library of thousands of sensor and lens combinations, will improve the image before you start to edit.

The big change in this latest version is a new and improved methodology for improving raw files. With DeepPRIME XD, beta users report improvements of more than 2.5 stops in noise performance. For example, images shot at ISO 4,000 more closely resemble those captured at ISO 500 in terms of noise, color, and clarity.

Because noise reduction is performed as part of the raw conversion process, DeepPRIME XD can also improve the dynamic range of an image, giving photographers greater flexibility when shooting in challenging situations where light is limited. The original DeepPRIME mode remains part of DxO PureRAW 3 for images that demand less enhancement or where faster performance is required.

“DeepPRIME almost surprised us when we first saw the results,” explains DxO’s VP of Marketing and Product Strategy, Jean-Marc Alexia. “We quickly realized that a larger neural network could boost performance, and that’s what we’ve delivered with DeepPRIME XD. This technology pushes the boundaries even further, and DxO PureRAW 3 will revolutionize any photographer’s images — and without disrupting their existing workflow.”

Until this release, DeepPRIME XD did not process raw files from cameras with an X-Trans sensor. However, with DxO PureRAW 3, Fujifilm X Series photographers will be delighted to learn that their cameras are supported, a development reflected in DxO PhotoLab 6.4, also released today. As a result, X-Trans images can undergo incredible noise reduction, remarkable detail enhancement, and the restoration of accurate colors, especially when shooting at high ISO levels.

There are also changes to the interface, including options for levels of lens softness correction, as well as the ability to toggle vignetting and chromatic aberration corrections. Also, photographers can access the whole image area captured by the sensor, avoiding the crop enforced by other software when correcting deformations.

Getting images into DxO is easy enough. You can right-click on any image you have and load DxO PureRAW. You can also drag an image or images into the main page of the app.

Other improvements allow photographers to create multiple queues when batch processing large numbers of files, with the option to edit, re-order, and prioritize both images and queue lists while processing is underway. In addition, photographers can now choose to export files in TIFF format, alongside the existing JPEG and Linear DNG options.

I kept my old version 2 on my computer and added version 3 so I could see the differences. One nice option is that once I choose my primary editing app. When PureRAW 3 finishes its work, it auto-opens your editor. In my case, that's Photoshop directly into Camera Raw. 

I opened some raw files in both apps to compare. I found a slight improvement in detail in version 3 and a slightly better reduction of noise. This was pretty consistent across many raw files. 

Hopefully, my JPEG reduction of this image will show you the difference (version 2 on the left, version 3 on the right). Tiles on the roof of this drone shot are clearer, as is dirt on the street. Foliage is also more detailed. Sure, it's subtle, because version 2 is already very good.

There's a speed difference if you want to use the DeepPRIME XD feature. What took about 6 seconds to process using the default DeepPRIME feature took around 12 seconds if you add the XD processing. It's not surprising. You're going to get a cleaner raw file if you use the XD option. 

What I Like

• DxO PureRAW 2 is already part of my daily workflow. Version 3 will simply replace it.
• With one pass, PureRAW 3 gives me greatly reduced noise, increased detail, and some color improvements.
• New batching options will be great for wedding photographers and others who have to process a lot of images.

Any Negatives?

• It's about twice as slow as version 2 in my testing, but it's doing a lot more. On my M1 Studio Mac, most image processing took 10-12 seconds.
• It's been a year since PureRAW 2 came out. Another year, another upgrade, but the purchase price of PureRAW has held steady since it was introduced in 2021.

Summing Up

I love the PureRAW software. It even recognizes my drone cameras and applies all sorts of needed lens corrections to them. I could not live without the unique features in PureRAW, and version 3 makes my images even better. I've never sent it a raw image it didn't visibly improve. 

If you want to get the software, it's available for download today on the DxO website. It runs on Windows and both Intel and (natively on) Apple Silicon Macs. Pricing for a new license (it will run on 2 computers) is $129. If you are upgrading from an older version, the price is $79.