| OVERVIEW
What
DxO Labs say the software does:
"DxO Optics Pro automatically enhances images produced
by Digital-SLR, advanced Digicams, and their lenses with revolutionary
optics, noise and lighting corrections packed in an all-new,
easy-to-use feature rich application."
DxO
Optics Pro runs on both Mac and Windows platforms, and works
on raw or jpg image. This review is based on version 3.5
MY
VERDICT ON THIS PROGRAM
DxO Optics is a truly impressive piece
of software in how it was designed precisely for specific
camera and lens combinations, to correct for specific optical
errors.
The
designers automated the use of various features to a high
degree. DxO Optics Pro allows you to get the optimum image
quality from a variety of lenses with the minimum of fuss
in the Automatic Mode. But it also allows you precise control
in the Key Control and Expert Control modes, to get exactly
what you want.
Over
the next few pages I'll touch on various aspects which impressed
me, and show examples of how DxO Optics enhances and corrects
images.
There
was only one area where the software performed slightly under
what I anticipated - and that was in Noise Reduction. I believe
that a program which specializes in noise reduction will generally
give better results.
Certain
other functions are better handled by programs such Adobe
Camera Raw or Capture One if you are doing raw workflow in
any kind of volume. Even though DxO Optics Pro can process
multiple images, I don't believe it was intended to compete
with the likes of ACR and Capture One.
DxO Optics Pro fills another niche - and beautifully so.
Even
where some corrections are available in Photoshop, such as
correction of chromatic aberration - you'd still have to manually
do it by checking the image. DxO Optics Pro does it automatically
for you depending on various factors such as the specific
lens, the focal length it was zoomed to, and the focusing
distance. The wizards at DxO Labs did your homework for you.
Overall,
I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants
to get optimum quality from their lenses, with the least amount
of fuss. There certainly isn't anything else like it on the
market.
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF DxO Optics Pro 3.5
There
are three modes of operation:
- fully automatic
- key controls
- expert controls
Fully Automatic is self-explanatory.
Expert Control is at the other end of the
spectrum, offering an expanded palette of controls. This allows
you fine control over of all adjustments that DxO Optics Pro
makes to an image.
Key
Controls is a mode that lies somewhere in between,
allowing you to adjust the most important aspects of DxO Optics
Pro. This mode offers a limited palette of controls.
Having
three modes of operation like that is an excellent idea, offering
the user a choice of whether to get your hands dirty with
the actual work of manipulating an image - or allowing the
software to make the choices.
For
the major part of testing the software for this review, I
had the software in Expert Control mode, but it always seemed
as if the default settings the software chose (ie, the Auto
settings), were the best choice. This would seem to underline
the motivation behind the software's design - to seamlessly
offer the user optimal adjustment and correction of the image
with the least amount of effort. But, with the option of allowing
you full control if you wish. This is a big plus.
DxO
doesn't write to the actual raw files, so there is no chance
of DxO corrupting them.
Instead, DxO, similar to ACR, writes side-car files. C1 uses
a similar way to store info about the raw files.
You
can save DxO corrections as DNG file, to make sure that DxO's
corrections and enhancements are available for further editing
in Photoshop.
Expert
Mode offers numerous adjustments under these eight tabs:
- DxO Optics Engine (which corrects Distortion,
Chromatic Aberration, Vignetting.)
- DxO Lighting Engine
- DxO Noise Engine
- Colour & Exposure (which contains WB / exposure / Curves
/ Hue / Saturation / Lightness controls)
- Image Information (which shows the Exif Data)
- Output Settings (which controls output file format and colour
space)
- Sharpening
- Histogram
The
first three are specific to the DxO software, but the other
settings should be familiar to anyone who uses photo editing
software. Even then, there are some specific enhancements
that DxO brings to the other settings. I'll discuss the DxO-specific
tabs on the following pages. |
