DxO PhotoLab 7 is announced, with new tools for color and black and white

DxO has launched a major new version of its flagship DxO PhotoLab raw processing, correction, enhancement and editing tool. DxO PhotoLab 7 brings new color calibration tools, support for LUTs, the ability to use HSL tools for local adjustments and a new black and white workflow.

The new color calibration feature is designed for controlled lighting setups where you want the most accurate color rendition possible, and uses a swatch overlay you can position over any of a number of common color checker charts placed in the scene under the same lighting. This creates a DCP profile for that scene which you can then use across multiple images for a standardized, corrected color rendition.

The new LUT support will be especially exciting for photographers who use creative ‘looks’ and effects. LUTs (look up tables) are used widely in video editing but are entering the mainstream for regular photography too. They shift colors and tones for creative effect and are used ahead of regular editing adjustments. PhotoLab 7 includes 17 ‘starter’ LUTs, but you can use any LUT in the standard .cube format.

Local adjustments have been upgraded in PhotoLab 7 too. The big change is that it’s now possible to apply HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) adjustments to local adjustments, allowing localized color shifts and enhancements. DxO has also created a new, dedicated palette for local adjustments to make it easier to stay on top of more complex edits.

Finally, DxO has enhanced the black and white workflow in PhotoLab 7. A new tab allows simple switching between color and black and white workflows, and a new 6-channel mixer controls how colors are translated into shades of gray, making it possible to replicate the effect of traditional red  or yellow filters, for example, or films with different spectral sensitivity. PhotoLab 7 also has new film renderings to recreate the look of classic black and white film stocks as a starting point for editing.

DxO PhotoLab 7 is available now and costs $229/209 for new users, or $109/£99 for existing users upgrading from a previous version. It’s available in two editions – this is the pricing for DxO PhotoLab 7 Elite. There is cheaper PhotoLab Essential edition, but it does not have all the tools and features in the Elite edition.