DxO

Paris-based software company famous for its optical research, testing systems and software. It publishes DxO PhotoLab (previously known as DxO Optics Pro), FilmPack and ViewPoint, the Nik Collection and the PureRAW RAW pre-processing tool.

Reviews

DxO PhotoLab 9 AI masking tools explained, with examples
ByRod Lawton September 3, 2025August 13, 2026

DxO PhotoLab already had a formidable set of local adjustment tools, including some that rivals don’t have. PhotoLab’s clever control point masks and control lines, which effectively combine linear masks with selective masking, are unique to DxO. But other makers had already introduced AI masking with automatic region, subject and object detection, so it was about time PhotoLab caught up – and that’s exactly what DxO has done with the launch of PhotoLab 9.

Read More DxO PhotoLab 9 AI masking tools explained, with examples
Reviews

DxO Nik Collection 8 review
ByRod Lawton May 10, 2025May 11, 2025

Verdict: 4.6 stars Nik Collection 8 has some interesting new features for existing users, but mostly for those who use Photoshop as their main ‘host’ application for launching the plug-ins. Silver Efex gets a major interface overhaul, however. This is very welcome, though its actual capabilities are little changed. Otherwise, apart from some workflow tweaks, it’s business as usual for this epic plug-in suite. Frankly, the Nik Collection is already such a wide-ranging, powerful and inspiring set of photo-enhancement tools that it’s always a bit of a surprise to find DxO has found anything to improve.

Read More DxO Nik Collection 8 review
News

Live in color, dream in black and white: Nik Collection 8 is here
ByRod Lawton May 6, 2025May 8, 2025

Nik Collection 8 is the annual update and refresh to the DxO Nik Collection, which consists of seven different plug-ins for Photoshop and Lightroom Classic, but which can also run as standalone applications and work as external editors for many other programs. Silver Efex gets a significant overhaul in this version, but other the big news is enhanced and updated integration with Adobe Photoshop and its masking tools.

Read More Live in color, dream in black and white: Nik Collection 8 is here
Reviews

DxO PureRAW 5 review
ByRod Lawton April 25, 2025May 8, 2025

Verdict: 4.4 stars PureRAW 5 brings an even newer, even better DeepPRIME XD3 denoising process, XD3 X-Trans sensor support in beta, new local adjustments for selective sharpening and denoising and new custom presets for export. The results are quite amazing, as ever, though it’s hard to see any visible improvement over the earlier DeepPRIME XD2 process and there are a couple of niggly little operational glitches.

Read More DxO PureRAW 5 review
Ideas

I’m obsessed with the strange, chaotic and beautiful world of Nik Analog Efex
ByRod Lawton April 10, 2025May 8, 2025

There comes a time to put the science to one side, to put the histograms and the eyedroppers back in their box, and to step sideways into a very strange and very different analog world. Analog Efex, part of the DxO Nik Collection, goes to places other effects tools don’t go. It’s richer, stranger and more random than just about anything else, and I love it.

Read More I’m obsessed with the strange, chaotic and beautiful world of Nik Analog Efex
Ideas | Tips | Tutorials

I edited this black and white image three different ways and I still can’t decide which is best
ByRod Lawton April 4, 2025August 22, 2025

Editing processes are very selective, and different photographers will have different approaches. Even the same photographer can have different approaches at different times. Just as it’s not always easy to cull your images, it’s not always easy to decide on the best way to edit them.

Read More I edited this black and white image three different ways and I still can’t decide which is best
Tutorials

3 reasons why I edited this in DxO PhotoLab and not Lightroom
ByRod Lawton April 3, 2025August 1, 2026

I know Lightroom very, very well. I’ve been writing about it for years. A large part of this site’s content is devoted to Adobe Lightroom tips and tutorials. That means, though, that I also know its weaknesses, and there are plenty. So I thought I’d run through the editing steps I used on this photo and why I did them in DxO PhotoLab and not Lightroom.

Read More 3 reasons why I edited this in DxO PhotoLab and not Lightroom
News

DxO PureRAW 5 launched, with new and improved DeepPRIME 3
ByRod Lawton February 27, 2025May 8, 2025

DxO is promising the latest version of its RAW batch processing and image enhancement plug-in will deliver the best results yet, and also comes with time-saving presets, local adjustments and a brand new interface.

Read More DxO PureRAW 5 launched, with new and improved DeepPRIME 3
Reviews

DxO PhotoLab 8 Elite review
ByLife after Photoshop September 20, 2024May 8, 2025

Verdict: 4.5 stars PhotoLab 8 is the latest update to DxO’s flagship photo organizing, image enhancement and editing software. The changes in this version are incremental but still very useful. If you’re upgrading from a previous version you might want to look closely at what’s new before you take the plunge. But if you’re new to PhotoLab then here’s the low-down. If you want to get the best possible quality from your RAW files and you’re prepared to put in a little time and effort, PhotoLab 8 is quite simply in a class of its own.

Read More DxO PhotoLab 8 Elite review
Ideas | Tips | Tutorials

Nik Collection 6 Control Lines: what they are, how they work
ByRod Lawton May 19, 2023August 22, 2025

These Control Lines can already be found in DxO PhotoLab 6, but they are new to the Nik Collection 6. Control Lines are a special kind of selective masking tool. They work like a linear gradient tool, but with an eyedropper which can be moved around to select the tones or areas you want the mask to be applied to.

Read More Nik Collection 6 Control Lines: what they are, how they work