A raw file ‘pre-processing’ tool from DxO that applies the company’s highly effective lens corrections, raw file demonising and detail recovery process but generates a part-processed linear DNG raw file that can still be edited and processed like regular raw files by other software.
Verdict: 5 stars DxO PureRAW 6 is like a RAW pre-processing tool that applies DxO’s trademark lens corrections and DeepPRIME denoising and outputs a RAW DNG file for other programs to use. Version 6 adds key improvements to an already excellent tool. The lens corrections are superb, the denoising and detail enhancement are exceptional and not you get AI dust removal too!
DxO PureRAW 6 is the latest version of DxO’s clever RAW preprocessing software, and it has two big new features. One is its new ‘high fidelity’ DNG compression option which drastically reduces its file sizes, and the other is a new AI dust removal feature built into the PureRAW process. Who saw that coming?
DxO PureRAW is like a RAW file preprocessor, applying DxO’s now-legendary lens corrections and denoising to produce full-corrected DNG files that can be opened and edited as enhanced RAW files in other programs like Lightroom. And PureRAW 6 fixes a major pain point of its predecessor while adding a brand new and potentially game-changing new feature.
DxO’s Black Friday deals may have been and gone, but there’s a new Christmas deal where you can save 20% if you buy two products, so that’s any combination of DxO PhotoLab 9.2, Nik Collection 8.2, DxO PureRAW 5.5, FilmPack 8 or ViewPoint 5. You’ll also get between 3 and 12 months of priority support, depending on the size of your order.
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.
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.
DxO PureRAW integrates really well with Lightroom. You can send a RAW file to PureRAW from within Lightroom for processing and it’s returned to your catalog ready to use. It will even have any edits you’ve previously applied in Lightroom. Capture One does not offer an equivalent workflow, but there is still a simple way to send raw files to PureRAW and get them returned to your catalog.
Lightroom’s new AI Denoise feature was the biggest news in Adobe’s April 2023 Lightroom update. Like so many other tools now appearing, it uses AI based denoising techniques directly on RAW image data to produce an enhanced RAW DNG file far superior to an image processed in the regular way. But is it as good as DxO’s DeepPRIME XD?
Black Friday may be over, but DxO now has a Holiday Magic offer running until December 31. If you buy two or more DxO products during this period it triggers a 30% discount at the checkout. This applies to any permutations of DxO products, including DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite, Nik Collection 5, PureRAW 2, FilmPack 6 or ViewPoint 4.
DxO PureRAW 2’s processing is better than Lightroom’s, but it can also be used from WITHIN Lightroom. So how does that work, and are the results (a) really worth the effort and (b) as good as regular RAW files to edit?