DxO Optics Pro 11 Essential is an image enhancement tool that automatically artefacts the distortion in wide-angle lenses removed and is particularly suitable for RAW images.
The software also comes with a full range of correction options and comes with several presets to get the most out of every snapshot. Until July 31, 2018, you can get the full version of the current 11th edition completely free of charge.
This is the essential version, for which almost $100 are normally due. It gets the maximum image quality and optical precision from photos.
Anyone who uses it will be surprised that the program even manages to correct deviations and errors that until now have been assumed to be inevitable characteristics of its cameras and lenses.
RAW image processing in DxO PhotoLab should work almost automatically thanks to automatic image analysis. The manufacturer also promises a retouching brush and local adjustments which tested the software.
DxO Optics Pro offers countless ways to improve your digital photos. The core feature is the technology called “DxO Prime”, which is intended to reduce noise in RAW files.
While many cameras can automatically suppress noise in the less high-quality JPG recordings, additional software is required for uncompressed RAW files such as DxO Optics Pro.
Of course, you can also manually adjust and optimize your photos in numerous details in the clear interface. For this, DxO relies on a simple slider logic with which laypersons can get along quickly and professionals have no limits.
[box title=”” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#fff8ef” border_style=”solid” bg_color=”#fff8ef” align=”left”]Batch processing is also on board, with which you can process many images in one go with the same parameters and thereby save considerable time. DxO Pro is available in two different editions one is Essential Edition and the other is Elite Edition.
Older versions of the program differed in the supported camera models, there was a cheap version for owners of consumer cameras and an expensive one that worked with professional cameras. This difference has not existed since DxO Optics Pro 10.
Since this version and thus also with the current DxO Optics Pro 11, the difference is that only the Elite Edition has the functions that lead to particularly high-quality results; in principle, the functions that are unique DxO Optics Pro are.
Above all, this includes the particularly efficient prime noise reduction, the contrast enhancement clear view and the anti-moire tool. In the test, we took a close look at the Elite Edition.
With PhotoLab 1 there is only supposedly a completely new RAW image processing at the start. Because DxO has renamed its software Optics Pro (previously version 11) for the current update and restarted the version numbering.
Unfortunately, the unnecessary separation into two editions has remained the same with a surcharge. After all, you are not forced to subscribe here. We tested the Elite version due to the significantly larger selection of tools.
While DxO 10 focuses on preserving the details in homogeneous areas, DxO 11 gives priority to the transition between the colour tones. As a result, DxO 10 appears somewhat clearer on surfaces, while DxO 11 creates a softer impression.
The noise is even more reduced but is accompanied by a loss of detail. I find it difficult to set a preference here. The details in these dark areas of the image can most easily be neglected due to a more harmonious image impression.
While the user interface is presented in the usual layout, the functionality has been improved. It is gratifying that photos can still be easily accessed and edited via the folder navigation.
[box title=”” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#fff8ef” border_style=”solid” bg_color=”#fff8ef” align=”left”]There is no need to import them into your image database. An automatic correction can be carried out as soon as you open the image. This is based on camera and lens data stored in the RAW image.
DxO loads the appropriate correction values based on hardware tests from the server and corrects lens focus errors, distortions or sensor-related problems as well as colours fully automatically.
This does not yet provide a perfect picture, but the subsequent adjustment is much more fixed. In the actual processing, the functions are housed in a large range, the arrangement of the elements can be changed as desired.
[/box]Editing with two screens or even an almost “window-free” full-screen mode is feasible.
The correction tools encompass everything you need to optimize the image; frequently, intelligent automatic functions such as SmartLightning or ClearView can be used on request, which combines several parameters in one slider.
DxO Smart lighting is a handy feature to restore details in over- or under-exposed areas of the image. This is useful for backlit pictures. Smart lighting is a practical feature that we have been using as a standard for many years.
DxO OpticsPro 11 now has face recognition integrated, which optimizes the exposure on faces very similar to the spot on your camera.
To do this, you have to switch from “homogeneous” to “selective” in the DxO interface in the Smart Lighting area. DxO then tries to recognize faces automatically. This works very well in the test with frontal shots.
The tool shows how many faces are recognized. However, if faces are cut sideways several people appear in the picture with an unfavourable perspective or if part of the face is covered, the automatic system fails.
In this case, you can also use the selective tool to manually mark faces. As a result, faces appear more natural and the exposure in the images is more homogeneous.
Overall, a practical function DxO will introduce even more tools with selective correction in the future. The step would be welcome and also saves time in further image processing.
The settings for micro-contrast in DxO Optics Pro are well suited for working out structure and details in images. For this DxO 11 now offers an automatic mode which you can now activate right next to the micro-contrast slider.
In DxO 11 there are more functions, the exit data of your images are displayed along with a thumbnail on the right side.
Conclusion!!
I can say that DxO 11 is not a revolutionary update, but offers numerous useful innovations, which in particular simplify and accelerate the mass processing of RAW files.