Reviews |DxO PhotoLab 2 announced: price and release date confirmed

DxO PhotoLab 2 announced: price and release date confirmed

DxO PhotoLab 5 review
News

Last year DxO PhotoLab was revealed as the successor to DxO Optics Pro. Like Optics Pro, it uses the results of DxO scientific analysis of camera and lens performance to make corrections to images. However, whereas Optics Pro only allows global adjustments, PhotoLab also offers local adjustments through the use of U-Points. This U-Point Technology was enabled by DxO’s acquisition of Nik Software from Google.

Now DxO has announced PhotoLab 2 which introduces an improved version of the haze-busting ClearView feature and a new PhotoLibrary.

The main purpose of the PhotoLibrary is to help you locate your images through the use of smart searching. This means that when you start to type in a search parameter, the software will automatically suggest search terms and start to show previews of images that fit the criteria. If you type ’11’ for example, the software will suggest f/11 or the date of 11th.

DxO PhotoLab 2 announced: price and release date confirmed

The search tool is quite limited at the moment, you can only search for images using exposure information, the shooting date or image star ratings. However, DxO will be extending the range of search terms over coming months with keyword searching being possible by the end of the year.

ClearView 2

If you’ve ever taken any long-distance shots, particularly in mountainous areas, you may have noticed some haze in the distance. This is a particular problem for landscape photographers. DxO developed its ClearView tool to deal with it by enhancing the local contrast and boosting detail levels.

DxO has now evolved the technology and introduced ClareView2 for PhotoLab 2. The new version allows more extreme adjustments to be made, to cut through even more haze and bring out more detail. More importantly, it makes these adjustments without creating the halo effect that is often seen around nearer, higher-contrast objects.

DxO PhotoLab2 Price and Availability

DxO PhotoLab 2 is available now. Until 18th November it will retail for:

DxO PhotoLab 2 ESSENTIAL Edition: £79.99/$99.99
DxO PhotoLab 2 ELITE Edition: £119.99/$159

After 18th November it will retail for:

DxO PhotoLab 2 ESSENTIAL Edition: £99/$129
DxO PhotoLab 2 ELITE Edition: £159/$199