DxO PureRAW is a helpful software program that first appeared in 2021, promising photographers an answer to enhance the standard of Uncooked information by routinely correcting lens defects and eliminating picture noise. On this article, I’ll deal with the options that DxO added to PureRAW model 4 and the way they can assist your pictures.
First, an outline of the included options that DxO claims can “supercharge all of your cameras and lenses.” They’re, as said on the DxO internet web page:
- Lens softness compensation
- Demosaicing constructed on neural networks
- Business-leading noise discount powered by deep studying
- Superior distortion changes giving most area of view
- Chromatic aberration corrections tailor-made to your lens
- Vignetting rectification based mostly on exact measurements
The options are based mostly on a big database containing lens and digital camera info, in addition to laboratory measurements. This permits for the creation of correct profiles of defects and potential corrections. These options are all glorious, however truthfully, I can’t say they do a distinctly higher job than Seize One or Adobe when used on my typical Nikon Z information. If I shot with older or extra unconventional tools, which may be totally different.
The place DxO PureRAW 4 shines is in noise discount, each by way of the standard of the outcomes and the straightforward option to attain it. My opinion is that, with model 4, DxO not solely improves the effectiveness of their algorithm in preserving particulars whereas decreasing noise but additionally makes a step ahead in avoiding artifacts and the “artificial” feeling that digital photos can get if over-processed. All of that is because of introducing DeepPRIME XD2 and, most of all, giving extra person management over the depth of noise discount and element enchancment.
Let’s take a look at some examples utilizing pictures I took with a Z9 set at ISO 6400. Despite the fact that ISO 6400 isn’t extraordinarily excessive, I feel it’s excessive sufficient to obviously present the variations in outcomes. In actual fact, my expertise is that DxO PureRAW 4 is the simplest at bettering these “middle-high” ISO values, something from about ISO 1600 to 6400.
The primary picture is of a roe deer working by way of a area I photographed early within the morning. There wasn’t stunning mild that day due to low clouds and lightweight fog. The image above was developed with default settings for noise discount and sharpening with the most recent model of Seize One (16.4.2.1), whereas the model under was handled by DxO PureRAW 4.
Even uncropped, this can be a fairly spectacular distinction – simply click on on the photographs and swap between them to see. I’ll present DxO’s course of, in addition to crops, under.
Notice that you should use DxO PureRAW 4 as a Lightroom plugin, however I’m not a Lightroom person, so I maintain it as a standalone software. The method may be very easy and begins by dragging and dropping the picture into PureRAW:
From right here, I want to click on “Course of with Preview” on the backside (as an alternative of straightforward “Course of”). Until you wish to course of a batch of pictures with the identical settings, seeing the preview is the best way to go. That permits you to fine-tune your settings, which I think about to be one of many strengths of DxO PureRAW 4.
Within the subsequent display screen, you may flip on and off the correction you wish to apply (lens softness, vignetting, chromatic aberration, lens distortion). On this case, I used to be utilizing the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S – fairly lens, so I turned off the entire corrections besides noise discount. It’s also possible to select title, vacation spot folder, and output format (I want DNG).
As talked about earlier than, I counsel working with DeepPRIME XD2 as an alternative of the older algorithm. Then, you may regulate “luminance” and “drive particulars” to your style. I discover that I just like the outcomes probably the most after decreasing the luminance barely and growing “drive particulars.” The defaults are 40 and 0 respectively; I want 30 and 20 as an alternative.
The method could be lengthy. Utilizing my Mac Studio within the base configuration, it takes 18 seconds to course of a Nikon Z9 file. Due to this lengthy processing time, I counsel utilizing the preview characteristic to see the impact of the settings earlier than processing the file. Ultimately, DxO PureRAW 4 can save a DNG file that means that you can go ahead with the remainder of your workflow as regular. Merely ingest this DNG within the software program you like to make use of and develop it as an alternative of the unique Uncooked.
Beneath, you may see the comparability of three totally different developments of the earlier file. Clockwise, they’re:
- Manually making use of noise discount in Seize One through the use of masks (I used a delicate hand; others may push it additional)
- Utilizing auto processing with Seize One defaults
- DxO PureRAW 4 consequence with the settings I simply confirmed
To my eye, DxO even beats guide noise discount with masks, which was once the highest strategy in scenes like this.
Now I’ll present you a special image, portraying a pink fox in winter. The file was barely underexposed and a bit comfortable, so I added a bit extra noise discount and particulars this time.
That is the uncropped consequence:
And this a crop exhibiting actual pixels (picture proven at 100%; click on to see full dimension).
I feel that PureRAW 4 did an ideal job right here of creating the noise discount look pure, with out considerably harming the sharpness of the picture up shut.
Lastly, right here’s an image the place good noise discount was notably helpful. It was the primary lioness with a really younger cub that I noticed in my life. She emerged from a dense thicket and walked alongside our automotive. I used to be so thrilled that I didn’t think about a greater composition. I simply snapped some photographs and watched the marvel of a mom caring for her child.
And this a crop exhibiting actual pixels after noise discount (picture proven at 100%; click on to see full dimension).
I feel it’s excellent! I feel that the software program did an excellent job right here of decreasing noise regardless of the busy background. It has additionally saved a excessive degree of element on the lioness and her cub.
My recommendation, both if you’re a brand new person or if you happen to weren’t utterly glad with the earlier variations of DxO software program, is to offer PureRAW 4 a strive with an open thoughts. It’s simple to do as a result of DxO has a 14-day trial interval with fully-functional software program, and also you don’t want to supply any cost knowledge or bank card info. You may entry it right here.
Let me make clear that I’ve no relationship with DxO. I bought this software program for my particular person use final March, earlier than I labored for Pictures Life. Nonetheless, Pictures Life itself is a part of DxO’s associates program and may earn a fee if you happen to purchase something by way of the hyperlink above.
I hope you loved this text on utilizing DxO PureRAW 4. You probably have any questions or suggestions, please be happy to let me know within the feedback part under!