As the name suggests DxO Optics Pro 6.5 is aimed at serious photographers looking to extract the best possible images from their RAW files.
Why Use RAW
The original image data from a digital camera sensor is in 12 or 14 bit format. This is the number of alternatives or the range of values available to describe a color or light intensity for each pixel The more bits the more detail that can be described.
If photographers save their digital photos straight to JPEG format in the camera the information is reduced to an 8 bit digital photo file. Some of the image data is ignored and fine detail is lost in the process of converting the RAW data to produce the JPEG digital photo. This loss is not critical when producing the final print or web version, but it is significant in the editing and resizing processes.
Using DxO Optics Pro RAW converter gives photographers greater control over exposure and color balance of their images. The extra information in the unprocessed image file makes some recovery of what appears to be blown highlights possible as well as showing more shadow detail. This process does not alter the original image file, instead applies the final exposure and color temperature adjustments and settings to the output copy of the digital photo. Tis can be in JPEG or TIFF formats.
Features and Operations
Select
There is more to this than appears at first. It really is quite powerful. There are three panes in the selection window, the left displays the directory and drive structure, the main pane shows thumbnails of the images in the selected folder an along the bottom is the project strip.To select a file for use drag the thumbnail to the project strip. The thumbnails in the project strip are only copies and of the preview thumbnail.
Image thumbnails in the project strip can come from different directories, and even drives. DxO Optics Pro keeps track of where the original RAW files are stored, allowing this selection of images to become a project for re-use. Typically this could be for images on a related subject but from different shooting sessions.
Importantly the original RAW files stay in their original location and are never altered in the DxO Optics pro editing process.
Customize
This the editing window where the appearance of the output file is determined. This is an array of tools for adjusting the image presentation on both sides of the central pane. there are three sets , or workplaces, of DxO Optic Pro editing tools. The workplaces range from basic automatic adjustments to comprehensive and detailed advanced tools.
Highlighting an image in the project strip enables editing of that image. Highlighting more than one image in the project strip enables batch editing of the selected images.
Process
This is the output section where the editing adjustments are applied to selected files from the project and the type size and location for w the output files.
The Verdict
DxO Optics Pro is a powerful RAW Converter offering a far wider range of photo editing than can be explored in detail in this introductory article. This in itself suggest it is worth a look for any photographer looking to go beyond the ubiquitous Adobe Raw Converter.
The only major drawback found so far is the lack of support for RAW files created with older DSLRs. While the cameras may not be in use, the RAW files could still be in a photographer’s image collection and one of the advantages of the RAW format is the ability to keep working from an unaltered original. Unfortunately, it is not possible to apply DxO Optics Pro’s advanced capabilities to some RAW files in a collection of digital photos.
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