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PureRAW 4 – New release
The new PureRAW 4 interface will be integrated into this article in a future update.
PureRAW release 4 introduces new settings for controlling raw file enhancement functions.
DeepPRIME XD2 with noise processing settings
DeepPRIME XD2 is the new AI / deep learning release of DeepPRIME XD.
– Noise processing is improved; images are more detailed.
– The algorithm is less sensitive to the risk of artifacts; blurred areas (bokeh) are respected.
– For each type of denoising, setting sliders are now available.
Customization options are identical to PhotoLab’s.
DeepPRIME XD2 does not currently support X-trans files.
New real-time preview window
The most significant new feature of this release is the introduction of real-time image preview.
The impact of each denoising technology, as well as the effects of different optical correction settings, are visible over the entire image.
– The settings palette moves to the right-hand side of the window
– The image to be processed is displayed fully or divided, before / after
– Each correction (noise and optical corrections) can be selected independently. Image rendering is recalculated in real time
– The zoom factor is adjustable from full screen to 16:1 (via 1:1 = 100%).
It is no longer necessary to export the image to assess the result, at 100% or more.
An improved release of lens sharpness (optical modules) is introduced, eliminating any residual effects at light / dark transitions.
The new DeepPRIME XD2 and real-time display functions require a graphics card with a suitable GPU.
SmartLighting for JPEG
JPEG images can now be balanced with SmartLighting.
When exporting multiple images (e.g. DNG and JPEG), only the JPEG version benefits from these settings.
The SmartLighting values selected correspond to the weak / medium / strong settings in PhotoLab.
Advanced batch renaming
The file renaming function has been greatly improved and its possibilities extended.
It offers a wide range of renaming options, with the option of saving your choices in presets.
PureRAW auto launch
When a memory card or USB disk is inserted, a widget offers to launch PureRAW automatically. This option is optional, to be set in the preferences.
Do I need to upgrade to PureRAW 4?
This release is a major update. PureRAW becomes a complete utility.
– DeepPRIME XD2 noise reduction is a special asset for high-resolution raw images.
– Real-time previews for all settings, including DeepPRIME, meet a strong demand from users.With these two features, PureRAW 4 is now (provisionally, no doubt) one step ahead of PhotoLab. DxO has clearly raised the bar against the competition.
What’s more, the cost of the license has not increased, and has even fell slightly: $119 £109, and $79 £69 for upgrades from PR2 or PR3.
Why use PureRAW ?
DxO PureRAW is a demosaicing software that uses the PhotoLab Elite engine. It allows you to benefit from the correction of lens defects according to DxO and digital noise processing of raw files.
The output files can be sent to the user’s usual software where the processing will be finalized.
PhotoLab Elite users have no interest in using PureRAW.
PhotoLab has the same functions, with additional and customizable settings.
Workflow for an optimized file
PureRAW produces an optimized JPEG, TIFF or DNG output file.
The choice of image type depends on its destination.
* JPEG files are usually used as is, without post-processing. This is why PureRAW applies an additional automatic brightness correction, the DxO SmartLighting
* TIFF files are ideal for finalization in bitmap image editing software (PhotoShop, Affinity photo or GIMP for the most common). Their large size is the condition for a qualitative treatment
* Linear DNG files are to be preferred in a workflow with a development software (Adobe Camera Raw = Lightroom and Photoshop, Capture One).
Although demosaicing, these files look like a raw file with the same correction potential; the three RGB layers are separated. Because of this characteristic, their size is about three times that of an uncompressed raw file.
See the tutorial “Mastery of PhotoLab – Two export modes to DNG“
PureRAW Interface
PureRAW can be launched in three ways:
– PureRAW in standalone version
– From Lightroom Classic, via the plug-in Process with DxO PureRAW
– Directly from the File Explorer / Finder (without interface)
The last method is described in chapter alternative launch mode.
The PureRAW interface is basic.
– Add (Open) or Drag and Drop files into the PureRAW Lightbox
* The files present are displayed as thumbnails
* The optical module loading window opens when PureRAW finds one or more raw whose module is not yet present, or if there is a module ambiguity for which the lens used must be specified (the stored EXIF metadata correspond to several possible purposes)
See the tutorial “Mastery of PhotoLab – Hardware characterization“
Files are selected by default when they are newly added.
– Select or Unselect the whole, with the button of the toolbar
– Individually by clicking on the thumbnail or by group with CTRL or SHIFT key
Files sorting is done via the button at the top right:
– by file name (initial display)
– by date
– by ISO value range
The sort order is reversed by selecting the same sort criteria again.
Selection and sorting are important functions that allow us to perform a differentiated optimization of groups of images. E. g:
– Sort on ISO values allows you to select the high ISO photos for which to choose DeepPRIME noise treatment
– With another selection, we will choose to use the HQ processing for low ISO files
Double-clicking on a thumbnail opens the viewer window.
– Double click to switch between full screen and preferred zoom value (200%, etc.)
– Button to display preferred value OR wheel to zoom in/out
– Click and hold to navigate through the image
The displayed image is the result of a demosaicing processing without any correction (all options unchecked and no Noise Reduction).
PureRAW never displays the embedded JPEG version in the raw file.
This method makes it easy to see each image. It is an important aid to selection, for example by allowing you to see that a photo is not 100% clear on the screen and that it should be deleted.
The Lightbox can be emptied or the thumbnails deleted one by one.
This is to remove them from the PureRAW environment, never to destroy the files.
Optimization settings
– Select one or more photos
– Process Now button
The optimization criteria can be predefined for a group of photos according to the sorting criteria presented previously.
– Click the Add to Queue button
– Specify the correction parameters
– Repeat the operation
– Launch via the Continue processing button (in the middle of the lower toolbar)
The optimization window has three groups of settings:
1- Raw processing and Noise reduction technologies
PureRAW offers three demosaicing modes:
– HQ
– PRIME
– deepPRIME and deepPRIME XD
The HQ and PRIME modes are hidden by an option in the preferences.
See the tutorial “Efficiency with PhotoLab – Noise Reduction“
With a high-performance machine or if processing time is not an obstacle, it is advisable to systematically use DeepPRIME, including for low ISO photos for which the algorithm brings a notable improvement in the dark or underexposed areas.
DeepPRIME XD is reserved for delicate photos or those intended to be presented in large format.
Optical corrections
The optical corrections are a specificity of DxO from which PureRAW benefits.
These corrections are applied automatically according to the lens module characterized by DxO. In principle, there is no need to deactivate them.
They are presented in four groups:
* Lens softness reinforces the accentuation by contrasting the contours (the pixels at the borders between light and dark areas) present in the image.
They are qualitatively superior to their Adobe equivalents (Sharpness or Blur Mask).
Sharpness can be turned off without affecting other lens correction settings. However, the disabled sharpness is inconsistent since it corresponds to the standard value.
PhotoLab users access this setting through the Detail / Sharpness Mask / Global correction. They also have a set of finer adjustments.
PureRAW Standard corresponds to PhotoLab Global +1.
Soft, Strong and Hard values correspond to -1, +2 and +3.
See the tutorial “Mastering PhotoLab – Sharpness Control“
* Vignetting
* Chromatic Aberration
These corrections are also linked to the DxO lens module. They must always remain active.
* Lens Distorsion
This is a major point of the corrections module by DxO. It must be systematically activated.
Distortion correction most often results in a very visible change to the edges of the image. The DxO technology is known to exploit to the maximum the pixels located on the edges of the image.
There are three options for cropping the output:
– Image cropped to original ratio; Some side parts may disappear
– Maximum rectangle; The maximum number of pixels is kept
– Complete image area; All pixels of the photo are available and the image is presented in a barrel or pad
See the tutorial “Efficiency with PhotoLab – Cropping“
The Complete image area option allows you to recover interesting areas on the edge of the image in post-processing with a tool like Clone Stamp.
2- Output Format
Three output formats are available. They can all be checked for simultaneous output.
– DNG (linear)
– JPEG, with quality level adjustment
– TIFF, in 8-bit compressed or not, or 16 bits
The choice of JPEG quality level depends on the destination of the file. It is generally advisable to use a high quality (90 – 95%) which can be reduced for images intended for example for a diffusion on the Web.
Note that PureRAW does not allow to resize the output image which remains in the original definition of the camera.
16-bit TIFF encoding is the preferred choice for uncompromised working quality for later correction in the host software.
However, some software does not accept 16-bit TIFF files.
Destination folder
The output files are created in a sub-folder of the original photos; DxO.
Or choose any other folder.
File Renaming is a very important option during the calibration phase of pureRAW for your needs. That allows you to specify the characteristics of the image optimized by PureRAW.
By default, the demosaicing and noise reduction mode is indicated before or after the file_name.extension.
This option is interesting to develop the same image several times with different criteria.
When a previous output has created a first file, PureRAW offers the following choices when starting the optimization :
– Overwrite; the previous output file is overwritten
– Use unique name; an index -2, etc is added to the output file name
It can be interesting to inform the sharpness correction brought to the image. We have seen that different optimization criteria can be predefined in the queue.
When several output formats (DNG + JPEG + TIFF) are requested, they are processed in this order and the last processed output is displayed (example.tif).
The viewer window displays the last processed version, which in our example is TIFF.
Please note that the JPEG version is displayed when outputting a DNG + JPEG file
The new versions are always made from the raw.
3- Export mode
This option allows you to send the optimized files to the software that will finalize the processing.
– Don’t export after processing: The optimized file.s is.are dropped in the destination folder.
This option is interesting for a sequential workflow; the photos are first optimized and then finalized in a second step
– Select Software to continue working in the automatically opened program at the end of processing (continuous workflow)
During the installation, PureRAW detected the existing compatible software and filled in the list of choices.
It is possible to add other software to this list.
The export can be requested in the Export setting OR at the end of the processing, the behavior will be identical in both cases.
Be sure to export to a software able to demosaic raw if the format is DNG.
Start the optimization
The files selected in the Lightbox are processed.
The queue is accessible via the buttons at the bottom of the PureRAW screen.
Files can be distributed in batches.
– Add to queue; allows you to distinguish between different batches
It is not necessary to wait for the end of the treatment of a batch to launch another one.
The sorting options at the top right of the screen allow you to prepare batches according to the nature of the images and/or different settings.
– Show queue; description of the treatment
Change the order (by dragging the thumbnail) to move a photo to the top of the list.
The processed images appear with a check mark on the thumbnail.
The visualization window (double click) is then enriched with two functionalities.
– Button for split display Original / Optimized
– Before / After comparison toggle
Export to a software
The chosen software will automatically open on the optimized files.
– A bitmap editor (Affinity photo, GIMP …) expects a TIFF image
– A raw development software expects a DNG file
Some software can only open one image at a time.
Exporting in DNG to Photoshop opens the Adobe Camera Raw window.
Specific export to Lightroom Classic.
PureRAW opens the Lightroom library on the optimized files folder.
The behavior of this export is different from the plug-in launched from Lightroom Classic; it does not create a collection with the optimized files.
User can choose between the two methods.
PureRAW as a plug-in for Lightroom Classic
For the expert user of Lightroom Classic, the interest is to stay in their environment. The privileged workflow is the optimization of DNG files directly exploitable by the development module.
– Raw files are sorted and selected in the Lightroom library
– The PureRAW plug-in is called from the menu File / External Modules – Extra
The adjustments previously made in Lightroom (on the raw) are applied to the DNG file returned by PureRAW.
Processing and return in Lightroom
The system opens a processing window with a header specific to Lr.
The settings are the same as the standalone version.
When using this procedure (PureRAW as a plugin of Lightroom Classic), a collection is created on return to Lr.
This is not the case when exporting to Lr from the standalone version.
As the optical corrections are done by PureRAW, the corresponding settings are disabled (grayed out) in ACR / Lr Development module.
Alternative launch mode
From the File Explorer / Finder
– Right-click on one or more raw files
– If necessary, the optical module loading window will be displayed
The first four options in the pop-up menu allow you to specify the level of noise processing and the type of output file.
The optimization and destination settings are predefined by DxO and cannot be changed. On the other hand, this method combines simplicity and speed.
The 5th option Process using with application settings is a special one; the treatment is performed according to the settings applied during the last use of the standalone application.
This option implies that at least one optimization with output has been performed beforehand in the software.
However, it allows you to use the full potential of PureRAW’s settings and options in a simplified process.
This method is particularly suitable for expert users.
Prerequisites for using PureRAW
The requirements are the same as for PhotoLab.
* Raw files to be processed are mandatory come from a camera characterized by DxO. DNG files, native or converted by Adobe DNG converter, are accepted under the same conditions
* To benefit from optical corrections and sharpness optimization, it is also necessary that the couple camera + lens is characterized by DxO.
Without a lens module, the processing remains possible but without any image improvement.
* Because of the computational power required by the advanced noise processing features (PRIME, DeepPRIME, and DeepPRIME XD), a suitable graphics card is desirable to use GPU acceleration
See the tutorial “Mastery of PhotoLab – Software and Hardware configuration“
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