DXO PL3 on sale

30% off. A very good developer.

digital paradise wrote in post #19033269
30% off. A very good developer.

Its been my software choice for over two years.

mwsilver wrote in post #19033624
Its been my software choice for over two years.

Same here.

https://www.youtube.co​m/user/DxOLabs/videos

Not being familiar with DXO, is this an easy to use editing software for someone just starting out?
Not really interested in Photoshop as I don't want a monthly subscription and I don't know that I need all the extras that Photoshop is capable of doing.
Any links or threads to DXO products that you think would be helpful to the beginner would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Quack Me Up wrote in post #19036731
Not being familiar with DXO, is this an easy to use editing software for someone just starting out?
Not really interested in Photoshop as I don't want a monthly subscription and I don't know that I need all the extras that Photoshop is capable of doing.
Any links or threads to DXO products that you think would be helpful to the beginner would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Yes, it is easier to use than Lightroom or PhotoShop but this professional level software still has a learning curve to get the best out of it. Experience with other post processing software is useful to understand the purpose of the tools, and how to use them.Although it will work with jpegs and tiff files, it is primarily a raw processor, which is where its strength lies.

Someone new to post processing would probably struggle understanding when to apply adjustments and why. PhotoLab has a minimal file management system which does not require importing images locations into a database like Lightroom. When you initially set it up you indicate the folder on your computer where your images reside. and all its sub folders will be available each time you start the program.

You can download PhotoLab for a 30 day free trial. There are two versions, the basic PhotoLab Essential and the full featured PhotoLab Elite, which in addition to all the tools in the Essential version has DXO's acclaimed noise reduction system, PRIME (usable only on raw files), and their wonderful haze removal tool, ClearView Plus. Elite also allows you to completely configure PhotoLab's interface.

mwsilver wrote in post #19036977
Yes, it is easier to use than Lightroom or PhotoShop but this professional level software still has a learning curve to get the best out of it. Experience with other post processing software is useful to understand the purpose of the tools, and how to use them.Although it will work with jpegs and tiff files, it is primarily a raw processor, which is where its strength lies.

Someone new to post processing would probably struggle understanding when to apply adjustments and why. PhotoLab has a minimal file management system which does not require importing images locations into a database like Lightroom. When you initially set it up you indicate the folder on your computer where your images reside. and all its sub folders will be available each time you start the program.

You can download PhotoLab for a 30 day free trial. There are two versions, the basic PhotoLab Essential and the full featured PhotoLab Elite, which in addition to all the tools in the Essential version has DXO's acclaimed noise reduction system, PRIME (usable only on raw files), and their wonderful haze removal tool, ClearView Plus. Elite also allows you to completely configure PhotoLab's interface.

Thanks for the input. I always set the camera to save a raw and a jpeg image so working with the raw file is fine with me. I try to get the best image possible in camera so I'm not looking to try and salvage a poorly exposed image etc unless it's that million to one image that needs to be saved. It is nice to be able to salvage some detail in the whites and blacks when exposure issues happen but I'm sure the camera itself dictates how much detail is there to be salvaged in the first place for the most part. I know I probably will never use any software even close to it's capabilities with all the features available and I'm fine with that. I'd rather have excess features rather than regret buying insufficient software although I doubt anything available now would be labeled as insufficient for what I need.
I'm totally open to any advice or opinions.
Thank you.

Quack Me Up wrote in post #19037072
Thanks for the input. I always set the camera to save a raw and a jpeg image so working with the raw file is fine with me. I try to get the best image possible in camera so I'm not looking to try and salvage a poorly exposed image etc unless it's that million to one image that needs to be saved. It is nice to be able to salvage some detail in the whites and blacks when exposure issues happen but I'm sure the camera itself dictates how much detail is there to be salvaged in the first place for the most part. I know I probably will never use any software even close to it's capabilities with all the features available and I'm fine with that. I'd rather have excess features rather than regret buying insufficient software although I doubt anything available now would be labeled as insufficient for what I need.
I'm totally open to any advice or opinions.
Thank you.

While post processing software is able to salvage poorly exposed images, that is a side benefit only and is not the main purpose of such software. There are no excess features in any quality editors, merely features one might use more often or less often. I often apply a significant number of edits to well exposed images to make the results even better. I use a variety of tools and techniques to get the best from my images. They often include such things.as extracting details that may be hidden in deep shadows areas without introducing noise, or fixing perspective issues, or removing a distracting object like a wire running across the main subject of the image, or changing the lighting or contrast, or applying targeted local adjustments to specific areas of an image for dodging or burning, or a thousand other things that will help turn a good image into a great one..

mwsilver wrote in post #19037076
While post processing software is able to salvage poorly exposed images, that is a side benefit only and is not the main purpose of such software. There are no excess features in any quality editors, merely features one might use more often or less often. I often apply a significant number of edits even to well exposed images to make the results even better. I may apply a variety of edits and techniques, as an example extracting details that may be hidden in deep shadows areas without introducing noise.

I agree. I just used the exposure problem/corrections as an example of possible uses for any software. I am primarily a bird/wildlife photographer so I would be interested in fine sharpening in the subjects eyes for example. The sky is the limit with any software but I don't like seeing images that are over saturated and appear to obviously have been manipulated with software. My opinion is that I like the image to look as natural as possible if that makes sense.

Quack Me Up wrote in post #19037077
I agree. I just used the exposure problem/corrections as an example of possible uses for any software. I am primarily a bird/wildlife photographer so I would be interested in fine sharpening in the subjects eyes for example. The sky is the limit with any software but I don't like seeing images that are over saturated and appear to obviously have been manipulated with software. My opinion is that I like the image to look as natural as possible if that makes sense.

Don't blame the software for highly over saturated images. That is often the result of people who don't know how to use it properly or sometimes those who feel that if moderate adjustments are good, more extreme adjustments must be better. Then too many up us have a vision of what we want our end results to look like. Photography is an artificial medium and an art form. There are few images taken by anyone that look exactly like what we see with our own eyes. Post processing allows us to invoke moods and emotions, to change the emphasis of an image, and to help draw in the eye of the viewer. Good post processing goes hand in hand with good composition.

I don't blame the software for any image issues. I'm just stating that me personally I don't like to see an image that has obviously been over manipulated to my own eyes.
We all have our own personal taste and that's what makes photography interesting. It would be boring if we all liked the exact same thing.

‘’ Not being familiar with DXO, is this an easy to use editing software for someone just starting out? ‘’

Well; yes and no.
Looks like you are not a rookie and you know what to do with RAW files. We are not talking just about bad exposed images. We also have images with lots of highlights and deep shadows and sometimes you need to rescue some highlights and push some shadows. Not all converters are equally capable.
I’m using DxO from DxO Optics Pro 8 and now I’m on DxO Photolab 3. I also use LIghtroom, Photoshop with ACR and Capture One Pro.
I’m also an active member of DxO forum where I can talk to other users what works good in DxO and what could be better.
DxO works for some images and Lightroom is better for other images. For third type of images I use Capture One.

I won’t go into details at this moment but if you go to DxO forum and read some threads you will get a feeling how DxO software works. Below are a few links. Read carefully and you will find most information you are looking for.
https://forum.dxo.com …with-orange-tint/12268/14
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …ort-sharpness-slider/8255
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …g-on-export-improved/7873
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …ions-doing-the-work/11925
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …lective-tone-sliders/7446
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …lective-tone-control/9916
Join DxO forum and do some research and ask questions to forum members.

First thing to accept is DxO is not Lightroom and it’s not as most of other RAW converters on the market. It has different RAW developing philosophy and sliders don’t work as in Lightroom or any other software.
For example; ‘Selective tone sliders’ (Highlights, Midtones, Shadows and Blacks) don’t work the same as in Lightroom. They overlap. So; if you use Lightroom you will need to accept this difference and reset your workflow.
As I wrote; DxO works differently as Lightroom.

I strongly suggest that you first download free DxO Photolab trial version and play with it before you spend your money.

Mathmans wrote in post #19038753
‘’ Not being familiar with DXO, is this an easy to use editing software for someone just starting out? ‘’

Well; yes and no.
Looks like you are not a rookie and you know what to do with RAW files. We are not talking just about bad exposed images. We also have images with lots of highlights and deep shadows and sometimes you need to rescue some highlights and push some shadows. Not all converters are equally capable.
I’m using DxO from DxO Optics Pro 8 and now I’m on DxO Photolab 3. I also use LIghtroom, Photoshop with ACR and Capture One Pro.
I’m also an active member of DxO forum where I can talk to other users what works good in DxO and what could be better.
DxO works for some images and Lightroom is better for other images. For third type of images I use Capture One.

I won’t go into details at this moment but if you go to DxO forum and read some threads you will get a feeling how DxO software works. Below are a few links. Read carefully and you will find most information you are looking for.
https://forum.dxo.com …with-orange-tint/12268/14
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …ort-sharpness-slider/8255
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …g-on-export-improved/7873
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …ions-doing-the-work/11925
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …lective-tone-sliders/7446
https://feedback.dxo.c​om …lective-tone-control/9916
Join DxO forum and do some research and ask questions to forum members.

First thing to accept is DxO is not Lightroom and it’s not as most of other RAW converters on the market. It has different RAW developing philosophy and sliders don’t work as in Lightroom or any other software.
For example; ‘Selective tone sliders’ (Highlights, Midtones, Shadows and Blacks) don’t work the same as in Lightroom. They overlap. So; if you use Lightroom you will need to accept this difference and reset your workflow.
As I wrote; DxO works differently as Lightroom.

I strongly suggest that you first download free DxO Photolab trial version and play with it before you spend your money.

Describe overlap.

digital paradise wrote in post #19038785
Describe overlap.

Specifically the adjustment range of the global highlights and shadows sliders affects mid-tones too much, which is a very noticeable issue at higher settings. To get around that I sometimes use local adjustments to target areas that require highlight, shadow, and blacks adjustments. In addition the judicious use of the global smart lighting tool, especially spot smart lighting, in conjunction with other tools, is more effective than just relying on the highlights and shadows slider alone.

mwsilver wrote in post #19038816
Specifically the adjustment range of the global highlights and shadows sliders affects mid-tones too much, which is a very noticeable issue at higher settings. To get around that I sometimes use local adjustments to target areas that require highlight, shadow, and blacks adjustments. In addition the judicious use of smart lighting, especially spot smart lighting in conjunction with other tools is more effective than just relying on the highlights and shadows slider alone.

Thanks