News Purer and faster fromDxO DxO has reacted to feedback and supercharged its PureRaw software. Version 2 is quicker and even more user-friendly – and works with files from Fujifilm X-Trans cameras
Digital noise is not an issue, unless you are shooting at very high ISO speeds. But even then, most recent cameras capture superb quality at ISO 1600, 3200 and beyond – especially with editing in post. DxO PureRaw is a software for denoising and demosaicing digital files, particularly its DeepPrime function. Version 2 offers the same features, only it meshes more intuitively and smoothly with Lightroom Classic. Now, you may right-click on Raws for PureRaw to process, and return to the same folder. This functionality is possible with Windows File Explorer and the MacOS Finder. Fujifilm X-Trans camera users can also enjoy PureRaw 2’s benefits. A beta version of DeepPrime was available in DxO PhotoLab 5, but the full version is available on this new software. So, if you have files from the Fujifilm X-T1 and X-Pro1, PureRaw 2 will inject a new lease of life into them. And, of course, the same also applies to a host of older camera models from other brands.
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WORK SMARTER PureRaw has three clean-up options, with DeepPrime the most effective. You get an indication of the time it will take for processing and final file size – and can save to DNG or JPEG
Speed is also something that DxO has significantly improved, now 1.5 times faster on Windows and up to four times faster on Apple M1 Macs. In addition, putting Raws through PureRaw means you can benefit from DxO Optics Modules, making the most of your lenses and correcting
distortion, vignetting and aberrations automatically. Over 70,000 camera/ lens combinations are in the DxO database, and you get the option of using the profiles before processing. DxO PureRaw costs £115; the upgrade from the original is £69. shop.dxo.com
the Vanguard website. vanguardworld.co.uk
USERTEST WILL CHEUNG, PN EDITOR I did some testing with PureRaw 2, using Raws shot at a range of ISO settings, and from a wide variety of cameras – including Fujifilm X models. Processing speed is much
removing noise and enhancing detail, and this applies to old Raws, as well as those from contemporary cameras. It also gave a benefit with Raws shot at lower ISOs, but that could be minimal, and not worth the effort given the increase in file size. In fact, I did one test with a Z 9 Raw and thought that the PureRaw 2 result was actually marginally worse than the native file, with detail looking less crisp. This was the one exception in all the files I tested – and in general, there was a tangible quality boost. PureRaw 2 is excellent, and will probably become an integral part of my workflow.
faster compared to the original version. Using an M1 Mac Mini, a Fujifilm GFX100S Raw (105MB) took 30secs in version 2, and 104secs in the old software. A Nikon Z 7II Raw went through in 20secs and 47secs, respectively. It’s worth noting that processed DNG files are much bigger than the original Raw. In the case of the 105MB Raw processed here, the final file was 365MB. There’s no doubt that PureRaw 2 does a great job
FEEL THE NOISE The original was shot on a Nikon D800 at ISO 25,600. Top right is the image through Lightroom and bottom right is the PureRaw 2 DeepPrime version. Improvements are massive – blacks are deep, detail looks great and the noise has gone
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