DXO Gives Photographers a Major Update with PureRAW 6

DxO PureRAW has been a go-to item in the workflow of photographers for years. PureRAW launched back in 2021, designed as a tool to preprocess Raw files before they go into an editor. The software de-noises your image, then corrects for defects in your optical path or the sensor. To do this, DxO maintains an extensive database of lenses and sensors so it can match your equipment to the corrections.

What's New?

This latest version of PureRAW, version 6, has some extensive improvements that seem to me to be a bigger leap than some of the previous versions.

First, version 6 extends DeepPRIME XD3 — previously exclusive to X-Trans sensors — to deliver its extensive noise reduction and detail extraction for both Bayer and X-Trans cameras. This latest version also brings a host of intelligent improvements: game-changing new DNG compression that delivers Raw quality at a fraction of the file size; AI sensor dust removal that cleans entire batches of images; and powerful workflow improvements.

According to Jean-Marc Alexia, VP of Product Strategy at DxO:

With this release, we've made extraordinary image quality more accessible than ever. DeepPRIME XD3 extends the power of our neural network to every camera type, while workflow improvements give photographers a faster, smarter, and more enjoyable experience from start to finish. It's the essential first step of every raw workflow.

One of the most interesting changes in this latest PureRAW software is DNG compression that leaves you with smaller files.

DxO claims this new High-Fidelity Compression delivers Raw-quality output in DNG files up to four times smaller than standard uncompressed versions. This breakthrough means that photographers no longer need to compromise between quality and storage. DxO's intelligent compression technology maintains the full dynamic range and flexibility of a Raw workflow while dramatically reducing disk usage. Large-scale processing and archiving become faster, lighter, and more efficient than ever.

AI Sensor Dust Removal

This one was a surprise, but a welcome one. The company claims this is the most advanced and accurate automatic dust-spot correction available. By harnessing the power of AI, DxO PureRAW 6 intelligently identifies and removes sensor dust marks across entire batches of images.

Users can fine-tune the cleaning threshold for total control, while automation eliminates the need for tedious manual retouching. The result is a spotless workflow that saves time and preserves image integrity, even when processing thousands of photos at once.

Faster Processing: Batch Parallelization

DxO PureRAW 6 accelerates high-volume processing with new batch parallelization, intelligently preparing the next image before the previous one is finished. The result is dramatically faster throughput and smoother handling of large sets of files.

Giving PureRAW 6 a Try

I was sent a near-release-quality beta to try, and it was a great experience. You drag any Raw image onto the app, or it can batch process multiple images.

I gave PureRAW a Hasselblad X2D II 100C image with their new Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E lens, which was immediately identified.

I did a 300 percent zoom to see if PureRAW was increasing detail and sharpness, and it was readily obvious in the cactus near the top of the photo. Compare the cactus on the right, which passed through PureRAW, and the one on the left, which was straight out of camera.

I also tried a drone image from a DJI Mavic 4 Pro. PureRAW identified the camera right away and fixed some minor distortion in the wide angle lens, and sharpened the image as well. The sharpening is easy to see if you compare the distant roof tiles. The sharpened version is on the right; the original image is on the left.

Again, I'm zooming to 300% to see the details.

Sensor dust removal worked well. Adobe, Skylum, and others have similar technologies to clean up dust. In a couple of trials, PureRAW 6 edged out the competition.

The results of using DxO PureRAW are not subtle, and I think photographers wanting the best from their cameras and optics should think seriously about using this unique software. DxO offers a free trial so you can see if it makes a difference for you.

What I Liked

• It just works without fiddling around
• PureRAW provides a Lightroom plug-in
• AI dust removal is an added plus
• New support for X-Trans sensors for XD3 processing
• Raw files are compressed without quality loss, saving disk space
• Batch processing is noticeably faster

What Could Be Better

I'm at a loss here. I'm sure there will be improvements in the software capabilities in future iterations, but it's really excellent in this release. It was stable, and improved every Raw file I fed it.

How toGet PureRAW 6

It's available as a download today from DXO. Pricing has not changed from the last several versions:

• New license: $139.99 / €129.99 / £119.99
• Upgrades from DxO PureRAW 4 or 5: $89.99 / €79.99 / £74.99

You can get a 14 day free trial here.