DxO PhotoLab already had a formidable set of local adjustment tools, including some that rivals don’t have. PhotoLab’s clever control point masks and control lines, which effectively combine linear masks with selective masking, are unique to DxO. But other makers had already introduced AI masking with automatic region, subject and object detection, so it was about time PhotoLab caught up – and that’s exactly what DxO has done with the launch of PhotoLab 9.
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Black and white software and plug-ins – do you need them?
There are many different ways to create compelling black and white images in regular photo editors, but there are also software plug-ins dedicated to black and white effects and analog film simulations. So do you actually need them?
ON1 Photo RAW 2026 announced, available ‘this fall’
On the same day that DxO released PhotoLab 9, ON1 software has announced the latest version of its own combined photo editing and organising application – ON1 Photo RAW 2026. Unlike PhotoLab 9, it’s not available straight away… but the list of new features does look very compelling, with major updates to AI masking, Resize AI and the Effects module.
DxO PhotoLab 9 review: a major update for DxO’s flagship photo editor
Verdict: 4.5 stars DxO PhotoLab 9 is a powerful photo editor which includes basic but effective image organizing tools too. It’s the latest update to DxO’s flagship photo editing software and adds AI masking, iPhone HEIF and ProRAW support and DeepPRIME processing for Fujifilm’s latest X-Trans sensors. It’s not cheap to buy and it’s not especially easy to learn but it certainly repays the effort. The quality of the lens corrections, the RAW processing, the DeepPRIME AI noise reduction combine to make this one of the best photo-editors on the market for RAW shooters.
What is solarisation in photography and how do you recreate it digitally?
Solarisation is a darkroom printing technique made famous by photographer Man Ray, and it involves re-exposing a print to light half way through its development time. This results in a partial reversal of the tones in the image, so that you get a mixture of a positive and negative image.
Reviews
Adobe Lightroom review (2025)
Adobe Lightroom (2025) verdict: 4.1 stars Adobe Lightroom does something pretty amazing. It makes all your photos available to organize and edit anywhere, on any device. But this does come at a cost. One drawback is that you have to pay for Adobe’s Creative Cloud storage, which is now included in its subscription plans. Another is that this version of Lightroom is slicker and more streamlined than the original Lightroom Classic, but also sacrifices some organizational features.
DxO Nik Collection 8 review
Verdict: 4.6 stars Nik Collection 8 has some interesting new features for existing users, but mostly for those who use Photoshop as their main ‘host’ application for launching the plug-ins. Silver Efex gets a major interface overhaul, however. This is very welcome, though its actual capabilities are little changed. Otherwise, apart from some workflow tweaks, it’s business as usual for this epic plug-in suite. Frankly, the Nik Collection is already such a wide-ranging, powerful and inspiring set of photo-enhancement tools that it’s always a bit of a surprise to find DxO has found anything to improve.
DxO PureRAW 5 review
Verdict: 4.4 stars PureRAW 5 brings an even newer, even better DeepPRIME XD3 denoising process, XD3 X-Trans sensor support in beta, new local adjustments for selective sharpening and denoising and new custom presets for export. The results are quite amazing, as ever, though it’s hard to see any visible improvement over the earlier DeepPRIME XD2 process and there are a couple of niggly little operational glitches.
Why don’t I talk about ACDSee?
I review a lot of software on Life after Photoshop but I rarely talk about ACDSee. Why? On the face of it, ACDSee Photo Studio 2025 is a powerful all-in-one photo organizing, developing and editing tool that embraces the latest developments in AI and is available both as a subscription and subscription free. So what’s not to like?
How to articles
Is there a Leica ‘look’, how do you get it, and how much is actually your camera work?
I’ve had a fascination with the Leica ‘look’ ever since I first went on a shoot with a digital Leica M rangefinder. The contrast and colors were exceptionally intense, the M-series lenses added a subtle vignette at wider apertures and there was an intriguing shift in the color palette compared to the clinical accuracy of other cameras.
Everyday edits: This minimalist still life shows Lightroom’s AI masking working perfectly
Minimalism, brutalism and architecture, three of my favourite things. So when I got the chance to spend a week in a converted WWII bunker, I spent much of my time exploring the objects, compositions and lighting in this strange but extraordinary environment.
Everyday edits: Bournemouth Pier, with Lightroom Classic’s Storm Clouds Adaptive Preset
It was a dark, blustery day in May. Bournemouth, on the UK’s southern coastline, was not looking its best. But I didn’t want to try to glamourise it, I wanted to make this place look exactly how it felt on that day – only more so.
Have I been looking at dynamic range all wrong? And how much is enough?
So until now I’ve been thinking of dynamic range recovery as being a combination of highlight recovery and shadow recovery. But actually, I’m starting to think that if my highlights are blown, that’s maybe not a dynamic range issue, but an exposure error on my part. I’ll explain what I mean.
Recreating a classic style digitally in ON1 Photo RAW: Josef Sudek
Josef Sudek was a photographer from what is now the Czech Republic who had a characteristic style, particularly later in his life, when he drew inspiration from the objects that surrounded him and the effects of light. His images were deep, soft and mysterious. But is it possible to achieve some of that look digitally without producing just a cheap, fake effect?