DxO Labs explained

DxO Labs SAS
Type:	Private
Industry:	Software
Predecessor:	DO Labs
Founded:	in Paris, France
Hq Location City:	Paris
Hq Location Country:	France
Area Served:	Worldwide
Num Employees:	89
Num Employees Year:	2021

DxO Labs (formerly DO Labs) is a privately owned photography software company. It was founded in 2003 by Jérôme Ménière,^[1] former CEO of Vision-IQ.^[2] The company's headquarters are in Paris, France.

History

Originally organized as a business unit of Vision IQ, a French software company founded in 1995 that specialized in computer vision, DO Labs was spun off to become an independent company after raising 7.3 million Euros of financing in venture capital.^[3]

When DO Labs released DxO Optics Pro in 2004, which became DxO PhotoLab in 2017,^[4] it was the first product on the market to offer a way to correct photographic issues caused by camera-body electronics and lens optics without human intervention.^[5] These automated corrections, based on mathematical models of the physical characteristics of camera bodies and lenses as well as on the metadata (Exif) captured with each image, meant no human variables were involved.^[6]

In 2005, following the OpenRAW^[7] campaign to simplify the interoperability of capture formats, RAW file support was introduced into DxO's products and subsequent releases featured additional automatic image enhancement technologies developed specifically for RAW files.

In 2006 Carl Zeiss Sports Optics partnered with DxO Labs on the Eyepiece DC 4 digital camera, which uses DxO's Image Signal Processing (ISP) technology.^[8]

Between 2006 and 2016, DxO Optics Pro won three EISA^[9] and two TIPA industry awards.

In 2007 DxO began producing Embedded Imaging devices for camera phones.^[10] However, by 2016 the product line had been divested, with most of the development team leaving for camera maker GoPro.^[11]

In 2008 DxO Labs created DxOMark.com, to publish image quality ratings for standalone cameras, lenses, and mobile devices that include cameras.^[12]

In 2010 version 5 of Adobe's Creative Suite signalled direct competition with DxO products by shipping with its own lens profiles for the first time.^[13] In 2013 Capture One^[14] also started offering automatic correction tools similar to those developed by DxO.

In 2017 DxOMark became an independent company, DxOMark Image Labs.^{[15] [16]} On October 25, 2017, DxO announced the acquisition of the Nik Collection assets from Google.^[17]

In early 2018 the company entered bankruptcy^[18] and shut down the part of the business that had been producing the DxO ONE. Since 2018 DxO has focussed wholly on developing software and has subsequently won six TIPA awards,^[19] including Best imaging software for professionals in 2023.

In 2020 Nik Collection won the EISA award for Best Photo Editing Software.

Products

DxO Labs currently markets the following image processing software packages.

• DxO PhotoLab: First released as DxO Optics Pro in 2004,^[20] DxO PhotoLab is digital image editing software package designed for photographers who shoot RAW.^[21] It offers automatic corrections for optical aberrations and image distortions for popular camera-lens combinations,^[22] as well as a range of other tools.
• DxO PureRAW: Launched in 2021^[23] DxO PureRAW is essentially the RAW conversion engine developed for Optics Pro and PhotoLab. It is designed to remove noise, chromatic aberrations, vignetting, distortion, and lens softness to improve the overall quality of a single image or batch of photographs prior to editing in another program.^[24]
• DxO ViewPoint allows the user to correct anamorphosis, perspective, deformities, and lens distortions, especially those caused by shooting with wide-angle lenses.^[25]
• DxO FilmPack emulates the appearance of various conventional films digitally.^{[26] [27] [28]} Endorsed by photographer Sebastião Salgado in 2013.^[29] By digitizing film stocks DxO offers looks that match those of bygone positive and negative chemical processes. Modern revival films and specific digital looks are also offered.^[30]
• Nik Collection is a collection of 8 plugins and applications compatible with Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.^[31] DxO acquired Nik Collection from Google on October 25, 2017,^[17] who in turn had acquired it from Nik Software in 2012. Nik Collection was first released as a DxO product in 2018.^[32]

Discontinued Products

• DxO Analyzer was a suite of software tools^[33] and equipment to test sensors, lenses, and standalone cameras, as well as mobile devices with cameras.^{[34] [35]} Originally introduced by DxO Labs, DxO Analyzer is now a product of DxOMark Image Labs.^[36]
• Embedded imaging: in 2006 DxO raised 10.6m Euros to fund the development of Embedded Imaging devices for camera phones.^[37] The resulting range of devices was released in 2007. However, production had ceased by 2016.
• The DxO ONE was a phone-connected-camera.^[38] It was a small 20-megapixel, 1-inch-sensor, 1.8 camera which plugs into a Lightning connector of an iPhone or iPad and uses the display to frame and shoot an image. The camera was discontinued in 2018.
• DxO Optics Pro was the first consumer product launched under the DxO banner by the then DO Labs in 2004. After 11 major releases it was superseded by DxO PhotoLab in 2017, the first DxO product to ship with the U Point technology that had been acquired from the purchase of Nik Collection from Google. However, users henceforth would have to buy both DxO FilmPack and DxO ViewPoint in order to keep the film renderings and perspective corrections that were integral to Optics Pro.^[39]

Main technologies

DxO has developed a number of original technologies to underpin the features of current and past products, such as:^[40]

• Optics Modules - camera body and lens correction modules:^[41] originally called "Lens Correction Modules".^{[42] [43]}
• DeepPRIME - a denoising and demosaicing engine trained by AI:^[44] in 2024, PureRAW 4 was accompanied by the latest generation of the DeepPRIME engine, known as XD2.^[45]
• Smartlighting - a mechanism to use the full dynamic range of the image: resolves most overexposures, lifts shadows while preserving bright areas, and recovers details in clipped areas.^[46]
• ClearView - a dehazing tool:^[47] intensifies the contrast to remove atmospheric veil and blur.
• U Point - Selection Technology: Acquired when DxO purchased the Nik Collection from Google. The basic idea is that you (U), the photographer, 'point at' what to adjust in the photo.^[48] Selections are based on the attributes of each pixel,^[49] such as hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast.^[50] So, masks are created using control points or control lines.^[51]
• Wide Gamut – a larger color space for photo editing: the native color of the sensor is converted to a working color to deliver an image that retains the luminance details of the sensor.^[52]

Notes and References

1. Web site: DXO LABS . 17 March 2003 . Infogreffe . Registry at the Commercial Court of NANTERRE . 14 March 2023 . Registered office 3 RUE NATIONALE, 92100 BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT .
2. News: Europe. 0921-9986. 26. Borzo. Jeanette. Business Innovation Awards (A Special Report): Silver --- Poseidon Technologies Makes a Big Splash With Swimming Pool Monitoring System --- Computer System Saves Life of Drowning Teen --- In Big Pools, Lifeguards Can't Do It All. Wall Street Journal. Brussels. 2001-11-26.
3. Web site: DO Labs . 12 June 2004 . 23 November 2023 . About DO Labs . 12 June 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040612060629/http://www.dxo.com/corporate/overview.htm . bot: unknown .
4. Web site: Lebracherie. Renaud. DxO OpticsPro devient PhotoLab et gère (enfin) la retouche locale. 12 April 2023. 25 October 2017. french.
5. Web site: DxO Optics Pro software . December 2009 . Rockwell . Ken . Ken Rockwell. 12 May 2023.
6. 33. 4. 92–97. Havlik. Dan. PRODUCT REVIEWS. Photo District News. April 2013. this program fine tunes each individual RAW image to a precise set of algorithms to produce photos that look fantastic even before they're edited..
7. Web site: Press Release #1 . OpenRAW . 25 April 2005 . 12 May 2023 . 2 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402000822/http://www.openraw.org/press/release1/index.html . dead .
8. Web site: Zeiss / DxO in Digi Deal . Digital Imaging Reporter . 27 September 2006 . 2 August 2024 .
9. Web site: History . Expert Imaging and Sound Awards. 19 April 2023.
10. Web site: Wireless News . 26 December 2007. 23 November 2023 . DxO Labs Rolls Out DxO IPE. .
11. Web site: GoPro renforce ses équipes de R&D en France . Dumoulin . Sébastien . 11 July 2016 . Les Echos . 26 March 2023 . Depuis 18 mois, GoPro a racheté deux start-up françaises, Stupeflix et Kolor, et recruté une trentaine de personnes chez une autre jeune pousse spécialisée dans le traitement photo, DXO. . French.
12. Web site: What is DxOMark? . 2016-08-23. 2016-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20160825155550/http://www.dxomark.com/About/What-is-DxOMark. dead.
13. Drury's Digital Diary . PSA Journal. 76. 7. Drury. Fred. July 2010. In CS5, Adobe has taken a step towards the type of profile driven correction, which is characteristic of the DXO product. DXO offers specific camera body/lens combination profiles, which can be used to correct optical limitations..
14. Web site: Release notes . Capture One Pro. 12 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221206001650/https://support.captureone.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003741818-Capture-One-3-7-9-9-3-Release-Notes. 2022-12-06.
15. News: DxOMark Conditions of Use - DxOMark. DxOMark. 2017-10-26. en-US.
16. News: DxOMark splits from DxO Labs, is now an independent privately-owned company. DPReview. 2018-03-07. 8 January 2018. Hillen. Brittany.
17. Web site: DxO acquires Nik Collection assets from Google . DxO Labs . 25 October 2017.
18. Web site: R.I.P., DxO One: The iPhone add-on camera won't survive DxO's bankruptcy . 10 February 2023. 6 June 2018. Grigonis . Hillary . en. Digital Trends.
19. Web site: TIPA World Awards Archive . 26 March 2023.
20. Web site: DxO Optics Pro Software . June 18, 2013. Ken Rockwell. Rockwell. Ken. December 2009.
21. Book: Story, Derrick . 2018 . The Apple Photos Book for Photographers: Building Your Digital Darkroom with Photos and Its Powerful Editing Extensions. . Rocky Nook, Inc. .
22. Grossman, Debbie "Review: DxO Optics Pro: Optical Illusion: Do you really need a pricey DSLR lens? This $127 software says you don't." pp 66-67. Popular Photography & Imaging, Volume 68 Number 9; September 2004. ISSN 1542-0337.
23. News: 224. 96. . DxO PureRAW. iCreate. May 2021.
24. Web site: DxO PureRAW Just Might Be the Best Way to Start Your Editing . January 31, 2024. Fstoppers. Martin. Mel. April 14, 2021.
25. Web site: DxO ViewPoint. PCMAG. 2015-11-08. Muchmore. Michael. 10 November 2022.
26. News: DxO FilmPack 6: Accurately Rendering the Soul of Analog Photography: This latest version introduces new films, cinematographic renderings, and Fujifilm in addition to support for X-Trans RAW files (Beta). It features a wide array of new effects as well as Time Machine, a unique and interactive introduction to the history of film photography.. PR Newswire. New York. 20 October 2021.
27. Web site: Debbie Grossman . Jonathan Barkey . Editor's Choice 2007: Imaging Software . . 4 August 2014 . December 16, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080705181435/http://www.popphoto.com/photosoftware/1110/review-dxo-optics-pro.html . July 5, 2008 .
28. Ashbrook . Brad . March 2014 . FilmPack4 . PSA Journal . 80 . 3 . 6 .
29. Web site: Kevin Purcell . DxO Film Pack for Free, and Salgado's Method . The Online Photographer . 31 January 2024 . September 21, 2013 .
30. Web site: DxO FilmPack 7 review . 10 October 2023 . en . 3 May 2024 . Cairns. George . Digital Camera World.
31. News: Nikitas. Theano. New: DxO Nik Collection 3, Profoto Lighting Tools & More. Rangefinder . 12 June 2020.
32. Web site: With the Nik Collection 2018 by DxO and DxO PhotoLab 1.2, DxO continues to develop innovative solutions for photographers and creative professionals . DxO Labs . 6 June 2018 . 21 June 2018 . 21 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143845/https://download-center.dxo.com/Press/Press-Release/Nik-Collection/Immediate-Release/Nik-Collection-2018-DxO-PhotoLab-1-2-Press-Release-EN.pdf . dead .
33. Web site: DxO Analyzer 5 . PhotographyBLOG. 2015-11-11. 19 October 2012. Arva-Toth. Zoltan.
34. Web site: 30 October 2012. Lens Reviews Explained. dpreview.com. 2015-11-08 . Westlake. Andrew.
35. Web site: Popular Photography: How We Test. Popular Photography. 2015-11-08. Ryan. Philip. 2 Feb 2013.
36. News: DxOMark splits from DxO Labs, is now an independent privately-owned company. DPReview. 2018-03-09. Hillen. Brittany.
37. Web site: Il met les maths au service de l'image; Ingénieur, banquier puis créateur d'entreprises, Jérôme Ménière a fondé Vision IQ et DxO Labs. N'Kaoua . Laurance . french . 1 March 2006 . 23 November 2023 . Les Echos.
38. News: Lori Grunin. DxO One adds a new twist to the iPhone-connected camera. 2 August 2015. CNET. 18 June 2015.
39. Web site: DxO Optics Pro Renamed DxO PhotoLab . Arva-Toth . Zoltan . 25 October 2017 . Photography Blog . 26 February 2024.
40. DxO Photolab 7 Elite edition - InDepth Review - The Best RAW Editor of them All? . en . Andy Hutchinson . November 12, 2023 . Youtube .
41. English . Drury's digital diary . PSA Journal. 76. 7. Drury. Fred. July 2010. In CS5, Adobe has taken a step towards the type of profile driven correction, which is characteristic of the DXO product. DXO offers specific camera body/lens combination profiles, which can be used to correct optical limitations..
42. Advanced Imaging. English. Hank. Russell. Through the looking glass. January 2005 . 37–39 .
43. Digital Camera Magazine. English. DxO Optics Modules: Upgraded with new Leica, Pentax and Sigma cameras.. May 2023 . 89. 1477-1721 .
44. Web site: DxO PureRaw 3: the benefits and limits of DeepPrime XD at very high ISO . March 16, 2023 . French . January 15, 2024 . Royer. Louiss . Les Numériques.
45. Web site: DxO PureRAW 4 & DeepPRIME XD2 . March 16, 2023 . French . 3 April 2024 . Melodie . Studio Sport.
46. Web site: DxO Smart Lighting . February 4, 2021 . en. 9 April 2024 . Pelé. Pascal . TuTo DxO.
47. Web site: DxO ClearView . February 4, 2021 . en. 9 April 2024 . Pelé. Pascal . TuTo DxO.
48. Book: English. Tony. Corbell. Joshua. Haftel. Nik software captured: the complete guide to using Nik software's photographic tools. Wiley. 2012. 978-1-118-02222-1.
49. Book: Batdorff, John. English. Plug in with Nik software: a photographer's guide to creating dynamic images with Nik software. Peachpit Press. 2013. 978-0-321-83977-0.
50. Book: Long, Ben. English. Nikon Capture NX 2. Peachpit Press. 2009. 978-0-321-55359-1.
51. English. Dan. Havlik. Nik Snapseed for iPad. Photo District News. 31. 9. September 2011. 90–92.
52. News: Chris Wright Photography. Wright. Chris. DxO Wide Gamut Color Space . February 21, 2023. May 3, 2024 . en.