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P. 8
8 DXO LABS: OPTICS PRO 8
ther extend our reach. Image quality
would improve. The user interface
became increasingly functional, and
most of all, the underlying technolo-
gy would become more sophisticat-
ed. Were Nyquist and Shannon alive
today, they would be incredibly im-
pressed with DxO’s articulation of
their theories.
We learned that DxO Labs was
planning a major release this fall,
and we wondered what could be
done to enhance Optics Pro. Ver-
A QUIET REVOLUTION sions 7 and 7.5 both were milestones—each
offered enhanced performance, more fea-
JD discovered DxO Optics Pro in a magazine tures, and support for more lens modules and
advertisement when version 3.5 was the cur- camera bodies. At first, I was a bit skeptical
rent release. We were attracted to Optics Pro —version 7.5 was fast, stable and robust. But
because we were having all kinds of problems as the alpha gave way to the beta, I began to
with optical distortion both in our wedding see that once again, Optics Pro would change
business and in our architectural photogra- our workflow as profoundly as version 4 had
phy. Shortly after that, at WPPI (Wedding years ago.
and Portrait Photographers International), For the most part, the differences in the
we purchased our first copy. user interface of version 8 are confined to
Version 3.75 was, well, impressive but not processing and customizing images. The pro-
really ready for prime time. It was complex, cessing section of the program adds a number
not terribly logical in its layout, and above all, of formats, including web and print options.
highly idiosyncratic and slow. However, the But, the real changes and enhancements are
quality of the images was incredible. We were to be found in the customization section of
impressed with its ability to correct optical the program.
distortion; the quality of the images made For a very long time, “casual” users of Op-
us believers. tics Pro found the arrangement of tool pal-
While the speed of version 3.5 kept us ettes, well, a bit arbitrary and not well con-
from making Optics Pro the cornerstone of nected to the way in which photographers
our workflow, that changed with version 4. work. While version 8 retains the distinction
With an improved interface, better perfor- between beginners and advanced users (not
mance, and Film Pack, version 4 changed our all the tools available to the advanced user are
workflow forever. Optics Pro became both available to the beginner), the layout of tool
essential and critical to every aspect of our palettes is much more intuitive and in keep-
post-processing. ing with how photographers usually work.
Over the years we have come to expect that Tool palettes can still be placed in any order
with each major release, Optics Pro would fur- and in any place.
nyghtvision magazine volume 2, number 3, Fall 2012
