Yes, it’s free, but the learning curve is precipitous. It offers a bewildering blizzard of panels and controls, among them the ability to apply dark frames and flat field images, features unique among any raw developer and aimed specifically at astrophotographers. This free open source program has been created and is supported by a loyal community of programmers. DxO also recently acquired the excellent Nik Collection of image processing plug-ins, so we can expect some interesting additions and features. While it has an image browser, PhotoLab does not create a catalog, so this isn’t a full Lightroom replacement, but it is a superb raw developer. The ELITE version of what DxO now calls “PhotoLab” offers DxO’s superb PRIME noise reduction and excellent ClearView contrast enhancement feature. The MacOS version resembles the Windows Pro version. Only the Pro version offers the full suite of raw development features, in addition to cataloging functions. Windows users have a choice of either a Standard or Professional version. My question is, how well do they work? Are any serious contenders to replace Photoshop or Lightroom? Lightroom Contenders: Five Raw DevelopersĪCDSee Photo Studio (current as of late 2017)Ĭost: $60 to $100, depending on version, upgrades $40 to $60. Thus the popularity of these alternative programs. Though $120 for a year is not far off the cost of purchasing many of these other programs and perhaps upgrading them annually, many photographers prefer to purchase their software and not subscribe to it.

Photoshop and Lightroom complement each other and are now available together, but only by monthly subscription through Adobe’s Creative Cloud service, at $10/month.

Capture one vs dxo photolab 4