DXO PHOTOLAB 7: TOP 5 LOCAL MASKING TOOLS TO USE

DXO PhotoLab 7 has greatly upgraded its local adjustment panel. However many users may be confused by the myriad of choices, settings and options. To help new users , in this video we run through the best local masking tools to use with the new upgraded local masking panel of DXO Photolab 7

[@SteveC-t9g]

Brilliant! This 10-minute tutorial has cut through my confusion between the five masking tools. Great content, professionally delivered.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the feedback. Just took a chance it would be useful for someone. Glad it was 🙂

[@STACYBURK]

I like how Photolab processes Raw images, but being a wedding photographer... it would take me forever to edit with Photolab. I'm really surprised that Photolab is so far behind the competition when it comes to masking. All the main competitors have auto masking, which makes editing very fast. I don't see why a wedding photographer would every want to use Photolab since it's so far behind in the masking department.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

I do agree with you. Practically every other RAW editor has AI masking now and is an expected feature. Here is a good discussion on people feeding back for dxo to get AI masking feedback.dxo.com/t/intelligent-masking/33465/23

[@grahamf695]

One reason people buy Photolab is to avoid buying the Adobe suite. Obviously, other programs such as Capture One are good alternatives. Masking is the most obvious weakness of Photolab compared to its competitors. I find the people on the Photolab forum can get quite defensive when you highlight product weaknesses that need fixing. The masking panel and HSL masking provide a significant improvement over Photolab 6, but I am sure they could go further.

[@grahamf695]

That was a really helpful tutorial, thanks.

[@FJWoods007]

Beyond that, I find an even bigger challenge for large-volume shooters (weddings, events, studio) the fact that there is no Compare or Reference functionality whatsoever. This makes synching edits to multiple photos (outcomes, not inputs) exhausting in PL.

[@thomaskoppehele6231]

Thank you for this tutorial!!!!

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davejeffrey5352]

Thank you so much. Just getting started with DXO. Good Luck to You!!!!!

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks, you too!

[@birdie399]

Very informative video. Too many restricted tools. Thanks for sharing.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrMartin246]

The automated brush with edge detection has two zones in the brush both of which are resizable. You must size then so the inner area (darker) always remain inside the area you wish to mask, and make the outer ring go outside. It will detect edges between the area covered the inner circle and the area covered with the outer circle. In your video you kept the brush much too big for it to work.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the tips. Yes automated mask works great, however it just doesn't show the actual area being masked. Can confuse beginners.

[@MrMartin246]

@@takebetterphotos8132 i agree with that. Notnsure why they do not show an outline.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

I believe its a challenging problem. Very few RAW editors do this correctly because it can slow down the masking to visually update it. Lightroom, Capture One do this best.

[@winfriedhennes5552]

When applying a control point and/or control line both masks can be fine tuned by using the color and luminance sliders. This U-Point technologie has been adopted from Nik Collection to Photolabs. The fine tuning of control point masks is even more advanced in the Nik Collection.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks, yes I discussed the color and luminance sliders in my control point tips video. Main issue with Nik collection is it works on jpeg not on RAW. I didn't know it was more advanced in Nik, I thought it was improved on photolab.

[@winfriedhennes5552]

@@takebetterphotos8132 Sorry, I didn't watch your dedicated sliders video. With latest Nik Collection update, RAW file support was included. In general, there isn't any need for a dedicated RAW converter when using latest Nik Collection.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for informing. Which plugin are you referring to ? I'll try it out.

[@winfriedhennes5552]

@@takebetterphotos8132 Sorry, I have to admit that RAW support is not available in any Nik plugin. RAW support is only available via PureRAW3 in first process sage. I did catch a very missleading info on another YT chanel I unfortunately don't have in my abo list anymore. Please take my appologies for spreading wrong information.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

No worries. I would be very happy if it did support RAW! Oh well!

[@barrymitchell5887]

Very good preview

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Glad it was useful to somebody!

[@barrymitchell5887]

I currently use Lightroom for this purpose and some other AI software for noise reduction just deciding if its worthwhile changing my workflow.@@takebetterphotos8132

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Tough to beat lightroom nowadays but I'm editing a ton of photos with various top RAW editors for my year end top list.:) Lets see how that goes. For noise reduction, DXO is the best though lightroom's while excellent, is a notch below.

[@stephenjane8193]

Thanks for this. 🙂

[@takebetterphotos8132]

You're welcome 😊

[@slaww666]

Holy shit, this is gold!

[@takebetterphotos8132]

glad its helpful!

[@sword-and-shield]

Thx, the vid let me know that DXO still has sloppy controls, for all but simplistic basic edits.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Yes needs to be updated to AI masking for sure!

[@davejackson1281]

Multiple Auto corrections by default is a sinker for me. I couldn’t imagine doing a wedding shoot with this program. Is there a fix for this?

[@takebetterphotos8132]

DXO Photolab 7 has an automated tool to correct exposure called Smart Lighting. It can be used in batch processing. Perhaps that will be more suitable for you. Here is a video I made on it kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5eTYamsd7Vjgsksi=z3ihhUAe9iGX6EA8

[@MedusaJellyFish300]

Wow, thank you fpr sharing your wonderful knowledge. I really learned alot watching this video. Which mask would you recommend for portrait?❤🎉❤🎉❤

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Really appreciate the feedback. I actually didn't know when making it if anyone might care for this. For portraits (as it does not take the entire width of the image) I would go with the control point. If that doesn't work for you try the automatic mask brush.

[@MedusaJellyFish300]

@takebetterphotos8132 Actually, KZbin suggested your channel from previous Photolab videos I have watched, and I'm so glad they did. Trust me, I'm pretty sure lots of people would like to know this extra info about photolab masking tools. Thank you for answering my question, I really appreciate it and keep amazing work in your beautiful channel...🌻🪻🌷🌻

[@takebetterphotos8132]

We will do our best!🙂

[@Eigil_Skovgaard]

With that level of honesty you can't be a DxO affiliate ;O) (?)

[@takebetterphotos8132]

I don't even know what that is?

[@Eigil_Skovgaard]

@@takebetterphotos8132 Yes you do. And being an affiliate is ok, as long as pros et cons are honestly presented as in this video. But you know, when people finally join with a prestigious producer (see they chose me!), then a business relation begins to tamper with independence, and the pros begin to fill more while the cons fade. That's how the human nature works when gold is involved. The grotesque examples are those where the affiliate at a point releases the right critical video - 'this and that sucks with ...' and with the next modification of the product licks everything up from the floor and turns the whole exercise into a sales argument - 'Adventure Raw listens to their costumers and bla-bla ...' It's rather amusing to watch.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for sharing the commentary. I actually really don't know the steps to being an affiliate nor have I been one. Anyway, my principle is the reviews has to be honest. I don't think I would make a review if I had to fiddle with the truth. In fact I did make this channel because I thought the information on RAW editing software the internet was very innacurate and misleading. But you are right, fake reviews/commentary/political correctness are all over social media. I tune out when I detect it!

[@Eigil_Skovgaard]

@@takebetterphotos8132 I appreciate that position and the investigations based upon it.

[@SilatShooter]

Great Video! Found it very helpful. Question is there way to see the adjustments in real time when using Control Point? For me, it's laggy and gets blurry and goes into some 'preview mode'. I have to wait a few seconds before I can see the change, and have to go back to do more or less. Wondering if it's a setting issue or my computer. Thought I had enough Ram (36 gigs) and speed.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

I believe the previewing is a limitation of DXO and not a computer issue. I experience it as well. To avoid UI lag, during editing, DXO previews with a really small image so that there is no waiting time as a small image is easier to process than a large one. They then render the full image a moment later. Not ideal but a better solution than having the UI freeze. I believe all editors do it to a certain extent.

[@SilatShooter]

@@takebetterphotos8132 Thank you. Thought it was my machine.

[@gonzaloleviatanh]

Wonder if you have experience masking people, specially dealing with the skin. I struggle a bit with it.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Hi for skin you can use a brush or control point. What in particular would you want to do with skin?

[@frankiefalci8735]

What method do you recommend for selecting a sky with jagged mountains underneath?

[@takebetterphotos8132]

I would recommend the control line for the sky. You can then use negative control points or negative control line to exclude the jagged mountains. Hope that helps!

[@goran_milosevic]

Is there something like Radial Filter in PhotoLab? And if not, what would be the best workaround? :)

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Hello the control point works like a radial filter. It has more intelligence than a standard radial filter in that the adjustment is applied based on the characteristics (i.e. color) of the center point.

[@goran_milosevic]

@@takebetterphotos8132 thanks for the answer. Yes, that can work, but sometimes I don't need intelligence, just plain radial filter, for example to make picture around subject more warmer, or more contrasty, or less saturated, or vignette that is off centered. That can be acheived if you set control point mask sensitivity options (Luma and Chroma) to zero, less intelegent. But still you can not make ellipse with that and you don't have control over feather size. You can put multiple control points for a ellipse like effect, but not in so much controled way. Ellipse looks more natural/blended in

[@takebetterphotos8132]

I understand completely! Sometimes you want that it a plain old radial filter. Photolab 7 does not have that unfortunately. Every other RAW editor does have it EXCEPT photolab.😃

[@PiXXLdesign]

You forgot to show the luminance mask that is new in Photolab 7. I think the luminance mask is one of the strongest masks. Why didn't you even mention it? 🤔

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for pointing it out. It was not included because you need to have purchased filmpack or it will not be installed. I have actually have a review for the luminance mask but it got pushed back due to the many launches the past few weeks. Hope I can release that one soon. 🙂

[@kbruff2010]

This is the editor for editing 20 pictures a day not 200. I own it but often use on1 raw. I still love and dxo pl7 but it's slow!

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the feedback. What feature in ON1 lets you edit 200 which is not present in DXO?

[@eduardolima5968]

Maravilha! Mas ainda não está no nível da Adobe. Estou esperando uma alternativa que faça um trabalho melhor com máscaras, mais preciso, mais inteligente do que a Adobe. Enquanto não houver eu, e creio que milhares de outros fotógrafos, não migraremos. Simples assim.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for feedback. Its tough to beat adobe's AI masking.

[@johnpap9328]

It seems like they forgot the obvious: The traditional darkroom point burning and dodging 😂

[@takebetterphotos8132]

They do have a standard brush as well. You certainly can use that! Sorry if I didn't include that.

[@johnpap9328]

@@takebetterphotos8132 it's I who weren't precise to what I meant. The brush is a different tool altogether. I mean the good old circle or ellipsis similar to those photographers used to use in the darkroom for over a hundred years and what lightroom already has. The brush is alright but for different purposes.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the info. I'm not familiar with the circle or ellipses. What is the tool called in lightroom?