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Archive 2021 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

DaveFP
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Hi all -

If this has already been asked please forgive !

I recently purchased Photolab5 for the express purpose of utilizing its NR abilities.

I bought that package over the Pure Raw app as many here felt that it is a better product and a better value.

Again, for the moment I am only looking for its NR abilities.

In my workflow I do not use LR for its database abilities so it is not important for me to send the image there for database inclusion.

With all of that in mind:

What's the best way to incorporate Photolab5?

Should I just send the file direct to Photolab or is it equally fine to send it to LR first ?

I would prefer to send it to LR first (if it makes no difference) as I utilize a "watched folder" to bring images into LR.

(The raw is copied from Photo Mechanic into the watched folder and auto-imported into LR)

Any insights appreciated ! Thanks.

Dec 07, 2021 at 07:10 PM

silber
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

I gave up Adobe products, but had a little experience with your intent.

PL5 (IMHO) is superior as a raw converter and with its Deep Prime. While you can go either way with a workflow, I preferred to start with PL5, then hand off to LR for cataloguing, which is not an issue for you. So since you, like me, are using your own file structure, you can open your raw file in PL5, process, then hand it off to LR as a dng for non-destructive work. In the lower right corner of PL5 you'll see the familiar share button -- click that and choose Export to Lightroom. It will set up the export/import tools for you so you can round-trip files.

Just a friendly tip: take the time to learn PL5 and you'll discover that, other than serving as a DAM, it can do all that LR does. Either way, you'll grow to appreciate PL5

Cheers!
Bob

Dec 07, 2021 at 08:27 PM

DaveFP
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

silber wrote:
I gave up Adobe products, but had a little experience with your intent.

PL5 (IMHO) is superior as a raw converter and with its Deep Prime. While you can go either way with a workflow, I preferred to start with PL5, then hand off to LR for cataloguing, which is not an issue for you. So since you, like me, are using your own file structure, you can open your raw file in PL5, process, then hand it off to LR as a dng for non-destructive work. In the lower right corner of PL5 you'll see the familiar share button --...Show more →

Thanks Bob. I do plan to get to know the entire app.

I'll try starting with DXO. I know that it is better to get rid of any intrinsic noise before further development.

Dec 08, 2021 at 10:04 AM

silber
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Indeed; the noise was my reason too, then I stayed for the quality of the program .

Dec 08, 2021 at 03:38 PM

arbitrage
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

If you aren't using LR for database/catalog functions then why not just go all in with PL5? Wouldn't it do all the stuff LR does? I may be missing something as I don't have much experience with PL5....I had the trial but didn't explore much other than to see if there was a good workflow to use PL5 just for NR roundtrip from LR. In the end just bought the PureRaw as I do use LR catalog so didn't want to do all my processing in PL5. Is PL5 missing some key LR editing features?

Dec 09, 2021 at 08:27 AM

DaveFP
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

arbitrage wrote:
If you aren't using LR for database/catalog functions then why not just go all in with PL5? Wouldn't it do all the stuff LR does? I may be missing something as I don't have much experience with PL5....I had the trial but didn't explore much other than to see if there was a good workflow to use PL5 just for NR roundtrip from LR. In the end just bought the PureRaw as I do use LR catalog so didn't want to do all my processing in PL5. Is PL5 missing some key LR editing features?

I know LR really well; have bunch of presets/profiles for it.

I have been using the Topaz suite for problem images.

I've been hearing that dxo noise reduction was superior to Topaz so when the Black Friday sales came up I popped for Photolab over Pure Raw as it was suggested that it was a better product and value.

That's how I ended up with a second full-feature program.

I'm going to play with Photolab over the winter but in the interim I'm curious as to the best workflow to incorporate the NR component.

I know it's not complex; just wondering if experienced combo users have any insights.

Dec 09, 2021 at 08:35 AM

Zenon Char
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Go to the DXO site and it will have LrC/PL workflow tutorials. As for myself I just exported a file from LrC to PL, did the NR thing and then sent it back to LrC. I also included the Optic corrections in PL and turned them off in LrC.

I have PL3 and have not used it for quite some time. I can't remember all the details. You have choices of sending files as DNG or TIFF to retain colour or have colour profiles available back in LrC, if that is what you require. That was what I focused on for my workflow.

PR is very good but only sends files back to LR as DNG and the exposure is off and it is more saturated. I waited a year for Canon Colour profiles and now files come back a little off. Topaz preserves colours.

Dec 09, 2021 at 01:10 PM

Lleuallen
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Is PL5 missing some key LR editing features?

Yes, masking. The new masking features in LR are awesome. Learn to use them and your post processing will be taken to another level.

Dec 09, 2021 at 03:24 PM

rattlebonez
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

DXO Photolab 5 has been excellent for RAW editing.

I have no need or use for Lightroom in addition.

Dec 09, 2021 at 07:26 PM

Chris Dees
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Same for me.

rattlebonez wrote:
DXO Photolab 5 has been excellent for RAW editing.

I have no need or use for Lightroom in addition.

Dec 10, 2021 at 03:11 AM

The Rat
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

rattlebonez wrote:
DXO Photolab 5 has been excellent for RAW editing.

I have no need or use for Lightroom in addition.

Same, the only time I need to open another program is to make panoramas. If DXO would add that in the next version, it'd be golden!

Dec 10, 2021 at 09:35 AM

dallvr
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Just an FYI, the newest version of PureRAW will work on raw files, such as ARWs, no need to convert to DNG. I now just drag an ARW out of my LRClassic catalogue over to PureRAW, let it do its work and then reimport into LR for other processing. The file will come back to LR as DNG.

Dec 10, 2021 at 10:50 AM

Zenon Char
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

dallvr wrote:
Just an FYI, the newest version of PureRAW will work on raw files, such as ARWs, no need to convert to DNG. I now just drag an ARW out of my LRClassic catalogue over to PureRAW, let it do its work and then reimport into LR for other processing. The file will come back to LR as DNG.

Yes you drag the files directly in from LrC. I don't see a plug-in option. It re-imports and creates a subfolder, which I don't like. It's not a big deal but I would prefer it didn't. The new DNG is also beside the original RAW. I don't think I doubles because there are two separate files. When you delete one they both disappear.

Dec 10, 2021 at 12:51 PM

silber
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Zenon Char wrote:
I don't see a plug-in option.

You may be experiencing something altogether different, but I had the plug-in issue between Lightroom and PL in the beginning. From PL select Export to Lightroom from the share option. If the plug-ins have not been installed, the process to install plug-ins will be initiated when you do the export. From there, you should then see an option to send an image from LR directly to PL.

Dec 10, 2021 at 01:11 PM

Zenon Char
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

silber wrote:
You may be experiencing something altogether different, but I had the plug-in issue between Lightroom and PL in the beginning. From PL select Export to Lightroom from the share option. If the plug-ins have not been installed, the process to install plug-ins will be initiated when you do the export. From there, you should then see an option to send an image from LR directly to PL.

PL has a plug-in. PureRaw doesn’t have one.

Dec 11, 2021 at 10:22 AM

silber
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Wow, I did not have know that (never used PureRaw). Seems like a glaring omission, on the part of DXO, for the workflow one needs when using LR.

Dec 11, 2021 at 10:28 AM

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Thanks for all the great info. I am adding DXO PL5 to my software. I have used LR for a long time, and know it pretty well. Will use both together and see how that works.

Dec 11, 2021 at 12:53 PM

dallvr
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Zenon Char wrote:
… It re-imports and creates a subfolder, which I don't like. It's not a big deal but I would prefer it didn't. The new DNG is also beside the original RAW. I don't think I doubles because there are two separate files. When you delete one they both disappear.

Yes, from PureRAW I have to reimport into LRClassic. The new dng file (processed in PureRAW) goes into a subfolder below the original folder. I have to drag the new file into the original folder and then stack it with the original raw file. I wish the new dng would just appear back where the original raw file had been instead of in the subfolder.

Dec 15, 2021 at 06:42 PM

Zenon Char
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

dallvr wrote:
Yes, from PureRAW I have to reimport into LRClassic. The new dng file (processed in PureRAW) goes into a subfolder below the original folder. I have to drag the new file into the original folder and then stack it with the original raw file. I wish the new dng would just appear back where the original raw file had been instead of in the subfolder.

Mine shows up in the subfolder and beside the original RAW file. In Preferences - External Editing do you have Stack with Original selected?

Dec 15, 2021 at 08:32 PM

dallvr
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · ? - Using DxO Photolab5 with Lightroom

Zenon Char wrote:
Mine shows up in the subfolder and beside the original RAW file. In Preferences - External Editing do you have Stack with Original selected?

Oh, I will check on that preference.

If I use Topaz plugins, the adjusted files do automatically stack with the original raw, but that hasn't been my experience with PureRAW. Maybe that is because when PureRAW required you to convert to dng, it gave the option to save the original raw (ARW in my case) along with the new DNG. I opted not to save the ARW. Now that you can drag the raw file directly into PureRAW, the behavior is the same with the new dngs that PureRAW creates.

Dec 16, 2021 at 11:52 AM

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