RAW editing software / DxO PhotoLab 10
Better RAW.
More control.
DxO PhotoLab 10: features, buying advice and a practical starting point before you commit.
Looking for a RAW editor with advanced noise reduction, camera-and-lens corrections and precise local editing? PhotoLab 10 combines DxO’s image-processing foundation with new depth-based masks, colour grading and expanded AI selection tools.
This guide explains what is new, who it suits, what to check before buying and how to use my creator offer on an eligible purchase.
01 / The buying decision
Is PhotoLab 10 right for you?
It deserves a place on your shortlist if RAW image quality, optical correction and selective editing are central to your photography.
You want a dedicated RAW workflow
You photograph travel, portraits, landscapes, commercial assignments or low-light scenes and want to refine exposure, colour, detail and local adjustments in one editor.
PhotoLab is especially worth testing when you regularly work with supported high-ISO RAW files or want corrections tailored to your camera-and-lens combination.
You also need other kinds of editing
If your work depends on layered composites, extensive pixel retouching or a particular cloud collaboration system, check how PhotoLab will fit alongside those tools.
Treat it as a RAW editor first. Test the complete journey from browsing to final delivery before replacing an established workflow.
02 / What changes in version 10
More precise selections.
More creative colour.
The headline additions expand how you target parts of a photograph and shape its final appearance.
Edit by distance
An AI-generated depth map lets you target foreground, midground or background areas without needing embedded depth data from the camera.
Shape the colour mood
Adjust shadows, midtones, highlights and overall colour balance. Link selected tonal ranges to explore coordinated colour changes.
People and facial features
Select people together or individually, then target facial features such as eyes, lips, skin and facial hair for more focused portrait adjustments.
Refine your selections
Refine AI Masks using colour and luminosity. The new Control Brush and elliptical Control Points add more ways to shape local corrections.
Clean up sensor dust
Automatically detect and remove sensor dust and small imperfections at the RAW stage. Inspect the result, especially around fine detail.
Refine tone and organisation
Histogram-based tonal adjustments and a new Whites slider join improvements to database backup management and folder relocation.
03 / The RAW foundation
Why the core processing still matters
DeepPRIME processing
PhotoLab 10 includes DeepPRIME 3 and DeepPRIME XD3 for supported RAW workflows. These established technologies combine denoising and demosaicing; they are not new version-10 additions.
Measured optical corrections
DxO Modules provide equipment-specific corrections for distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration and lens softness where a matching module is available.
A controlled finishing workflow
DxO Wide Gamut and soft proofing support colour decisions through editing and output. Export JPEG for delivery or TIFF for further editing when appropriate.
04 / See the editing approach
Watch the PhotoLab workflow
See a practical approach to travel photographs, colour, cropping and preparing an image for Instagram.
This is an existing fundamentals tutorial. Its current YouTube title refers to PhotoLab 10, but the December 2025 upload predates version 10. Use it to explore the editing approach; the version-10 feature information is covered separately in this guide. FilmPack features shown in the video require a separate licence after the trial.
05 / Price, editions and licence
What to check before you buy
Choose the edition and licence that cover your actual workflow, then compare the final checkout price.
| Buying question | What to know |
|---|---|
| Is a subscription required? | No. PhotoLab is sold with a perpetual licence. Do not assume future major versions are included with your purchase. |
| Essential or Elite? | Compare the current editions against the specific denoising and masking tools you need. The free trial is the Elite edition, so confirm that your chosen paid edition includes the features you tested. |
| How many computers? | DxO lists two activations for Essential and three for Elite, across Mac and/or Windows. |
| What is the current price? | Check DxO’s live store for your currency, edition, taxes and current offers. Existing owners should check their account for an eligible upgrade price. |
| Can I save 15%? | Use code SIMONSONGHURST on an eligible purchase through my link. Eligibility, exclusions and promotion combinations depend on current checkout terms. |
| Are FilmPack and ViewPoint included? | Their integrations can be trialled, but continued use requires separate licences. Check bundle contents carefully if buying several DxO products. |
06 / Already own PhotoLab?
Is upgrading to PhotoLab 10 worth it?
The strongest reason to upgrade is a new tool that solves a recurring problem in your own photographs.
You regularly make selective edits
Depth Masks, more detailed people selections, U Point refinements and the Control Brush are useful features to test if masking takes a significant part of your editing time.
The new Color Grading tool is also worth exploring if you frequently shape colour across different tonal ranges.
Your current version already does the job
If your edits mainly involve basic exposure, optical corrections and denoising, compare the new version against your existing results before paying for an upgrade.
Use copies of representative files and compare editing effort, final image quality and export performance. Check the upgrade offer attached to your DxO account.
07 / Make the trial useful
Test the files you actually shoot
Check your setup
Confirm camera support, matching lens modules, operating-system requirements and AI hardware compatibility before judging the software.
Choose a varied sample
Include a low-ISO image, a high-ISO RAW file, a portrait and a scene with difficult highlights or shadows. Test the tools you expect to use regularly.
Compare the export
Inspect exported detail, skin texture, mask edges and colour. Time a realistic batch and check that the results fit your usual delivery workflow.
AI tools have additional hardware requirements. Check DxO’s current system requirements and supported formats →
08 / Buyer questions
PhotoLab 10: before you commit
Can I try PhotoLab 10 for free?
Yes. DxO offers a fully featured 30-day trial with no payment card required. The trial is the Elite edition; compare features before choosing a paid edition.
How do I use the SIMONSONGHURST discount code?
Open my DxO link, choose an eligible product and enter SIMONSONGHURST at checkout. Confirm that the 15% discount appears before paying. Current eligibility, exclusions and promotion combinations apply.
What are the main new PhotoLab 10 features?
The main additions include Depth Masks, Color Grading, expanded people and facial-feature AI Masks, U Point refinement of AI selections, Control Brush, elliptical Control Points and AI Dust Removal. Workflow updates include histogram adjustments and a Whites slider. Availability depends on edition and configuration.
Does PhotoLab 10 require a subscription?
No. PhotoLab is available with a perpetual licence. Future major upgrades may require a separate purchase; check the licence and upgrade terms when buying.
Can it replace my existing RAW editor?
It can cover the RAW editing stage for photographers whose needs match its tools. Test browsing, organisation, local editing, exports and any external editing steps before replacing an established workflow.
Will DeepPRIME work on every photograph?
No. DeepPRIME modes require supported RAW files and compatible configurations. They do not apply to JPEG, TIFF or Apple ProRAW files. Check your camera and file support during the trial.
Do I need to buy FilmPack or ViewPoint too?
Only if you want their additional features. They are separately licensed products with PhotoLab integrations. Do not assume every effect or geometry tool demonstrated in a DxO workflow is included in a PhotoLab-only purchase.
Try PhotoLab 10.
Decide with your own images.
Explore the RAW processing, test the new tools and see whether the workflow fits. If you decide to buy, use my creator code on an eligible purchase.
SIMONSONGHURST · 15% OFF Explore DxO / Check My Offer →