DxO PhotoLab 10.1 to Affinity: A Cleaner RAW-to-Retouch Workflow
DxO PhotoLab 10.1 introduces something more useful than another editing preset: a direct route from a developed RAW file into Affinity. The update, announced on 22 September 2026, creates a native .af document and opens it in Affinity without a separate manual export-and-import step.
I have always preferred to separate the technical development of a photograph from the detailed pixel work that follows. PhotoLab is where I want the optics, noise, tonal foundation and RAW colour to be right. A pixel editor is where I want the freedom to remove a distraction, build a composite or prepare a layered delivery. The new handoff is interesting because it respects that division of labour.
What actually changed in version 10.1
The Affinity export is a free update for existing PhotoLab 10 owners. DxO says the export creates an Affinity-native .af file, with the PhotoLab adjustments already applied. That includes the RAW processing and DeepPRIME corrections you have chosen. You can also ask the export dialog to include an uncorrected version as a second layer.
This is not the same as keeping a fully editable PhotoLab RAW adjustment stack inside Affinity. Think of it as a carefully prepared handoff: the developed image becomes a layer ready for retouching, while the RAW decisions remain associated with your PhotoLab workflow. That distinction matters if you need to return later and change white balance or noise reduction.
The practical sequence I would use
Start with the RAW file in PhotoLab. Apply the appropriate camera and lens module, make your exposure and white-balance decisions, and deal with noise before introducing detailed retouching. For portrait work, I would also check whether a local correction belongs in PhotoLab or whether it would be more precise as a layered adjustment later.
Once the technical image is sound, use Export to Affinity in PhotoLab’s PhotoLibrary export bar. Choose whether to include the original as a second layer. Affinity opens the resulting document; from there, work with masks, retouching tools, typography or compositing. Save the layered project separately so it remains a useful master.
Why the optional original layer matters
An uncorrected reference layer is not there to replace the processed version. It gives you a way to inspect how far the RAW development has moved the photograph and, if useful, reveal selected portions of the earlier rendering through an Affinity mask.
For commercial beauty or product photography, I value that kind of comparison. A technically cleaner image is not automatically a more convincing one. Keeping a reference close by can help you catch changes in skin, packaging colour or local contrast before they become baked into a finished delivery.
Where I would stop using PhotoLab
PhotoLab remains the sensible home for RAW-specific operations, camera-and-lens correction and the initial tonal structure. I would move to Affinity when the job calls for selective pixel removal, composite construction, intricate layers or layout work that would be awkward to recreate inside a RAW editor.
There is no reason to send every photograph to a second application. If an image is finished after RAW development, an extra handoff simply creates another file. The point is having a cleaner route when the photograph genuinely needs the next stage.
A note on round-tripping and version checks
DxO describes a direct export into Affinity, not a universal promise that every subsequent change will flow back into the original RAW settings. Save the Affinity file as its own layered document and keep the original RAW plus PhotoLab adjustments. That gives you a predictable master for future revisions.
If you are still on PhotoLab 9, this particular export belongs to PhotoLab 10.1. If you already own PhotoLab 10, update before looking for the Affinity option. Test the handoff on a duplicate project before moving an active client job into a changed workflow.
Who benefits most
Photographers who finish in one RAW application and retouch in another are the obvious audience. It is particularly relevant to portrait, beauty, editorial and product photographers who need detailed layered corrections after a strong RAW starting point.
If you rarely need pixel-level retouching, the feature is unlikely to justify an upgrade by itself. If Affinity is already part of your working environment, however, removing a small repeated export task across many images can be a genuinely useful improvement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Affinity export free for PhotoLab 10 owners?
Yes. DxO says PhotoLab 10.1 is a free update for PhotoLab 10 owners.
Does it export a native Affinity file?
Yes. The export creates an .af document and opens it in Affinity.
Can I include the original image?
Yes. DxO documents an optional second layer containing the uncorrected version.