DxO PhotoLab 10 adds AI depth masking

DxO has launched PhotoLab 10, the newest version of its perpetual-license raw photo editing software. The update, announced today, focuses on advanced masking powered by artificial intelligence, a new color grading tool, and direct export to Affinity Photo.

A key feature is the new AI Depth Mask. According to DxO, this tool builds a detailed depth map from any raw file, estimating the distance of objects from the camera. This allows photographers to create separate masks for the foreground, midground, and background for precise local adjustments. The company first introduced this technology in its Nik Collection 9 earlier this year.

Enhanced AI Masking for Portraits

The existing AI masking tools have been significantly expanded for portrait work. DxO states the software can now identify every person in a scene. Users can then create a single mask covering all people, combine only selected individuals, or generate a unique mask for each person.

For even finer control, photographers can now mask specific facial features. The list of selectable AI Mask categories includes eyebrows, eyes, irises, pupils, the whites of eyes, teeth, facial hair, face skin, and lips. This granularity is designed to offer more targeted retouching capabilities.

Updated Tools and New Features

Beyond AI, DxO has updated its classic U Point local adjustment tools. The U Point toolkit now includes a brush-based Control Brush and elliptical Control Points, joining the existing circular points. This system creates adjustments based on the color and luminosity of a sampled point in the image.

The update also integrates the color grading wheel from Nik Collection 9. This wheel places controls for shadows, midtones, highlights, and global color adjustments on a single interface. DxO describes this as a tone-based grading system, which is separate from the hue-based color wheel already in PhotoLab.

Another addition is an AI-powered sensor dust removal tool. This feature automatically detects and removes spots caused by dust on the camera sensor directly from raw files. DxO has also added a new export option to send images directly to Affinity Photo, Canva's professional image editing software, for further work.

Availability and Pricing

PhotoLab 10 is available now for both macOS and Windows. The company offers a 30-day free trial on its website. DxO sells the software under a perpetual license model, meaning no subscription is required after purchase.

The release positions PhotoLab 10 as a direct competitor to subscription-based editors like Adobe Lightroom, emphasizing its one-time purchase price. All new features are included under the standard perpetual license.