Dxo Photo Lab: Where is the HDR Marge ?! Is that possible?

DxO PhotoLab
1

Hello,

As a Lightroom user, I am currently testing the 30-day demo version of DxO PhotoLab 8. I find the software excellent in terms of ergonomics, its lens/camera pairing approach, and the resulting optical corrections—especially the “Lens Sharpness Optimization”. I also appreciate the fact that the license is “lifetime”.

I was seriously considering purchasing it, but here’s the issue: where is the “HDR range?”

It seems that DxO simply does not allow working with HDR images! I am not referring to the pseudo-HDR mode in the presets, which merely simulates an “HDR look” while staying within an SDR dynamic range. Nor am I talking about the “old-school” HDR technique of stacking multiple exposures—that does not interest me at all. What I am looking for is true HDR range support, just like Lightroom provides.

On an HDR display, images developed this way look stunning, and I can’t imagine going back to developing my photos in SDR only.

Is this possible with DxO? Unfortunately, it seems that it is not.

s really a shame, I’m not trying to criticize the program in any way—once again, I think it’s great and I wanted to buy it. But if HDR development isn’t possible, that’s a real deal-breaker for me. I don’t understand how, in 2025, this still isn’t an option—HDR screens are everywhere, and once you’ve experienced it, there’s no going back. Please tell me I’m wrong and that I’ve missed something! If not, this needs to be implemented as a priority!

Thank you for your help!

2

PhotoLab does not have built support for HDR merge. The DxO Nik Collection software, which is available separately, does have an HDR module but I have never used it and have no idea how effective it is nor whether it will meet your expectations.

Mark

3

Thanks for your answer, but unfortunaly:

[Chat GPT]

"Nik HDR Efex from DxO Nik Collection does not work the same way as Lightroom’s HDR Merge feature.

Main Differences:

  1. Nik HDR Efex

It is primarily designed for merging multiple exposures (bracketing).

It can apply an HDR effect to a single image, but this is a simulated HDR (tone mapping) rather than a true HDR that utilizes the native HDR data from the file.

It does not generate a true HDR file like Ultra HDR JPEG or AVIF HDR but rather an SDR image with an HDR-like effect.

  1. Lightroom HDR Merge

This feature allows you to fully leverage the dynamic range of a single RAW file (without merging multiple exposures).

It produces a 32-bit HDR DNG file, preserving all HDR information extracted from a single photo.

This HDR file can be displayed as true HDR in compatible environments."

So no, it’s not good :sob:

4

I didn’t think it would meet your requirements based on my limited knowledge of it, but I felt obligated to at least mention it. I use Smart lighting and the local adjustment tools in PhotoLab to “increase” the apparent dynamic range of my raw images where necessary. I find that satisfactory for my purposes.

Mark

1 Like
5

Bienvenue Arnaud

Like Lr, PhotoLab can produce a DNG file that preserves the brightness range.
Both software packages need to evolve to produce highly dynamic outputs.

Pascal

6

Hello, and thank you for your response. I’m not sure if you’re referring to both DxO programs when you say “these two programs need to evolve to produce HDR rendering,” but I assume you’re talking about DxO’s software—PhotoLab and the Nik Collection—because when it comes to Lightroom, it already does this.

Yes, PhotoLab can produce a DNG file that preserves the RAW’s brightness range, that’s true, but it doesn’t allow you to develop a photo while working within that extended dynamic range—whereas Lightroom does.

So I believe the answer to my initial question is definitely “no, PhotoLab can’t do that.” I really hope they’ll add this feature in a future version—in 2025, it’s absolutely essential.

7

Possibly because most modern cameras have a large enough dynamic range that you no longer need to merge multiple exposures.

Here is an image, correctly exposed for the stained glass windows…

_JNA0020_M_DxO
_JNA0020_M_DxO1920×2402 61 KB

… and here it is after recovering the shadow detail in PL…

_JNA0020_1_DxO
_JNA0020_1_DxO1920×2716 410 KB

… then converted to B&W using FilmPack inside PhotoLab…

_JNA0020_2_DxO
_JNA0020_2_DxO1920×2716 377 KB

Or do you mean those horrendous HDR images where the backlit shadows are as bright or brighter than the sunlit parts?

4 Likes
8

Arnaud

What do you expect from it?
Why shouldn’t PL use the sensor’s full dynamic range?Where did you get this information?

Pascal

1 Like
9

The TO gave the souce of his information in his second post: ChatGPT.

10

Ah! That would explain a lot. @ArnaudVincennes never trust Ai when you have a source of real intelligence in these fora :nerd_face:

1 Like
11

I suspect @ArnaudVincennes is asking if PL can work in 32-bit float editing and offer a variety of tome mapping options, in the same way that an application like Affinity Photo can:
https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/index.html?page=pages/HDR/hdr_editing.html&title=32-bit%20HDR%20editing
PL can’t do anything like that.

12

ì wonder why anyone would want to work in 32 bit when the vast majority of RAW files are only 14 bit.

1 Like
13

It seems that so far no one has understood the question and you all should update your knowledge about HDR.

He is talking about this:

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/hdr-output.html

In Photolab, while you are working with a high dynamic range image, all you can do is to fit those 12 or 14bit values into an 8 bit range. What Lightroom does in HDR mode is that you can fit the values into 10bit (or more maybe, I am not sure). The files are stored in a way that when you look at them on a normal SDR display, it will look the same as a typical SDR 8-bit jpeg. However, if your screen supports HDR, it will display more information in the shadows and highlights.

Supported non-Raw HDR file formats in Lightroom for export include:

  • AVIF
  • JPEG XL
  • TIFF
  • PSD
  • PNG

This also requires special HDR color spaces:

  • HDR sRGB (Rec. 709)
  • HDR P3
  • HDR Rec. 2020

Photolab supports none of that.

1 Like
14

@maderafunk is correct. ‘True’ HDR does require new/recent displays to use and appreciate, but it’s becoming much more common with higher-end TVS, most recent smartphones/tablets, etc. There’s a definite market opportunity here (and potential for DxO to miss out), even if most current PhotoLab users aren’t currently focused on ‘true’ HDR.

1 Like
15

DxO can’t even keep up with their own existing feature roadmap. I would not expect them to capitalize on any opportunities for growth when they can’t meet their own expectations.

16

Since the rightful heritage of a great photograph is a stunning print and seeing that prints only have a dynamic range of 8 stops, how are you meant to display such “HDR” images on the wall? Or are you meant to spend your life in front of an expensive screen?

We have large A2 prints on our walls and it is simply wonderful to find your attention caught by such beauty without having to leave the settee

2 Likes
17

I can’t disagree about the value of prints on our walls. But prints aren’t the only display option for photos, so DxO should also provide additional output options.

1 Like
18

What other “practical” ways of displaying photos in a normal house can you think of that doesn’t involve running a computer 24/7?

1 Like
19

MaderaFunk, thank you :pray:t2: I was starting to lose hope of being understood here.

I had already prepared my reply, but since I’m newly registered, I had to wait 8 hours before being allowed to post again on this forum (very frustrating).

Here’s my response:

Sorry guys, but you’re mistaken—you’re not understanding what this is actually about. So I’m going to try one last time to explain, even if I’ll be repeating myself a lot.

The camera sensor captures a RAW image with a much wider dynamic range than what the SDR framework can display.

When you develop a photo in SDR—which is what you’re used to doing—you’re restricting yourself to the SDR framework. For example, you’ll lower the highlights that seem clipped so that they don’t appear blown out on your SDR display, because that display simply cannot show them correctly.

By lowering their brightness, you make those highlights display “properly” on your SDR screen.

But what you’re really doing is just adapting to what your SDR screen is capable of showing. That’s it.

In reality, in many cases, those highlights aren’t blown out at all: on an HDR display, they appear correctly, and you’ll see tons of subtle details that are invisible on an SDR screen.

But this only works if your editing software operates within an HDR framework. And that’s not what DxO does. DxO still works entirely in SDR, which means that beyond a certain brightness threshold, highlights will look clipped. Even if your monitor is HDR, it won’t make a difference.

When you use DxO’s or Nikon’s so-called HDR presets, all you’re doing is simulating an “HDR look”—but you’re still in SDR. You could easily get the same result manually just by adjusting brightness and contrast.

This has nothing to do with the technique of merging multiple exposures—that’s another thing that’s also called “HDR,” but it’s not really the same. Even the final image created from merging exposures is still displayed in SDR unless the whole pipeline supports HDR.

What I’m talking about is developing your photo within an extended dynamic range, and for that, an HDR display is essential—otherwise, you simply won’t see the difference.

Lightroom supports this. DxO does not.

If you own an HDR monitor, run the test—you’ll see for yourself.

20

But, like I already said, how do you make that image permanent without having to keep a computer running all the time in order to power your “HDR” display?

Or do you have to limit its display to one person at a time, sat directly in front of that screen, in order to get the correct viewing angle?

2 Likes