DxO PureRAW offers three types of photo processing:
- In standalone mode, followed by the export of the processed images to your usual photo editing program.
- Via the Lightroom Classic plugin.
- Using the controls included in the right-click menu of the file explorer window on your PC or Mac.
Workflow in standalone mode
The first step in the workflow when using DxO PureRAW 2 in standalone mode is to do the following:
- Add photos.
- Installing and managing DxO Optics Modules.
- Select photos.
- Process photos.
- Verifying and comparing photos.
- Export to an external program.
Add photos
DxO PureRAW 2 does not allow you to import images directly from a camera or memory card. To do so, you’ll need to transfer the images to your hard drive using any software or device of your choosing. Once they’ve been added to your hard drive, DxO PureRAW 2 allows you to either add photos by navigating to the folder where they’re saved, or by dragging and dropping them onto the program’s screen from a Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (PC) window.
The first time you use DxO PureRAW 2, the view that allows you to add photos is empty and instead suffest the following buttons and explanations:
- + Add photos for processing (explanation and button in the image display area).
- Drag and drop (explanation in the image display order).
- Download sample RAW images (to try out the program, for example).
- + Add photos you would like to process (button in the top bar).
Add photos



First method for adding photos:
- Click on + Add photos for editing/processing (either in the middle or top bar). If you do not have RAW files, or if you would like to run tests on images other than your own, you can use the samples by clicking Download the sample RAW files.
- A system window will open: Locate the number and folder of photos you would like to add.
- You can select either the single folder that has your images or one or several individual images
- Click on the Open button.*
- The contents of the folder or the selected images will be shown as thumbnails in a section that also displays the date (DD month YYYY). If the images were taken at different dates, there will be as many sections as there are dates.
- The top toolbar shows the path to the volume and folder containing the added photos. If the images are spread across different folders and even volumes, the top bar will show multiple paths.
*As soon as DxO PureRAW 2 uploads the images, the optics modules dialog box opens (see the paragraph Installing and managing DxO Optics Modules below).
Second method for adding photos:

- Open an image folder in a system window (Finder on Mac, File Finder on PC).
- Type the name of a folder or a selection of images, then drag and drop the item to the DxO PureRAW 2 screen. You can use this method even if there are already thumbnails present on the DxO PureRAW 2 screen.
- The remaining steps are the same as with the first method.
Third method for adding photos:
- Mac: Drag and drop one or several images to the DxO PureRAW 2 icon in the Dock. This action will open the program and display the images.
- PC: Drag and drop one or several images over the DxO PureRAW 2 alias on the desktop. This action will open the program and display the images.
Fourth method for adding photos:
In the Finder (Mac) or File Finder (PC), right-click on an image or a selection of images, then, in the context menu, select Open with DxO PureRAW 2.
Installing and managing DxO Optics Modules
When you add images to DxO PureRAW 2 for the first time, the program will automatically ask you to download and install the DxO Optics Module(s) that match the equiment used to take the images. This information is included in the photos’ EXIF metadata.
This step will also happen when you process images from Lightroom Classic or as part of the File Finder (PC) or Finder (Mac) workflow. For more information on these particular workflows, see the sections on these topics in the user guide.
DxO Optics Modules improve lens performance and correct the following lens flaws:
- Vignetting: Darkening of image borders.
- Distortion: Deformation of straight lines.
- Chromatic aberration: Colored fringes in areas of strong contrast.
- Lens sharpness: Homogenization and optimization of the entire image.
Downloading and installing DxO Optics Modules
After you have added your images, if no DxO Optics Modules are installed, a window will automatically open suggesting that you download and install the DxO Optics Modules that match the camera and lens used to take the photos.
To do so, you will need Internet access. This screen is made up of the following sections:



- DxO Optics Module detected and ready to download.*
- Other combination: If the suggested DxO Optics Module does not match the equipment you used to take the photo, you can check this option to stop the program from making any optical corrections.
- Download the selection: Start downloading the DxO Optics Module(s). If you do not use them immediately, they will be suggested again the next time you add photos taken with the corresponding camera and lens combination.
- Save: Confirms that you want to apply the DxO Optics Module(s)
- Cancel: Closes the window without downloading or installing the module.
*In the event of any ambiguity, for example if the EXIF metadata do not allow the program to determine which lens was used because there are multiple versions or generations available, the window will suggest several possible choices so you can select the correct DxO Optics Module manually.
You can use the DxO Optics Modules in one of three ways:
- Download and apply the DxO Optics Module. In this case, click Download the selection, and then Save).
- Download the DxO Optics Module but do not save it. In this case, click Download the selection, and then click Other combination for each module. The correction will not be applied.
- Opt to not download the DxO Optics Module. Click on Cancel.
Managing Optics Modules

The DxO Modules button shows the list of availabled or installed Optics Modules. It also shows their status with a visual indicator and a tooltip that appears when you hover over the name:
- No indications (default status): No photos added to DxO PureRAW 2.
- Cyan checkmark + No action required:* All the modules for the selected photos have been downloaded and can be applied.
- Yellow “Stop” sign + Actions required:* For at least one of the photos, you’ll need to downloading the corresponding DxO Optics Module in order to apply it during processing.
- Button with a cyan circle in the upper-right corner + See modules:* Indicates that a new DxO Optics Module is available as a remplacement for the existing module.
*The button turns cyan when you hover over it.
If you would like to show the list of installed Optics Modules and those that still need to be downloaded, click on the DxO Modules button in the top bar.
The same window that appears during the downloading stage will open showing the status of the DxO Optics Modules:

- Downloaded: The DxO Optics Module is downloaded and installed.
- Download available: The DxO Optics Module can now be downloaded.
- In use: Indicates the DxO Optics Module is currently being used.
Please note tht you cannot delete a DxO Optics Module. However, these modules are not very big (just a few Mb per module) and will not take up a lot of space on your hard drive.
Selecting photos
Selecting your images means picking the photos you want to process. You can select a single photo, multiple photos, or all photos in a folder.


Selected images are surrounded by a cyan border and feature a checkmark of the same color in the top-right corner of the image. To select photos:
- One image: Click on the image.
- Several non-consecutive images: Click on each image you want to select while holding down the Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (PC) key.
- Several consecutive images: Click on the first image in the series, then click on the last in the series while holding down the Shift key.
To select all photos shown by DxO PureRAW 2 at once, click on the Select button on the right side of the top bar. When the images are selected, the name of the button will change to Deselect. By clicking it, you will deselect all selected images.
If you want to deselect certain images only, click on the thumbnails with the cyan border and checkmark. However, it is faster to click the Deselect button.
Removing photos
The Remove button, located in the second top bar, lets you remove all the images you’ve added to DxO PureRAW 2. This feature is useful when you need to edit large groups of photos often and want to start fresh with a blank screen when you’re ready to add and process your next batch. Please note:
- The original and processed images are only removed from DxO PureRAW 2 and are not deleted from the original volume and folder.
- The installed DxO Optics Modules are kept as well.


Processing photos (standalone mode)
After having selected your photos, you are ready to optimize them. Optimization consists of applying optical corrections with DxO Optics Modules, and in proceeding to a partial demosaicing along with noise treatment, in order to generate either a linear DNG file, which preserves all the latitude of RAW files, for final processing in your usual development program, or to generate a ready-to-use JPEG file that you can share or publish immediately.
- Selecting the RAW processing method
- Choosing the output format
- Choosing the destination folder
- Launching optimization
There are two ways to start processing your photos:
- Click Process photos in the top left.
- Right-click on the selection of images, then click Convert {nb} RAW photos in JPEG or DNG.


Next, select your processing options:

1/ Selecting the RAW processing method
In the RAW processing section of the floating window, choose by clicking on one of the three available methods:
- HQ: High-quality denoising method, preferred for combining both speed and quality.
- PRIME: Method using deep analysis of the image for optimal conservation of colors and details, without smoothing. The calculations are more intensive and the processing will take more time than HQ processing.
- DeepPRIME: Method based on artificial intelligence and producing higher-quality results than the other two methods.
You have additional options in the Optical corrections section:
- Overal lens sharpness: This option, which is activated by default, provides an enhanced level of sharpness optimization. When disabled, this option applies the DxO Optics Modules’ standard sharpness enhancement.*
- Lens distortion correction: This option, which is activated by default, applies the distortion corrections of the DxO Optics Module. If you use a fisheye lens and would like to maintain the distortion, disable this option. If you do not, the distortion will be corrected, and the image taken with a fisheye lens will look as if it were taken with a very wide-angle, orthoscopic-type lens.
*Note: When the overall sharpness option is active, it is the equivalent of a +1.00 setting on the Overall slider in the Lens Sharpness palette in DxO PhotoLab. When this option is disabled, it is equivalent to the default setting in DxO PhotoLab, i.e. 0.00. In other words, by default, the overall sharpness enhancement provided by DxO PureRAW 2 is greater than DxO PhotoLab.
2 / Choosing the output format
The RAW processing window also presents you with the choice of two output formats:
- DNG: Generates a linear DNG file that retains the characteristics and reversibility of the original RAW file,* allowing it to be further edited in a third-party program such as Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, or Camera Raw.
- JPEG: Provides a finalized, ready-to-use file. By selecting JPEG, you can adjust the level of compression and therefore the quality of the output file, on a scale of 10 to 100 (the default setting is 90). The lower the number, the higher the compression, and the worse the image quality.**
3 / Choosing the destination folder
You have two options in the Destination Folder section:
- A ‘DxO’ folder in the original images folder: Optimized images are automatically sent to a folder named DxO inside the original images folder.
- Custom folder: Lets you choose and/or create a destination folder after clicking on the Browse button, which opens a system window. By default, DxO PureRAW proposes the operating system’s Images folder.
4 / Starting processing



During optimization, the metadata of the originals is preserved in the optimized images, including the EXIF data of the camera (shooting parameters, GPS coordinates, etc.), author and copyright information, star rating, keywords, and any information that you may have added to the IPTC fields (caption, location, etc.) in your photo management software.
- Click the Process button (the window will close).
- A progress bar with the number of images already processed and the estimated time remaining are displayed in the lower bar of DxO PureRAW.
- A progress bar also appears in the image thumbnails.
- As soon as an image is optimized, the corresponding thumbnail is deselected, and the cyan border and checkmark are replaced by a cyan star in the upper left corner.
- The image displayed is the optimized image, and replaces the original.
- The name of the original is replaced by the name of the processed photo and includes the original name, _DxO_, and the extension (for example, IMG_0001_CR3_DxO_DeepPRIME.dng).
- When all photos have been processed, the progress bar will indicate Done and then disappear.
- A floating window tells you that processing is complete, and asks you if you want to export your processed photos to an external program, to see the results in PureRAW, or to open the Images folder in a system window (Finder on Mac or File Explorer on PC). If you don’t want to see the images immediately, click on X in the upper-left corner of the window.
Please note:
- During processing, the metadata from the original photos are kept with the processed images as well as the camera’s EXIF data (shooting parameters, GPS coordinates, etc.), creator and copyright information, star rating, keywords, and any information added to the IPTC fields (key, location, etc.) in your photo management software.
- If you opted for the linear DNG format, the volume of generated files can be multiplied by a factor of 2 or even 3 compared to the original RAW file.
- Processing does not affect the images’ pixel dimensions. For example, if your orignal RAW files are 6000 px X 4000 px, the files generated by DxO PureRAW 2 will also be 6000 px X 4000 px.
- In the processing options window, click on the “?” to learn more about the RAW editing method and formats.
Canceling or interrupting optimization


You can stop optimization as follows:
- Before starting processing: In the method and format selection window, click Cancel.
- Processing in progress: In the lower bar, click on the X button at the right end of the progress bar.
Verifying and comparing photos
After processing your photos, and before sharing them (for JPEGs) or continuing making corrections in your favorite image processing software (for linear DNGs), DxO PureRAW offers you the possibility to check the results and easily compare them with your originals.
- Filtering photos
- Displaying, verifying, and comparing optimized photos
Filtering photos
The Add photos screen shows all the images, whether they are optimized or not. If the first ones have a cyan star in the upper left corner of the thumbnail, it may be difficult to distinguish them, especially if you have added many images and have processed only a random selection.

There are two filters located in the center of the main top banner that allow you to separate the processed photos from the originals:
- Processed button: Displays only the thumbnails of the processed images.
- Unprocessed button: Displays only the thumbnails of the original images.
When you use these buttons, the thumbnails of the filtered photos are automatically selected (cyan border and checkmark). You can also click on both buttons to display both optimized and non-optimized photos at the same time. To disable the filters, click on Cancel filters above the buttons.
Displaying, verifying, and comparing optimized photos

Once you have optimized your photos, you can view and check them in a larger version in two different ways:
- Double-click on a thumbnail.
- Right-click on a thumbnail and select Compare processing results in the context menu.

With the split view, you can easily compare the optimized image with the original, as well as the effects of the DxO Optics Module on defects, sharpness enhancement, and noise. You can zoom into the image at 1:1 (that is, 100%) or you can use the mouse wheel to magnify the image up to 1600% to see the finest details.
You can use the left and right arrows on your keyboard to scroll through the images in the filmstrip. The checkboxes in the square thumbnails of the filmstrip let you select the images, even when you return to the Add photo screen (by clicking on the X button at the top right of the image), thus allowing you to immediately start exporting the selected images to your image editing program (see Working with processed images).
For more information about display and comparison modes, see the User interface page.