DxO Labs Press Release 15/09/04

DxO Labs Introduces DxO Raw Engine and DxO Optics Pro 2.0 for Optimal Automatic Image Quality

Award winning software solution for serious and demanding photographers gains ability to convert and enhance RAW files - company announces free upgrade

Paris (France), September 15th, 2004 - DxO Labs, a software company focused on research in image processing to enhance image quality, today announces version 2.0 of its flagship product DxO Optics Pro. Simultaneously DxO Labs is announcing DxO Raw Engine, a new module for DxO Optics Pro which allows RAW files to benefit directly from the image enhancement capabilities of DxO Optics Pro.

DxO Raw Engine, a breakthrough raw converter in terms of image quality

With the introduction of DxO Raw Engine, DxO Labs offers serious and demanding photographers an unrivalled raw conversion solution:

- DxO Raw Engine achieves highest level of image quality thanks to breakthrough DxO algorithms such as:
o a new demosaicing technology that produces sharper and more detailed images: Furthermore, DxO Raw Engine dramatically reduces conversion artefacts typically produced by current raw converters;
o DxO Optics Pro?s award-winning corrections of Blur, Distortion, Vignetting and lateral Chromatic Aberration;
- Thanks to full 16 bits processing and RAW image data, Vignetting and Blur corrections are subtler and more accurate than what is possible within the constraints of an 8 bits JPEG image.
- DxO Raw Engine is a robust, fully batchable solution capable of automatically processing large amount of images. DxO Raw Engine also provides key user controls such as: white balance and exposure control, full ICC Color profile management, etc.

DxO Optics Pro v2.0, the award winning solution gets even better

DxO Optics Pro v2.0 - the renowned solution allowing serious photographers to fully unleash the potential of their camera and lens - receives major enhancements. Besides much anticipated RAW support, DxO Optics Pro v2.0 includes improvements to increase ease of use, workflow, and functionality ? such as:

- Full ICC profile management;
- Improved EXIF data handling (for both JPEG as well as RAW);
- Live histogram displaying individual color channels;
- Thumbnail view of all images with pre-flight status indications and new preview window to apply various settings to the images and visualize results.

Pricing and availability:
DxO Raw Engine will be available mid-October 2004 for both Macintosh and Windows. As an introductory offer, DxO Raw Engine will be free with DxO Optics Pro until the end of November to both new and existing users. As of December 1, it will be priced at US$ 119 (or 99 Euros).

DxO Optics Pro 2.0 will also be available for both Macintosh and Windows on DxO Labs?s e-commerce store as of mid-October 2004.

All registered users of DxO Optics Pro 1.x will receive a free upgrade to version 2.0.

Meet us at Photokina:
Both DxO Optics Pro 2.0 and DxO Raw Engine will be showcased at Photokina in Cologne, Germany on September 28, 2004 ? October 3, 2004 in Hall 10.1, Stand E18.

About DxO Labs and its DxO Technology
DxO Labs (formerly “DO Labs”) is a software company developing image processing technologies and image quality enhancement solutions. We provide reliable, off-the-shelf imaging solutions for both end-users - serious amateurs and professional photographers, photography journalists and experts -. and companies in the imaging business such as digital camera or cameraphone manufacturers, mobile operators, and printing or photofinishing professionals.

DxO Labs offers customers highly advanced image processing technologies. The company’s patented DxO technology is the result of state-of-the-art academic mathematical research. The DxO Foundations comprise a set of software components to correct major imaging device defects: Blur, Contrast, Demozaicing, Distortion, Vignetting, Chromatic aberration, JPEG artefacts, etc.

For more information, visit DxO Labs online at www.dxo.com .