DxO ViewPoint 6: AI Masks for Precise Geometry Correction

DxO ViewPoint 6 uses AI masks for local perspective and distortion correction without changing the rest of the frame. The software is available as a standalone application and as a plugin; prices start at $129.99.

DxO ViewPoint 6: Geometric Correction with AI-Powered Masks

French company DxO has released ViewPoint 6, a new version of its software for correcting perspective and geometric distortions. The developers call it the most accurate version of ViewPoint to date, with its key update being the automatic creation of masks using artificial intelligence.

Masks let you edit individual objects without affecting the rest of the image. For example, a photographer can adjust the perspective of one building while leaving the geometry of a neighboring one unchanged. To do this, ViewPoint 6 analyzes the image and automatically identifies the areas to which the correction should be applied.

AI enhances the ReShape Fusion tool, introduced in ViewPoint 5 on October 15, 2024. Previously, users had to create masks manually to use it; now the software can do that for them. ReShape Fusion can also automatically correct distortions, though its settings can be adjusted manually.

DxO Vice President of Product Strategy Jean-Marc Alexia notes that traditional perspective correction often requires sacrificing part of the frame. According to him, masks in ReShape Fusion let users select the desired object, refine the grid if needed, and adjust how the correction blends into the surrounding image. This makes it possible to change the position of elements in a scene while preserving the original frame boundaries.

When Local Correction Helps

Geometric issues are especially noticeable in photos taken with a wide-angle lens. If the camera is tilted upward, the building's vertical lines converge; when photographed at an angle, it may look disproportionate. In a group photo, a person at the edge of the frame may appear stretched due to volume deformation. Barrel distortion can also turn straight lines into curves.

ReShape Fusion is designed to correct these defects without changing the rest of the image. With standard perspective correction, the entire frame is transformed: the image plane is tilted, turning a rectangular image into a trapezoid. To restore its rectangular shape, the photographer has to crop the edges. The stronger the correction, the more of the image is lost.

Stretching and transforming the entire image can leave blank areas. Traditional tools preserve the original proportions and pixel dimensions through these transformations and subsequent cropping. ViewPoint 6 does not create new pixels to fill in the edges. Instead, the software provides pixel-level control with a sophisticated grid that works with the original image.

In addition to correcting converging verticals, volume deformation at the edges of the frame, and barrel distortion, the software includes tools for straightening the horizon and creating a miniature effect.

Files and Integration with Other Software

ViewPoint 6 works with RAW files and also supports JPEG and TIFF. When opening a RAW file, the software applies DxO's own camera and lens profiles. It includes basic exposure and white balance adjustments, but DxO recommends using other applications for full RAW processing. For example, in PhotoLab 10, ViewPoint 6's geometry tools are available in the Geometry palette.

The software can be used as a standalone application or as a plugin for Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop. This makes it an option for photographers who do not use other DxO applications.

Price and Availability

DxO ViewPoint 6 is now on sale. For new users, the software costs $129.99, €119.99, or £109.99. Owners of ViewPoint 5 can upgrade at a discount: the upgrade costs $84.99, €74.99, or £69.99. A 30-day free trial is also available.