DxO ViewPoint 6 introduces a new way to fix perspective without losing image area. The update adds AI masks to ReShape Fusion, a tool for adjusting elements within a frame. Users can now target specific parts of a photo, such as a leaning building or a stretched face, without distorting the whole picture.
Precise Control Over Geometry
Traditional correction tools work on the entire image plane. Straightening converging verticals turns the rectangle into a trapezoid, requiring a crop to return to a standard shape. The stronger the correction, the more image area is lost. ViewPoint 6 avoids this trade-off by working locally. It rearranges the captured components of a scene rather than inventing new pixels or filling in edges.
The process begins with a simple selection. The user draws a rectangle around the subject, and ViewPoint builds a mask that follows the outline. A mesh is generated to match this shape, with control points placed exactly where the subject sits. This mesh can be subdivided for fine detail or merged where it is not needed. The software adjusts the density of the mesh, keeping it coarse where nothing changes and fine where the work happens.
Users can then manipulate the mesh directly. They can turn individual control points on or off, direct subdivisions inside or outside the selection, and control how the change affects the surrounding image. This precision allows for adjustments like bringing a face near the edge of a group portrait back to natural proportions without pulling the people beside it out of place.
The software knows the camera and lens used for each image, using metadata to inform the corrections. A built-in user guide and video tutorials help users work through the many controls. For more detailed instruction, Fstoppers offers a Mastering DxO ViewPoint course.
Photographers working with wide-angle lenses often deal with significant distortion. A test on images shot at a hotel in Missouri and a Western movie set near Tucson showed the tool’s practical application. In one example, a barn interior with perspective issues was improved with a simple crop. In another, slanted buildings from a dusk shoot were straightened with a few clicks, though the user chose not to apply further adjustments to three remaining columns.
Getting Started and Value
ViewPoint 6 can perform its corrections on original files only. When a TIFF file is used, the program will ask for the original raw file. It is unclear if this behavior is a bug or a feature. The app has utility for environment and architectural photographers. Portrait photographers can also use the many features available in the suite.
ViewPoint 6 is available today from the DxO website for macOS and Windows computers:New license: $129.99 / €119.99 / £109.99Upgrade from DxO ViewPoint 5: $84.99 / €74.99 / £69.99A 30-day free trial is available here.
