According to Forbes, DxO has announced Nik Collection 8.2 with 30 new authentic paper textures and a Fine Control feature for adjusting intensity and blend modes. The update works with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Affinity Photo, and DxO PhotoLab, costing $169.99 for new users while being free for existing Nik Collection 8 owners. Simultaneously, DxO PhotoLab 9.2 improves AI masking with better edge detection around complex subjects like hair and adds re-organizable masks with automatic labeling. The PhotoLab update costs $239.99 for new users but is free for PhotoLab 9 owners, with both updates available immediately for macOS and Windows with 30-day trials available from their respective websites.
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Paper textures make a comeback
Here’s the thing about paper textures – they’re one of those effects that never really go out of style. Every few years, they cycle back into popularity as photographers rediscover the tactile quality they can add to digital images. DxO’s inclusion of 30 different paper surfaces in Nik Collection 8.2 is actually pretty smart timing. We’re seeing a resurgence of interest in analog and tactile aesthetics across creative fields. But I have to wonder – are paper textures becoming the new “vintage filter” that everyone overuses for a few months then gets tired of? The key will be whether DxO’s implementation allows for subtlety rather than just slapping obvious textures on everything.
AI masks get smarter
The improvements to PhotoLab’s AI masking are arguably more significant than the paper textures. Better edge detection around hair and fur has been the holy grail of masking for years. Every software company claims they’ve solved it, but the results are often mixed. DxO says their upgraded threshold and improved matting actually deliver cleaner edges. If true, that’s a big deal for portrait and wildlife photographers who spend hours manually refining selections. The re-organizable masks with automatic labeling is one of those features you don’t realize you need until you have it. Anyone who’s worked with complex layered edits knows how quickly mask management becomes a nightmare.
Where software is headed
Looking at both these updates together tells an interesting story about where photo editing software is going. We’re seeing a push toward two seemingly opposite directions: more AI-powered automation for tedious tasks like masking, and more creative tools that emulate traditional artistic processes. It’s like the software is getting smarter about handling the technical heavy lifting while giving artists more expressive tools. The challenge for companies like DxO is balancing these two approaches without making the software feel either too automated or too complicated. Basically, they need to make the hard stuff easy while keeping the creative possibilities endless.
Pricing and competition
At $169.99 for Nik Collection and $239.99 for PhotoLab, DxO isn’t exactly targeting the casual user. These are professional-grade prices for professional tools. But given that both updates are free for existing users, they’re clearly following the subscription-free model that many photographers prefer over Adobe’s Creative Cloud. The question is whether these incremental updates are substantial enough to justify the upgrade cost for users on older versions. With competition from both free tools like GIMP and subscription alternatives from Adobe and others, DxO needs to demonstrate real value with each release. The paper textures are nice, but the improved AI masking might be what actually convinces people to upgrade.
