Exposure, the Lightroom competitor formerly known as Alien Skin, has just launched an upgrade with several new features. Exposure X7 is a RAW photo editor that provides tools for everything from culling a session to localized work on a small section of the image. The September update brings new custom workspaces and a faster way to mask, as well as the ability to remove pixels from a defective area on a camera sensor. 

[Read: Exposure X5: 3D Color Masking, 500+ Presets and More]

While Lightroom allows users to drag and drop where things are, Exposure’s new feature allows users to build separate, custom workspaces. The program already has workspaces for culling, editing and retouching, but with the update, photographers can add their own. Custom workspaces, the company says, allow editors to do things like create a workspace designed just for showing a client previews, for example. 

A new Polygon Selection Tool aims to speed up the task of masking out a section of the photo for local adjustments. Exposure Software explains that the new masking tool allows photo editors to draw a rough border around the object. The software then detects the edges and creates a more precise selection. This selection can be further fine-tuned, the company says. 

The Exposure X7 photo editor is also now capable of detecting and automatically removing what Exposure Software calls “single-pixel artifacts.” These are spots that are created by a defect in the camera sensor, the company explains. While the removal is automatic, the software has tools to adjust the strength to tweak the results. 

Users of previous versions of the software will now find the crop and transform tools moved together into the same panel. The crop can also now display guides for golden ration, golden spiral, the golden triangle, and diagonal. Exposure says that color production has improved with custom DCP color profiles and overall color quality with DNG files as well. (DCP color profiles are the camera profiles that determine how RAW photo colors are processed initially). Another change allows fine texture noise to be added back in for more detail after more extreme noise reduction edits. 

Exposure was originally a plug-in for simulating film looks in Photoshop. In keeping with that heritage, Exposure X7 still includes features from previous versions, including built-in film presets, advanced color tools, nondestructive layers, portrait retouching tools, and overlays such as light leaks and flares. 

[Read: Creative Photo Editing: How a Funky Style Emerged From Lockdown]

Exposure X7 is available as a stand-alone program, or can be used as a plug-in with Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom Classic CC. The program is available for $119, or $89 for owners of previous versions. (Those who purchased Exposure X6 after July 21, 2021 can upgrade for free.)