Google's free photo processing software

[FrankS]

A suite of editing programs are now free to download, which I did on my MacBook.
Here it is: https://www.google.com/intl/en-GB/nikcollection/

info: http://www.ishootfilm.de/en/google-makes-nik-collection-available-free/

Question: How do I activate them to become extensions to the Mac's native photo editing program?

 

[GaryLH]

Once u run through the install process, it will be in the app/nik folder. U can bring them up individually or from the plugin menu of your photo editing sw if Nik supports that sw. Adobe ps and LR are supported along w/ Apple Aperture for sure. The install program will search for those sw suites.

Gary

 

[CameraQuest]

check the fine print carefully

you may be giving away your copyright
or allowing Google free unlimited use of your pics

 

[raid]

I better check the fine print. Thanks.

 

[FrankS]

Let us know if you do, Raid. I'm not so good with fine print.

 

[rybolt]

Since you don't store anything on a Google server or give them any access to your computer after the download you would need to go to great pains to have them access your pictures.
This has been asked and answered in numerous forums. Not an issue.

 

[raid]

Thanks. This is good to know.

 

[GaryLH]

check the fine print carefully

you may be giving away your copyright
or allowing Google free unlimited use of your pics

I don't think it pertains unless the pictures are being hosted by them..but a valid point to check.

Can't this be also said of any free picture hosting service?

Gary

 

[venchka]

Google's free photo processing software

What a deal. I was waiting for funding before downloading. Downloading now. Thanks FrankS and raid.
LR 6 will be next.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

 

[CameraQuest]

I don't think it pertains unless the pictures are being hosted by them..but a valid point to check.

Can't this be also said of any free picture hosting service?

Gary

in any free software or web service
their commercial product is usually YOU
big data, discovering more about you, your friends etc

the funniest are the free android Anti-Virus apps or PC anti virus
that install malware !

 

[FrankS]

Back to my question, I downloaded the programs and see them on the Launchpad page, but need to do something to access them as extensions in the Mac photo editor. In Settings, on the Extension page, I see an empty box with instructions to select extensions, but no way to do so.

 

[GaryLH]

They probably aren't designed to work as a plugin to the New Mac photo app. If u don't c them registered as a plugin, u can usually either export the file from the photo app to a well know directory where u can open it separately w/ the nik sw app u wish to use. U can also check the preference pane of the photo app to c if it has an external photo editor hook. This will only allow a limited number of external editors (in most cases just one).. I don't use the new Mac photo app.. It's a downgrade from Aperture.

Gary

 

[DNG]

check the fine print carefully

you may be giving away your copyright
or allowing Google free unlimited use of your pics

Sounds a bit paranoid to me...

Sorry.. how about the extensions in Lr to upload within Lr for Flickr for example? are you giving your copyright to Adobe or Flickr?

They do collect program info about crashes, Operating System, Memory, but I highly doubt they collect personal data... where would it be? If you already have a Google Account, (most do with a Gmail or G+ account). They already have it!

I doubt they have a subroutine to hack your Apple or Windows computer account info.

These are just plugins, or extensions, which Adobe has similar stuff as part of the Adobe suite anyway.. some by 3rd parties that are preinstalled through a partnership with Adobe.

How many have installed plugins made by some Internet Blogger that makes Lr/PS plugins or actions? I would be more worried with those as having hidden agendas, than a global company like Google.

Just saying... no need to start a panic.

(I await my public flogging for questioning the Head Bartender 😱 , 😉)

 

[MIkhail]

check the fine print carefully

you may be giving away your copyright
or allowing Google free unlimited use of your pics

So what if it is so?
Are we all suffering of overuse and piracy of our pics?

 

[RichardP]

in any free software or web service
their commercial product is usually YOU
big data, discovering more about you, your friends etc

the funniest are the free android Anti-Virus apps or PC anti virus
that install malware !

Partially true but irrelevant since Nik software is not a web service and, apart from downloading the suite, does not require or use a web connection. FUD.

 

[icebear]

Usually common sense would tell you:

"There is nothing like a free lunch"😉

 

[willie_901]

Usually common sense would tell you:

"There is nothing like a free lunch"😉

Lo p[probability events happen.

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

The software itself hasnt been updated in a couple of years so I think they're just letting it go free for good publicity

 

[willie_901]

Frank,

I only use NIK as a LR plug-in.

I have heard if one drags a raw image onto one of NIK's icons in the OS X Dock, Nik opens that app and you can render the image dirrectly. I don't know if you can launch other NIK apps from within a given stand-alone NIK app. But that would be convenient.

Otherwise you just have to save the rendered result to a non-lossy TIFF and repeat the process as needed. When you are finished you can import the final TIFF into OS X photos.

 

[willie_901]

When we upload data to anywhere in the Cloud, the EULA/TOS states the Cloud storage service can copy your data. Otherwise your data could not be duplicated for back up.

This is altogether different from sharing or abandoning your copyright with the Cloud service provider.

In the past some companies actually had EULA/TOS agreements that did permit usage for other than duplication. Now this practice is rare for two reasons:
o Those companies were outed and shamed on blogs and social media
o Those companies had no chance of acquiring corporate customers