NIK software bundle, sillver fx pro..

[kuuan]

since a few days I am trying out the NIK software bundle: http://www.google.com/nikcollection/
it consists of LR and PS plugins, the known B&W converter 'silver efex pro', and also of color efex pro, analog efex pro, HDR efex pro, Viveza, Sharpener Pro and Dfine.

So far I have only tried out the silver fx pro, color fx pro and HDR fx pro plugins in Photoshop, re-edited a few jpegs, photos I already had converted earlier and of which right now I only have jepgs at hand:
In short, I am highly impressed by the difference achieved, and that only after 2 days of playing a bit these NIK softwares!

see some 'before and after': ( source file are jepgs either downloaded from my flickr stream of taken from a HD )

note: a number of the photos from Nepal had been underexposed and badly edited then, the leverage must be quite different if I used the RAWs instead. Certainly this 'before and after' most of all highlights my very bad editing skills, specially that of a few years ago when I had taken and edited the pics from Nepal, but even of just a few weeks ago when I had taken and edited those from Japan. Using these plug-ins so far I first chose a preset and tried to adjust from there.

from Osaka, Japan, taken some weeks before with Ricoh GXR and 28mm Module:

source jpeg file


re-edit using HDR efex pro


source jepg


re-edit using color fx pro


re-edit using HDR fx pro


source jpeg


re-edit using color fx pro, incl. film simulation


here those taken 2009 with a Pentax *ist Ds and S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50, at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu:

ssource jepg file


silver fx pro


source jpeg


silver fx pro


source jpeg


silver x pro

later edit: above photo was not taken with S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50, but with S-M-C Takumar 3.5/28

sourcejepg


silver fx pro

 

[kuuan]

one more sample, again Pentax *ist Ds + S-M-C Trakumar 1.4/50 ( didn't fit in original post )

source jpeg


HDR fx pro


silver fx pro

 

[peterm1]

Try the "Tonal Contrast" filter in the Color Efex plugin which has more than 20 or so individual different filters some of which are great such as the tonal contrast filter. This filter can really make an image "pop".

It has 3 sliders which adjust local contrast, one each for dark tones, mid tones and light tones. Be aware that the default settings are generally too strong though. Try adjusting the slider to the left to back off a little if you find this. Be careful about using the light tone one as if it is overdone you will get double lines on the edge of bright areas. These can also be controlled by the technique I mention below. But using this can help pull back overblown highlights and provide detail that otherwise would not appear in the image.

When you apply an effect like the above one, use the "control points' (in the filter control panel) to adjust where the effects are stronger and where they are weaker within the image. The control points are sensational way of adjusting an image very selectively by applying different edits to different parts of the image. They save a fantastic amount of time that otherwise would need a lot of editing and masking.

Good luck and have fun they are a great set of filters. I have the older set but have thought about treating myself to an upgrade.

 

[twopointeight]

Some nice results. I would be particularly interested in the results of trying to replicate a straight print from 35mm film negative. By straight I mean full greyscale, a little bit of noise/grain and sharp, but not overly so. Thanks anyone out there for posting examples.

 

[willie_901]

I use the NIK plug-ins all the time.

Viveza is extremely convenient and effective for dodging and burning. And the adjustments are highly dependent of the characteristics (hue, luminance) of the selection spot. This is especially powerful for color work.

Silver Efex Pro is outstanding. I even use it with scans from difficult B&W negatives. While I am not interested in simulating film aesthetics digital images, Silver Efex Pro excels in this area.

Often I face situations where the dynamic range of the scene exceeds the dynamic range of my camera. My only option is to blend bracketed exposures. My goal is to produce images where the viewer does not realize I used multiple exposures. HDR Efex Pro quickly allows me to achieve this goal. Success is highly dependent on not having a mixture of light with different color temperatures. HDR Efex Pro saves me a lot of post-production time.

It is true that many of the results NIK can deliver can be accomplished by some who is an expert with Photoshop. My theory is every time I use NIK instead of PS I add about half a day to my life span due to stress reduction. The value NIK brings is it eliminates the countless hours it would take me to learn to achieve similar results using PS.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Hi Kuaan...impressive results. The US$ 149 tag is a one-time payment for all of these applications or is it a yearly fee? Groet, Peter

 

[kuuan]

Hi Kuaan...impressive results. The US$ 149 tag is a one-time payment for all of these applications or is it a yearly fee? Groet, Peter

thank you Peter.

as to your question, I don't know. Maybe Willie can tell.
I just only started to use the free trial software, downloaded from the link provided. I hope it's not against the forum rules to post these links, I had found this site where one can buy for less with coupons: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/niksoftware.com
and possibly at only 80 usd here: http://llscvkugcstnlxrb.topsoftdealer.com/product/nik-software-complete-collection-2014/

( and a disclaimer, I am not associated with google, NIX software or any other site linked, don't know if the coupons work or the last, cheap source is good )

 

[kuuan]

thank you very much peterm1 and willie 901 for your tips!
I discovered and played a bit with the "Tonal Contrast" filter in the Color Efex, and I just opened Viveza for the first time, haven't found yet how to dodge and burn. There is much to discover, if I need advice please let me come back to ask you

 

[peterm1]

Kuuan You certainly will not be disappointed. I found when I first got Nik (and bear in mind that mine is now quite old) that as I used it I just found more and more and more that it can do. And I got more impressed with what it can do. The tools save huge amounts of time.

Others are right, you can often do this stuff in PS or other editing software but it's so skill intensive to learn and time intensive to do.

For example, I am often faced with the prospect of having to adjust the brightness, color or contrast in just one part of an image. In PS that involves creating layers, making brightness adjustments to it and creating layer masks then erasing part of the mask carefully to allow part of the lower layer to show etc . In Nik Viveza it involves nothing more than putting a selection dot on the spot you wish to brighten / darken or whatever, adjust the size of the ring around it and then sliding relevant sliders up or down. Job done in about a fifth of the time. The software is clever enough to work out which bits to apply the filter to.

I Also often apply a vignette to my images. ditto. Color Efex has a "darken/lighten centre" tool. In about 30 seconds the job is done. In PS it's probably at least 5 minutes of fooling around trying things/experimenting then perhaps redoing it when it does not quite work as you wanted.

What is more it is easy to use. When learning I had great fun experimenting with different filters to learn what effect they have and how they function.

The photo below for example was all processed using Nik products to bring out the reflections, darken the image to make it moody, enhance colors etc. It really does work well and their new pricing model is great - it used to be that each Nik product was sold separately and cost what you paid for the set.

Layers in time and space by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

Good luck, have fun

 

[willie_901]

As far as I know the price is one-time only. The last time there were major upgrades they were free. I have idea what will happen now that Google owns them.

 

[peterm1]

As far as I know the price is one-time only. The last time there were major upgrades they were free. I have idea what will happen now that Google owns them.

That is correct as I understand it. A couple of years ago, I think after the company being acquired, Nik had a change of pricing policy. They now sell the entire set for the price mentioned (one time only price). Previously each filter set sold separately for about this much. Or you could buy the whole set for several hundred dollars (I forget the full price of the set as it was priced back then but it was lot). As you can see, the new pricing policy represents about maybe a 75% price drop. But I expect they will make up for this in volume of sales as it is now competitively priced and well worth the money in my view.

 

[kuuan]

...
Others are right, you can often do this stuff in PS or other editing software but it's so skill intensive to learn and time intensive to do.

For example, I am often faced with the prospect of having to adjust the brightness, color or contrast in just one part of an image. In PS that involves creating layers, making brightness adjustments to it and creating layer masks then erasing part of the mask carefully to allow part of the lower layer to show etc . In Nik Viveza it involves nothing more than putting a selection dot on the spot you wish to brighten / darken or whatever, adjust the size of the ring around it and then sliding relevant sliders up or down. Job done in about a fifth of the time. The software is clever enough to work out which bits to apply the filter to.

I Also often apply a vignette to my images. ditto. Color Efex has a "darken/lighten centre" tool. In about 30 seconds the job is done. In PS it's probably at least 5 minutes of fooling around trying things/experimenting then perhaps redoing it when it does not quite work as you wanted.

What is more it is easy to use. When learning I had great fun experimenting with different filters to learn what effect they have and how they function.

right on! this is what NIK softs has been doing to me. even only after a few days it enables me to do corrections which are beyond me if I attempted them with Photoshop - though I know that layers are a most powerful tool I have never gotten around to learn using them propperly and hardly ever attempted to. Now I am excited!

Most re-edit attempts have been of takes from 2009 which are underexposed and which I had disregarded then, some also because of bad focusing. ( was using a humble dSLR and manual focus lenses and I was quite prone to produce faulty takes )
Considering these source files I am amazed how the output still can be transformed with the NIK softwares. However I am on a small, cheap notebook with an inferior monitor, I am certain that some edits will be full of artifacts that I don't or harldy notice, I hope I will be able to avoid most of them once I use the RAWs and a better monitor.

2 more samples, again Pentax *istDs + S-M-C 1.4/50:

The photo below for example was all processed using Nik products to bring out the reflections, darken the image to make it moody, enhance colors etc. It really does work well and their new pricing model is great - it used to be that each Nik product was sold separately and cost what you paid for the set.

Layers in time and space by yoyomaoz, on Flickr

Good luck, have fun

very impressive..and thank you!

 

[mfunnell]

The value NIK brings is it eliminates the countless hours it would take me to learn to achieve similar results using PS.

The tools save huge amounts of time.

You two should be on commission - you've convinced me to give the Nik tools a go. Less time in post-processing is an unalloyed good in my view. I've been trying, over the last few weeks, to streamline and speed up my workflow (including dipping my toe in the waters of Lightroom) so I'll see how these tools work for me as part of that process. Since I'm straining my poor little brain anyway I might as well try to incorporate all the time-saving tools I can get my hands on.

...Mike

 

[willie_901]

You two should be on commission - you've convinced me to give the Nik tools a go. Less time in post-processing is an unalloyed good in my view. I've been trying, over the last few weeks, to streamline and speed up my workflow (including dipping my toe in the waters of Lightroom) so I'll see how these tools work for me as part of that process. Since I'm straining my poor little brain anyway I might as well try to incorporate all the time-saving tools I can get my hands on.

...Mike

As with all software, there will be a learning curve. I have used a diverse ensemble of GUI software since 1973. PS has been the most frustrating. NIK seemed easy for me to pick up for the usage I described above.

 

[seakayaker1]

Long time NIK user, great product, enjoy and have fun. Look for the help sections on the Google web sight and tutorials on tube.

 

[f16sunshine]

Not to go too far aff topic.
Lynn B posted this HU. (thanks again Lynn!)
On One software is currently giving free SN's for PP8.
It's quite a powerful tool as well and works very nicely as a plug in for LR5 and A3.5. Best of all it's FREE!

It's not modules as the Nik Suite but rather all in one pre-sets .
The pre-sets are only a starting point as each is infinitly adjustable including for opacity of the complete final adjustment.
In other words. You can go heavy on the sauce or super light depending on the flavor you want.
I've created my own user pre-sets as starting points. It works very nicely.


This one looks compressed as an 800pix Jpeg but... printed up 8x10 to look very much like a B+W Negative Wet Print!
Big Bird by Adnan W, on Flickr

Another
Ok I'll let it go back to Nik now 🙂

 

[Stuart John]

Here's some I made earlier.
Silver FX Pro

Silver FX pro plus analog FX pro for dust.

Silver FX pro

 

[f16sunshine]

John that Goggles catch of Ella I remeber from the gallery. Such a wonderful image!

 

[Stuart John]

John that Goggles catch of Ella I remeber from the gallery. Such a wonderful image!

Thanks it's one of my favorites from this summer I think.

 

[mfunnell]

As with all software, there will be a learning curve.

Caveat noted - and expected. I've been writing software since, well, a very long time ago and using image editing software for 10 or so years, so I know there are no magic bullets out there. Useful and time-saving software, however, is always something I'd like to explore and the Nik software looks good to me and comes well recommended.

...Miike