NIK software

[mahfoudhhi]

Good day to you all:
Could anyone please let's know what software there are of NIK? and what do they do ( a short description).
so far I know Color Efex pro 4. I only had a glance and understood it is for editing images (like converting image to black and white and adding some effects to the image and this can be done through Photoshop, but nothing further. am I right? and what else is there?
any idea please?
I appreciate this in advance.

[FootLoose]

It just so happens that I was browsing through a photography mag a couple of hours ago and noted a featured photographer's remarks about NIK software. He said NIK software is made by photographers for photographers, whereas Photoshop seems to have been built by graphic designers. I have never used NIK and only have a basic knowledge of Photoshop, but I think I should find out more about NIK software.

[davidedric]

I suggest you have a look at their web site www.niksoftware.com which gives a good description of their products, and offers free trials. There are also a couple of threads I recently started in this forum with some views from members.

[Polar01]

I agree with Dave, the best thing to do Hafedh is to go to their site as Dave has supplied the link above and read through it and look at a few of the on line videos. This will give you a good feeling from what they can do. I have been using them for about 3 years now.

Cheers:

Allan

[mahfoudhhi]

Thank you Allan and Dave.
I will.

[mahfoudhhi]

It just so happens that I was browsing through a photography mag a couple of hours ago and noted a featured photographer's remarks about NIK software. He said NIK software is made by photographers for photographers, whereas Photoshop seems to have been built by graphic designers. I have never used NIK and only have a basic knowledge of Photoshop, but I think I should find out more about NIK software.

Thank you Greg.

[Alandb]

Generally speaking, the NIK suite is used as an add on (plug-in) to Photoshop, Lightroom or similar image editor. Yes, the NIK suite can be used as a stand-alone program but I think most photographers use it as a plug-in. You don't say what your skill level is or what the context is that you are working in. That info would be helpful to give you a more appropriate response.

[mahfoudhhi]

Generally speaking, the NIK suite is used as an add on (plug-in) to Photoshop, Lightroom or similar image editor. Yes, the NIK suite can be used as a stand-alone program but I think most photographers use it as a plug-in. You don't say what your skill level is or what the context is that you are working in. That info would be helpful to give you a more appropriate response.

Thank you for your clarification. I am beginner in photoshop but I will learn it soon from lynda.com.

[GaryMarsh]

I use Nikon Capture NX2 and Photoshop CS5 for editing, but because I have a Nikon camera I find editing my NEF files much more responsive in Capture NX2 either in raw or j.peg format, so much so I now only use Photoshop to finish off my images e.g using text and layers. You can pick up a copy of NX2 for around £120 on Amazon.
Regards
Gary

[mahfoudhhi]

I use Nikon Capture NX2 and Photoshop CS5 for editing, but because I have a Nikon camera I find editing my NEF files much more responsive in Capture NX2 either in raw or j.peg format, so much so I now only use Photoshop to finish off my images e.g using text and layers. You can pick up a copy of NX2 for around £120 on Amazon.
Regards
Gary

Thank you Gary.

[chrisletts]

Nobody seems to have mentioned the fact that nik software was recently bought by Google, and a lot of people's expectation is that they will cease to be 'for photographers' and just produce mobile addons. (Nikon have already said that there will not be an NX3) That may mean that at some time in the future you'll have to change to another product which is a shame as I'm perfectly happy with NX2.

[Polar01]

Chrisletts: Google did not have any mobile photo editing program so one of the reasons I believe is that they got Nik was for snapseed. Google is not dumb, they got snapseed and along with that, a company that makes some of the best photo enchantment software anywhere and turns a profit. Now the only thing is, will they stay out and let Nik do that they do best?

Cheers:

Allan

[PRSearls]

I too, hope NiK will have the independence to continue developing/improving their products. I use several NiK plug-ins in my normal workflow. I find them easy to use and get good results in less time than using other methods.

Paul S

[GrahamH]

snip..... photo enchantment software ......snip
Allan

The secret is out, post processing is officially magic .
Graham

[rambler4466]

Goto their website for demos. Viveza and Color Effect Pro can quickly make very useful adjustments to your photos.

[praphul]

Nik software contains the following plugins for photoshop :

1)color efex pro
2)silver efex pro
3)define
4)viveza
5)hdr efex pro
6)sharpener pro

so far i have used just silver efex pro for b/w conversion..people say its the best. i have found it true .

color efex pro is also good where in u apply filters selectively to pop up the image.

dfine is to remove the noise. the software automatically does some amount of noise removal by itself but thers option also for manual removal too. but kindly make sure that u dont overdo the noise removal or else there are chances that u loose details in the photograph.

the greatest advantage of these is that of control points available wherein u can selectively enhance particular areas of image according to need.

[mahfoudhhi]

Thank you very much everyone for your rich input.
I appreciate it.

[Clint007]

On YouTube There is a very well done video call "Introduction to the Nik Complete Collection" made Feb 8, 2013 (59 minutes).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gikVjBnpTRQ

[davidedric]

On YouTube There is a very well done video

Thanks, Claude, I've been thinking about the Nik software, and this is a great bringing together of the tools.

Actually, I'd just been wondering about Silver Efex Pro, but thinking $200 is a lot. Then realising that by buying the bundle I can get $500 worth of software for $100, and wanted to have a feel for what I might use.

Dave

[Alandb]

Video2brain has very good tutorials for NIK. If you use it intensely for a month or two, it is not very expensive.