End of Nik?

[DanK]

Mike,

I use the LR adjustment brush often. LR is my base program: I start there with every image, and I only leave it as I have specific needs that can be better addressed elsewhere. Unfortunately, the adjustment brush with automasking doesn't duplicate what Nik control points do. The algorithm for selection with control points is very complex, and the selection from one is influenced by the selection from others. This function was a good part of what made Nik stand out before Google bought it.

Dan

[Mike Buckley]

Dan,

By nothing other than sheer coincidence, I just now came across this video tutorial presented by a website that I visit every day. It explains quite clearly how to use Lightroom's Auto Mask combined with the Adjustment Brush. That method seems every bit as effective if not more effective than Nikon's Control Points, which I think are more effective than Nik's Control Points (though maybe that's because I've used Nikon's Control Points for years and have hardly ever used Nik's Control Points).

I bookmarked the tutorial just in case my Nikon software and its Control Points stop working on my system. Hopefully the technology and methodology are a reasonable solution for you and others who are as sold on Control Points as much as I am.

[DanK]

Hi Mike,

thanks for the link. It had one feature I didn't know about: selection by color. However, even with that, the LR adjustment brush doesn't duplicate what Nik's control points do. In particular, one control point affects how another works. It's hard to explain, and probably not worth it if you are not going to try Nik (not much point in doing so if it is going to wither away), but if you try it and follow some of the online tutorials, you will see that it works rather differently. I have no idea what Nikon's control points are--I have never owned a Nikon--but no arrows in my quiver will replicate the control points or some other features of Nik.

Dan