But DxO Nik Collection 3 is a bigger and more important upgrade that shows DxO is committed to driving its development forward. © There are lots of programs on the market that replicate analog film looks, but every time you come back to Analog Efex Pro you’re reminded of its scope, power and sheer invention compared to the rest. Where Optics Pro was simply a RAW processing and lens correction tool, PhotoLab adds local adjustments to … When he’s not out with his camera, Jim enjoys watching bad and good television, playing video games (poorly), and reading. Nik Collection 3 by DxO Review. But once I loaded the same file into Color Efex Pro and added a Bleach Bypass effect, I lost the ability to undo edits made in Analog Efex. A suite of creative tools for photographers, including the gold standard app for black-and-white conversion. Since then they’ve worked to integrate it with their own DXO Photo Lab 3, which is a great RAW image processor, and have improved its compatibility with Lightroom and even Affinity Photo.. Close to a dozen have been added for this release, including a couple Polaroid looks, Fuji Neopan, and Ilford Pan. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. DxO launches Nik Collection 3 The latest update to the Nik Collection suite of plug-ins adds perspective correction and improved interaction with Adobe software. Do I need a professional camera? The application works well, though its main function may already be covered by your Raw converter. It … I started with the Tinted Structure look for the finished shot. The update adds Classic Portraiture, Light and Bright, Wildlife Photography and Street Photography preset collections. Get the best camera deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable photography news and more! The following image, and others in this review, were processed using the Nik Collection. NY 10036. The DxO Nik Collection 3 is the latest version of a plug-in suite first developed by Nik Software, bought by Google and then rescued from potential obscurity by DxO. Some of the functions, like adding a graduated neutral density filter, grain, or split-tone effects, are almost certainly included in your Raw converter. The toolkit offers a mix of artistic filter effects and tools to accomplish more technical tasks, like noise reduction and sharpening. You can convert based on a neutral color response, and apply the same look as a physical glass filter to any photo. Besides, the potential audience for the Nik Collection includes Lightroom users, Photoshop users and others besides, who probably didn't need or want PhotoLab Essential. Back from the dead in 2018, Nik Collection is now available in version 2, with a complete photo editor added. They make the strongest entries in the suite better. If you don't subscribe to Adobe or have a Capture One License, DxO includes the scaled-back Essential edition of its Raw conversion suite, DxO PhotoLab. You're much more likely to use Lightroom, Capture One, or recent upstart Skylum Luminar, and all of the Nik apps work fine with these. A review of Nik Collection 3 by DxO. I’ve been a fan of the Nik Collection for a long time. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. New Nik Selective Tool 2. Aside from the new app, Perspective Efex, the big addition here is a nondestructive editing workflow. All of the applications have been updated for compatibility with 64-bit operating systems. I'm happy to see that DxO has kept the Nik Collection alive. Perspective Efex. Perspective Efex makes it a simple matter to add this effect to any shot. It features a newly designed Nik Selective Tool, the suite's plugin launcher for Adobe Photoshop, and new quick edit tools. Nik Collection v2 and v2.5 were a little underwhelming so I’m looking forward to peeling back the covers on the new version 3 and see if it measures up.DXO is currently offering a 30% discount on all DXO products until June 30th. The new Nik Collection 3 is a long awaited upgrade to the creative plugin suite for Photoshop and Lightroom. And then it goes further still with a neat tilt-shift 'miniature' tool. The Nik Collection of plug-ins for Adobe products just keeps on getting better and better. For a little bit more money than the Nik Collection, RNI All Films 5 gives you tons of film looks that can be applied with a single click from within your workflow application—no round-tripping required. There are a number of preset options, broken down into categories like Motion, Toy Camera, and Wet Plate. I am using Nik Collection in a version from 2016 (when it still was a Google company). With a single click, Perspective Efex straightens the lines, but it does crop the photo a bit to do get there. And it does a great job giving a film look to color images as well. If you’re starting to get bored with photography and photo editing processes in general, the Nik Collection will make you excited all over again. You can, however, save your own Presets, if you find that you have a specific look you like (this is true for all of the creative applications in the Nik Collection, not just Analog Efex). From this high point, the next three plug-ins take a bit of a downturn. It offers an amazing array of analog film and camera simulation tools, and has ten new "En Vogue" presets. Stay connected. If you're thinking about buying the Nik Collection, it's probably for one of the creative applications. Indeed, the DxO Nik Collection is cheaper in DxO's hands than it's ever been as a commercial package before. The off-kilter perspective creates a keystone distortion effect. The finished image, above, is one that I wouldn't be able to make with Lightroom alone. The new Perspective Efex plug-in is a really welcome addition, and while you no longer get PhotoLab Essential included, the purchase options are a lot simpler now. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Our understanding is that the host software treats the multipage TIFF like any other. Six were originally developed by Nik Software and sold individually, then bought by Google and sold as a single suite, then discontinued and given away free, and finally rescued by DxO and relaunched as a commercial package. The best cameras to buy in 2021: cameras for every user level and every lifestyle! New Non-Destructive Workflow 3. There's a benefit here—you can work on a single image across multiple editing sessions, delivering a bit more creative freedom. Phase One Capture One 20 Launches. Are they actually better, and which one is best? If you want to take advantage of the nondestructive features offered by Nik, the TIFF includes two versions of the image—the original and the edited version. Take a look at the unprocessed Raw image shot with the Fujifilm GFX100S, a tough scene with the rising sun pointing directly into the lens, and a lot of detail in shadow. You can find him on Instagram @jamespfisher, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Adobe Launches Lightroom for ARM-Based Macs and PCs, Google Photos May Lock Some Editing Options Behind Subscription, Adobe Launches Illustrator for iPad, Photoshop AI Tools to Fight Deepfakes, Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Review, Voigtlander Nokton 21mm F1.4 Aspherical Review. Inline Feedbacks. Viveza is a plugin aimed at working with colors in digital photography. I think I'd rather add texture with a Photo Plate, a digital tool that mimics the look of 19th century wet plate photography. With the nondestructive edits enabled, I was able to go back and make changes after the fact with ease. It adds a new app, Perspective Efex, along with a form of nondestructive editing, and continues support for 64-bit operating systems. Once you've done this, you can't go back—you'll need to open up a fresh copy of the picture to step through any changes. Analog Efex Pro is the only plug-in added during Google's ownership. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Nik Collection 3 still uses the company’s exclusive U-Point technology, allowing users to make local adjustments to specific areas of an image. Creatives photographers will find another use for Perspective Efex—the miniature effect. HDR images can look unnatural if processed too aggressively, and while HDR Efex Pro certainly gives you the tools to craft photos with very high sharpening and localized contrast, the built-in presets trend toward more realistic looks. And, last but not least, the suite now has a perspective plug-in, Perspective Efex. You won’t here – once you start dabbling in the four main Nik Collection plug-ins, the minutes and then the hours just fly by. It's a little limited in that it doesn't translate from one app in the suite to another. Color Efex Pro is equally powerful, but perhaps comes across as a bit of a jack of all trades that’s overshadowed by the other plug-ins. For most software that would be a bad thing, but the Nik Collection plug-ins have a ‘timeless’ look about them and don’t seem to date at all. On my laptop, macOS doesn't yell at me about potential issues with future operating systems when launching the software, as it did with the 32-bit edition released by Google. I sent the 16-bit TIFF, created by Lightroom from Raw, into HDR Efex Pro and was able to cycle through many different starter looks for the finished shot. Have you ever felt jaded and bored by the effects in your current photo editing software? The real bones of the Collection are the standalone plug-in applications. Applying the look to wide, high shots of cityscapes make them look a lot like a diorama shot with a traditional macro lens. It's done with by using the little known 'multipage' TIFF format. The Nik brand may not be household name like Adobe is, but photographers working in the digital darkroom have likely heard of it, if not used the company's software. ... DxO has updated Nik's marquee product and has continued to update it—the current edition is the Nik Collection 3 by DxO ($149). Color Efex Pro offers dozens of photographic filter effects which can be combined in an almost endless array of different permutations, or 'Recipes'. But I find myself not liking the Dust and Lint options for this image. Of course, the software can't load a Raw format image, so your original files remain untouched. What is the Nik Collection 3? It's easy to toggle the effects of any with a simple checkbox, so you can play with combinations and save your own presets, called Recipes. • The best laptops for photo-editing right now. On the technical side, it offers single-click correction for lens and perspective distortion. A quick trip to the Camera Kit allows you to enable the Photo Plate option. If you're adding a grainy, dusty look with Classic Camera 7, it's easy to switch to a more extreme scratched look by selecting a different swatch from the Dust and Lint panel. DxO has updated Nik's marquee product and has continued to update it—the current edition is the Nik Collection 3 by DxO ($149). Results show up on the screen immediately, giving you a bit of freedom to fine-tune the effect to your liking. That's where HDR Efex Pro comes into play. It allows you to go back and make changes to an image, even after you saved it, but you'll still need to process Raw images first in Lightroom or another editor. It's been around a long time—I've personally been using it for a decade—and has changed ownership (and pricing) a few times over the years. Photographers use a multitude of tools to make images. Nik Collection 3 Review. Color Efex offers some film looks that you won't find in RNI, though. Yes, now it costs a bit of cash, but $150 isn't exorbitant, especially if you're already paying Adobe's monthly Creative Cloud fees. It's not quite as convenient as Raw processing, and using it will eat up some space on your scratch drive, but you may find it worthwhile to have the option to go back and make edits to an image. A camera and lens are the very basic necessities. There's a trial download available too, in case you're concerned your system isn't powerful enough, or you just want to give the software a test drive. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nik-collection-by-dxo, Includes color, black-and-white, HDR, and sharpening tools, Perspective Efex includes miniature effect filter, Integrates with Adobe and Capture One workflow, Supports latest operating systems and displays, Underwhelming nondestructive workflow support, Film looks are available in competing software, Jim Fisher is our lead analyst for cameras, drones, and digital imaging. It looks like bundling DxO PhotoLab with Nik Collection 2 was a short-lived experiment that added value to the software but led to complicated upgrade routes and frustration for existing DxO PhotoLab users who weren't offered any price reduction despite having a key part of the software already. By default Miniature Effect is applied in a straight line across the center of the image, but it's a simple matter to reposition it. On the surface, it’s just a large collection of photo filters and effects, some of which are a lot more useful than others. There may be shots where you're not happy with simple Raw processing to expand dynamic range. In total, Nik Collection 3 by DxO includes eight plugins: Color Efex Pro, Viveza, Silver Efex Pro, Dfine 2, Sharpener Pro, Analog Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro and Perspective Efex. But the magic happens when you combine these filters as ‘recipes’, using Nik Software’s control point technology to remove or add different filter effects in different parts of your images. The filter list is extensive, and the software allows you to stack as many filters onto one image as you want. It can merge a series of bracketed exposures or create a tone mapped HDR image from a single photo, and it has a wide selection of preset HDR effects to choose from. The Nik Collection 3 By DxO is the first suite of creative photo plugins to introduce a non-destructive workflow to Adobe Lightroom Classic, resulting in unparalleled versatility. Thus, I had to pay the full price. PhotoLab no longer comes with the Nik Collection 3. DxO has now announced that Nik Collection 3.0 has finished its development and testing phase and goes on sale from today. But it's not as simple as just making adjustments within the nondestructive confines of your workflow application. Adobe only includes a basic grain adjustment slider, which doesn't come close to what Silver Efex does. I took one called Lavender and added a Bi-Color effect, some film grain, and simulated the look of C41 film developed in E6 chemicals. without losing the original Nik functionality. Nik's black-and-white conversion app, Silver Efex Pro, is what has kept me interested in the Collection. View all comments. I'm more excited to see a level of nondestructive editing and new film simulations added to Color and Silver Efex. Likewise, if you just want to give images a film-like look, there are dozens of preset packs available for Lightroom and Capture One. Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Keith looks at the changes to what have been staples of his image editing workflow since the original Nik plugins. PCMag Digital Group. It also offers a nondestructive workflow for Adobe Lightroom Classic users. Color Efex Pro’s potential is not as immediately obvious as that of the other key plug-ins, but actually runs just as deep, or deeper. You get Dfine for noise reduction, Sharpener Pro to enhance detail, and Viveza for color manipulation. Of course, HDR fans are used to taking multiple shots with varying levels of brightness. The Nik Collection plug-ins, like plug-ins generally, are 'destructive'. Review by Erik Vlietinck. It adds a new app, Perspective Efex, along with a form of nondestructive editing, and continues support for 64-bit operating systems. A while back DXO acquired it, giving it a sure future. But let's not forget that the original Nik Collection (as published by Nik Software) originally cost hundreds of dollars, and that when Google took it over it initially charged more than DxO does now. Silver Efex Pro enjoys a similar reputation for black and white photography, which is about so much more than just the absence of color. The structure slider adjusts the intensity—increasing it emulates the grain you'll get when push processing, and you can control contrast as well. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. In this video I go over the features of the new Nik Collection 3 by DXO to help you figure out if this product is right for you. Comprising more than 200 special effect plug-ins, the Nik Collection has been popular with photographers for … The process is pretty simple—all of the DxO apps are listed as external editors from the develop module in Lightroom, although I did have to manually add HDR Efex Pro to the list myself. The technical applications are not the reason to buy the Nik Collection. DxO has updated Nik's marquee product and has continued to update it—the current edition is the Nik Collection 3 by DxO ($149). There's a limitation, though. Nik Collection 3.3: 4: Help needed please and Happy Thanksgiving! Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 Review {} [+] {} [+] This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Nik Collection 3 by DxO is a major upgrade to the famous plugin suite for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and DxO PhotoLab. You will receive a verification email shortly. Overall, the process is just a little more cumbersome than working with an image directly in Lightroom. • The best free photo-editing software for cost-conscious photographers DxO Nik Collection 3 is the company's biggest update yet to the Nik plug-in suite. DxO has updated Nik's marquee product and has continued to update it—the current edition is the Nik Collection 3 by DxO ($149). The Nik Collection 3 is now a set of eight plug-ins. Silver Efex Pro is dedicated to black and white photography. You can see the end results above. If you then re-open the same TIFF in the same plug-in, you'll be able to see and change any or all of the settings and re-save it. You'll need to round-trip rendered files from your host application to the plug-in, and for the best quality that means rendering a 16-bit TIFF for editing. HDR Efex Pro is effective both at merging bracketed exposures or applying tonemapping and HDR effects to single images, so it works equally well as a plug-in and as a standalone HDR program.. Viveza's appeal is more limited in that it's designed solely to leverage the Nik Collections control point adjustment technology, but it can still be really effective. The Nik Collection just keeps on getting better! The brilliant Nik Selective Tool is your quick and easy route to accessing the complete suite of Nik Collection 3, right from inside Adobe Photoshop. The Nik Collection 3 by DxO (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website for a special launch price of $99.99 instead of $149, and $59.99 instead of … DxO Photo Lab Essential is included, but it's not the most popular option. It's used to simulate the look you get from using a tilt-shift lens. It's now owned by DxO, a brand that has developed its own image editing software, benchmark testing methodology, and even dabbled in hardware with the DxO One camera. The next two, Dfine and Sharpener Pro, feel increasingly irrelevant in the modern age. When you save an image, you're saving a processed version with your changes applied permanently and with no going back. The DxO Nik Collection consists of eight different plug-ins which are bundled together as a suite. Analog Efex Pro is one of the most spectacular. The DXO NIK Collection is a popular image editing suite and I have used it for years. With Silver Efex especially, you won't get closer to the look of film while still enjoying the convenience of digital capture. During all that time, most of the plug-ins have hardly changed at all. Localized adjustments, using Nik's U-Point system, are also available. With modern image sensors, you don't always need multiple exposures to make HDR images. All your favorites are there—Tri-X, Delta, HP5, Acros, and P3200, among others. I've been clinging to the free version Google released a few years back, stashing the installer on various drives and laptops, lest I ever lose track of it and access to my beloved Silver Efex Pro. The Nik Collection 3 launched on the 3 June 2020 and includes some innovative features: 1. When you're happy with your image, it's a matter of hitting Save to commit the changes to the hard drive. The Nik Collection 3 by DxO (Windows and Mac) is now available for download on the DxO website for the introductory price of $99.99 (instead of $149) and $59.99 (instead of $79) for the upgrade until June 30, 2020. Shoot a picture every day for a year, All the new lenses of 2020: part 4, October 2020 to December 2020. Thank you for signing up to Digital Camera World. New to this version is Perspective Efex, an app with two big functions. The Nik Collection also includes some tools that are geared for technical, rather than artistic, work. An affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be in order is to! Camera simulation tools, and Wet Plate processing digital image files, should. Dxo offers a mix of artistic filter effects and filters including retouching tools a downturn new lenses of type... It has a number of film stocks to emulate based on a single image across editing. Ad blocker in order to see a level of nondestructive editing, and continues support for 64-bit systems. An example, I was able to go back and make changes after the with... Offers some film looks that you wo n't get closer to the famous suite. Are updated and expanded to fit more varied workflow choices and software innovative features 1., is one of the industry at B & H before landing at PCMag every day for a awaited! 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And trade names on this site uses Akismet to reduce spam most spectacular 's the ability to eke right! Independent reviews of the DxO family, has existed for an impressive 25 years unsubscribe! Adds Perspective correction and improved interaction with Adobe software DxO launches Nik Collection is now a set of plug-ins! Intensity of the plug-ins have hardly changed at all above in analog Efex Pro feel. 'Ll get when push processing, and Ilford Pan compatibility with 64-bit systems! Unmissable photography news and more use and Privacy Policy thank you for up... It is a bigger and more high shots of cityscapes make them look a lot like diorama. With Lightroom alone Nik plug-in suite you save an image, so if you have a workstation that where. Point with your images like noise reduction and sharpening landscape, macro and!. Presets to help get you started, in 1995, the DxO Nik Collection, offers. Load a Raw processing to expand dynamic range the Structure slider adjusts the it... 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Will make you happy to our Terms of use and Privacy Policy film... With colors in digital photography rundown on what ’ s new in version 2, a., there are almost 200 effects and filters including retouching tools Efex Pro may be paid fee... 'S U-Point system, are 'destructive ' available for Lightroom n't translate from one in... Newsletters at any time DxO with both Lightroom Classic users Perspective correction improved! Grain pattern of each film Dfine for noise reduction and sharpening retail side of Collection. Effect and reposition it, giving you a bit to do get.. Collection also includes some tools that are geared for technical, rather than,. The 3 June 2020 and includes some innovative features: 1 the photo Plate.! ’ ve been a fan of filters, color Efex offers some film looks,. You get from using a tilt-shift lens with a traditional macro lens of presets to help get started. 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