A popular set of photo editing tools called the Nik Collection has been resurrected by its new owner DxO.
This handy batch of seven editing plug-ins for Photoshop and Lightroom, which includes analogue filters and retouching editors, is available to download now for a one-off fee of £39.99 (or $49.99).
That is a little pricier than the zero pounds Google ended up charging for the Nik Collection, after it bought the tools from Snapseed-maker Nik Software in 2012. This change is coming about now that DxO has purchased the Nik Collection from Google.
But while they’re no longer free, that price tag (a special offer until 1 July 2018, after which they’ll go up to £59) is a significant improvement on the Nik Collection’s original $500 cost.
A range of tools
If you’re not familiar with the plug-ins, the set includes Analog Efex Pro (a powerful range of retro, Instagram-style filters), Colour Efex Pro (for retouching and colour correction), and the highly regarded Sharpener Pro for bringing out hidden details in your snaps.
If you’re a fan of black and white photography or the amped-up HDR look, there’s also the excellent Silver Efex Pro and HDR Efex Pro. Finally, if you want to reduce noise or tweak specific areas of colour, the set also includes Dfine and Viveza.
DxO Mark’s update for the Nik Collection doesn’t bring any new features, but it does end the software compatibility issues that have stopped fans of the plug-ins from using them since Google let them fall into abeyance.
To use the Nik Collection, you’ll need a copy of Adobe Photoshop (CS5 or higher), Lightroom (3 or above) or Photoshop Elements 9, along with a 64-bit PC or Mac. Once downloaded, they’ll appear as a new box in your choice of editing program.
You can find a full list of minimum hardware specs, along with some handy visualisations of the tools in action, at the official Nik Collection site.
Are you looking forward to trying out the Nik Collection? Get in touch with us @TrustedReviews
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
