OT: Google makes Nik Collectio… > > >OT: Google makes Nik Collectio…

OT: Google makes Nik Collection free for everyone.

Lissa_xyzLissa_xyz Posts: 6,116
edited March 2016 in The Commons

Photo enthusiasts all over the world use the Nik Collection to get the best out of their images every day. As we continue to focus our long-term investments in building incredible photo editing tools for mobile, including Google Photos and Snapseed, we’ve decided to make the Nik Collection desktop suite available for free, so that now anyone can use it.

The Nik Collection is comprised of seven desktop plug-ins that provide a powerful range of photo editing capabilities -- from filter applications that improve color correction, to retouching and creative effects, to image sharpening that brings out all the hidden details, to the ability to make adjustments to the color and tonality of images.

Starting March 24, 2016, the latest Nik Collection will be freely available to download: Analog Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, Viveza, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro and Dfine. If you purchased the Nik Collection in 2016, you will receive a full refund, which we’ll automatically issue back to you in the coming days.

We’re excited to bring the powerful photo editing tools once only used by professionals to even more people now.

Original announcement: https://plus.google.com/+NikCollection/posts/AFGsG2Di7EK

Homepage and download: https://www.google.com/nikcollection/

Post edited by Lissa_xyz on
«1

Comments

  • jakibluejakiblue Posts: 7,281

    whoa. Cool! thanks for the heads up!

  • RAMWolffRAMWolff Posts: 10,333

    Yes, thank you for the heads up, downloading now! 

  • SnowSultanSnowSultan Posts: 3,682

    Oh wow, thanks for letting us know! I was just thinking about those tools today, Isikol and Laticis use them and I've been tempted to get them for a long time. Thanks and thank you to Google.  :)

  • Lissa_xyzLissa_xyz Posts: 6,116
    edited March 2016

    They're amazing. I actually purchased them not long after Google acquired Nik Software and have used them for photography, post-processing renders, and even when adjusting black and white maps (bump, displacement, specular, etc) using Silver Efex. Analog Efex is probably my more treasured plugin of the suite as it allows you to mimic older camera equipment and lenses.

    Post edited by Lissa_xyz on
  • SotoSoto Posts: 1,441

    Incredible! Thank you!

  • TottallouTottallou Posts: 555

    Thanks - downloading now yes

  • SPACECHIMPSPACECHIMP Posts: 212

    That is awesome, I have the pro effects they are fantastic a must have !

  • WilmapWilmap Posts: 2,917

    Thanks for the info. Downloading now.

  • FerretmaniaFerretmania Posts: 883

    Ohh these could be useful . Thanks for sharing.

  • KharmaKharma Posts: 3,214

    Requirements says it only works on CS4 and up, I have CS2, does anyone know if they work with this version?

  • JeremyDJeremyD Posts: 265

    I absolutely highly recommend everyone getting these plug ins. I've been a NIK user for a little over two years and they are extremely useful for color correcting or enhancing your photos / renders!

  • mtl1mtl1 Posts: 1,507

    I used to use Color Efex, so the Nik Collection being free is a pretty nice surprise. :)

  • Hiro ProtagonistHiro Protagonist Posts: 699
    edited March 2016
    Kharma said:

    Requirements says it only works on CS4 and up, I have CS2, does anyone know if they work with this version?I

    I've just installed it in CS3. The installer didn't find an application to add the plugins to, but you can navigate manually (I selected this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Plug-Ins). One annoyance is that a tool panel called Selective Tool pops up when I start PS. I guess this will dock with CS4+ but doesn't in CS3. You can close it or minimize it. Apart from that all the plugins appear to work as they should.

    I would say it's worth trying with CS2.

    Post edited by Hiro Protagonist on
  • ToyenToyen Posts: 1,947

    Oh I thought this was standalone. Now I am even more tempted to finally get Photoshop : )

  • namffuaknamffuak Posts: 4,267

    well, now an excuse to install the photoshop elements that I got with my scanner.

  • none01ohonenone01ohone Posts: 862

    Thanks for the heads up Vaskania. Much appreciated.

  • lucidghostlucidghost Posts: 73

    I was just looking at these the other day and thinking I couldn't afford them! Awesome news, dowloading now :D

  • Lissa_xyzLissa_xyz Posts: 6,116
    edited March 2016
    Hiro Protagonist said:
    Kharma said:

    Requirements says it only works on CS4 and up, I have CS2, does anyone know if they work with this version?I

    I've just installed it in CS3. The installer didn't find an application to add the plugins to, but you can navigate manually (I selected this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Plug-Ins). One annoyance is that a tool panel called Selective Tool pops up when I start PS. I guess this will dock with CS4+ but doesn't in CS3. You can close it or minimize it. Apart from that all the plugins appear to work as they should.

    I would say it's worth trying with CS2.

    To get rid of that selective tool, click the Settings in the lower left and set the top option to do not launch. Should you want to open it at some point, you can manually launch it under File > Automate.

    selective_tool.PNG
    720 x 583 - 29K
    Post edited by Lissa_xyz on
  • xmasrosexmasrose Posts: 1,408

    It's like Christmas! Never thought I could afford them!

    Kharma : it works in CS2.

  • ByrdieByrdie Posts: 1,783

    Thanks, what a lovely Easter prezzie! :-)

     

  • Hiro ProtagonistHiro Protagonist Posts: 699
    Vaskania said:

    To get rid of that selective tool, click the Settings in the lower left and set the top option to do not launch. Should you want to open it at some point, you can manually launch it under File > Automate.

    Excellent, thanks. That works!

     

  • adzanadzan Posts: 268
    edited March 2016
    Toyen said:

    Oh I thought this was standalone. Now I am even more tempted to finally get Photoshop : )

    The windows version has .exe files in each plug-in folder so they can be used stand alone.

    the plugins will also work with corel paintshop pro X7, X8  - just copy the NIK plugin folders to the corel plugin folder ( if using PSP 64bit just copy the 64 bit folder from each of the plugin folders and put those into the corel folder).

    They also work with Serif PhotoPlus X5 and up - and Corel Photo-Paint (pro, oem and home/student)

    Post edited by adzan on
  • nonesuch00nonesuch00 Posts: 18,444
    edited March 2016

    They will also work with my now old Adobe Photoshop Essentials 9 and even better for you folk, with the free GIMP 2.8+.

    https://www.google.com/nikcollection/

    While I've never used the NIK collection I can't afford PS so I am trying this to get the NIK SW to work in GIMP:

    http://bernhardhuber.blogspot.com/2013/05/using-niksoftware-in-gimp.html

    http://registry.gimp.org/node/24977

    OK, so on NIK Install I found it works with something like Photoshop Elements 9 which I got for free with my Wacom Bamboo Create but also that the above NIK plugins work by following the directions of Mr Bernhard Hueber except he left a few of the plugins off the list or used the 32 bit versions of the plugins, probably because the new plugins and all the 64 bit versions weren't available at the time he wrote the instructions.

    So NIK Collection does work with GIMP in my (non-exhaustive) tests.

    Here is my updated ShellOut.py plugin file with all 64 bit versions of the NIK plugins from GIMP:

    [code] 

    programlist = [
      ["Analog Efex Pro 2", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Analog Efex Pro 2\\Analog Efex Pro 2 (64-Bit)\\Analog Efex Pro 2.exe\"", "tif"],
      ["Color Efex Pro4", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Color Efex Pro 4\\Color Efex Pro 4 (64-Bit)\\Color Efex Pro 4.exe\"", "tif"],
      ["Dfine2", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Dfine 2\\Dfine 2 (64-Bit)\\Dfine2.exe\"", "tif"],
      ["HDR Efex Pro 2", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\HDR Efex Pro 2\\HDR Efex Pro 2 (64-Bit)\\HDR Efex Pro 2.exe\"", "tif"],
      ["SharpenerPro3", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\Sharpener Pro 3\\Sharpener Pro 3 (64-Bit)\\SHP3RPS.exe\"", "tif"],
      ["Silver Efex Pro2", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Silver Efex Pro 2\\Silver Efex Pro 2 (64-Bit)\\Silver Efex Pro 2.exe\"", "tif"],
      ["Viveza2", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Viveza 2\\Viveza 2 (64-Bit)\\Viveza 2.exe\"", "jpg"],

    [/code]

    You may need to change the default file format for HDR Efx Pro 2 & Analogue Efx Pro 2.

    The HDR Efx Pro is not compatible with Photoshop Elements and for GIMP read this note from Mr Hueber:

    "Note that I have not added HDR Efex Pro 2: The reason is simple, the HDR technique merges two or more images together, ShellOut passes only the current layer to the external application. Thus it makes no sense to add HDR Efex Pro 2.
    You can always drag 1 or more images directly to a Nik application. So just select 2 or more images, and drag them onto HDR Efex Pro2, and voila..."

    Although you can still add it and it will start GIMP with one of the images you intend to use in a sequence. The work if actually done in the HDR Efx Pro though.

    Post edited by nonesuch00 on
  • Lissa_xyzLissa_xyz Posts: 6,116

    Good to see this software so useful in many other ways. I know a lot of useful tools end up for higher versions of Photoshop without standalone versions, which leave those who are using other software, or haven't updated, out in the cold. I use it from within Photoshop so I've never tested the other methods, but glad to see they work. :)

  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,165

    @ Vaskania 

    Great find.. thank you for the heads up. I've used Silver & Color Efex for a while, back before google took NIX over. So this is pretty sweet to get the complete suite for free... Pun intended..lol

  • jakibluejakiblue Posts: 7,281

    I'm using them as a standalone - going into the folder and clicking on the 'exes' to load them....but does anyone know if they will work WITHIN ps CS3?

  • Lissa_xyzLissa_xyz Posts: 6,116
    edited March 2016

    Yes it does. Per Hiro above, "I've just installed it in CS3. The installer didn't find an application to add the plugins to, but you can navigate manually (I selected this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Plug-Ins)"

    Just remember to use the path to your Photoshop, not that specific one.

    Post edited by Lissa_xyz on
  • jakibluejakiblue Posts: 7,281

    Thank you - that worked perfectly :D ;D  

    Vaskania said:

    Yes it does. Per Hiro above, "I've just installed it in CS3. The installer didn't find an application to add the plugins to, but you can navigate manually (I selected this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Plug-Ins)"

    Just remember to use the path to your Photoshop, not that specific one.

     

  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,165
    edited March 2016

    It reconized  Photoshop CS5,  32 & 64 byte versions on install. it asked me to over right my older copies  my color and silver Efex fliter.s  which I did.  really happy to have the HDR Efex light fliter and the rest of these tools added to my photoshop... thanks again for the heads up Vaskania  :)

    Post edited by Ivy on
  • RuphussRuphuss Posts: 2,631

    just tried with photoshop elements 10

    works nice

Sign In or Register to comment.
OT: Google makes Nik Collectio… > > >OT: Google makes Nik Collectio…