I use Lightroom 4 to edit my photos and have seen excellent reviews for Nik software. I was thinking of getting their complete package kit which you can get in Aust for about $300.
However I don't know anyone who uses it and was after some advice. Is it an alternative to Lightroom or Photoshop? If not, is it good software? I gathered the majority of the edit would be done in LR and then finished off with the Nik plugins??
Any thoughts or advice on it would be appreciated.
@vorka I have the Silver Efex one for black and white conversion. You can get some awesome results from this. The Nik software are plugins that go beyond what you would normally get in PS or Lightroom. I think I also have Color Efex, but I don't use that one much. You can usually download and try the software. If you are into using plugins, I actually prefer the ones from Topaz, which are significantly cheaper, but give me results that I am looking for.
I have the Color Efex and I use it fairly regularly. If I knew more about what I was doing, I could get similar results with PS or maybe even Lightroom (don't know anything much about editing in LR) but NIK filters are quick and easy and customisable so I find them useful.
Their plugins are very good, you won't be disappointed. Topaz have similar filters at lower cost. I personally think the Nik ones are higher quality, but Topaz are cheaper (if you just buy the individual ones you need rather than the whole bundle) and you pretty much get lifetime full upgrades on anything you buy - doesn't seem to be the case with Nik.
I use Silver Efex Pro (which is fantastic) and Topaz Adjust, but I usually access them from Photoshop Elements, rather than directly from Lightroom. This is mainly because Silver Efex has a habit of screwing my Lightroom keyword list, but also so I can use layers (especially layer masks) & PS tools (mostly cloning) to get the best from the plug-in filters.
I have the complete package and use all of them in my workflow. I find Dfine works well for noise reduction, then ColorEfex or SilverEfex (or sometimes both), then Viveza and finally Sharpener Pro. So basically I'm addicted. Most people overlook Viveza and to be honest, I did too at the start but its really a wonderful too for making corrections to certain parts of the image quickly and easily, saves a lot of time not having to mess with masks in Photoshop. I now find myself doing 90% of my editing in one or more of the Nilk filters and only small fixes in Photoshop itself.
I have ColorEfex, SilverEfex, HDR, Viveza (I over look this but just reading the previous post I think I will rethink that) Sharpener Pro and do use them all. Not all the time but I do use them. Sometimes I just use ColorEfex to add a frame or to just make a very tiny adjustment. If you have an image that you really love the composition or you are trying to "save" and image that was not well shot then Nik software will do that for you. I also have some OnOne plugins... Focal Point and Mask Pro but found once I got the Nik software I stopped using them. I am sure you will be very happy with the Nik complete package. I have a few images posted that I took with my D200 before it finally dies and I got the D7000 They were "saved"using the Nik software.
Good luck :)
@jonesp Do you know where there is a good tutorial for Viveza. I have it but overlook it...totally. I dont often use Sharpener Pro either so should find a tutorial on that too :)
Thanks!
@pengu1n@38mm@terryvet92@mikew@humphreyhippo@jonesp@k1w1 Thanks for the input, much appreciated. It seems to have good reviews everywhere. I think most of all I wanted to be sure it would do more than what Lightroom offers. I didn't want to buy another similar program dressed in a different package. I'm looking for something that flows with Lightroom and offers benefits or features I cant get out of Lightroom. I think I'm barking up the right tree?
@vorka I have Lightroom and never use it. When I shoot in RAW I open in Photoshop and then do any adjustments using the Nik software. I think you will love it!
@vorka I think both Nik & Topaz still do trial versions you can try for free. Might be worth downloading & seeing how you get on.
I've never regretted buying Silver Efex. :)
Here's an example of b&w conversion/editing done solely in Lightroom:
Here is an example in which the b&w conversion/editing was done with Silver Efex Pro instead:
Lightroom is good, but Silver Efex Pro is better. My demo time has expired and now I'm going crazy because I want it, but at this time, I can't justify spending that much money for something I'd only use for b&w, and I don't do that much b&w
I have the complete version for Lightroom and Viveza for both Lightroom and photoshop. I find Viveza does things that I can't easily do in either PS or LR and that's the one I use most. I really like Silver Efex, but find myself preferring Topaz Lab's B&W effects. I prefer Topaz Lab's DeNoise and Detail over Nik's sharpening and noise reduction plug-ins. Nik's HDR Efex is nice, and often works when Photomatix doesn't (and vise-versa). I rarely use Color Efex, just haven't explored it very much (but then, I'm not all that crazy about Topaz Lab's Adjust either). I still think Nik's set expensive for what you get, though buying the version for LR/Aperture only isn't too bad.
Nik has some very good tutorials on their website - that's how I've learned how to use their plug-ins.
I used a trial version of the Nik software and the only one I purchased was HDR Efex Pro. It was one one of the best HDR softwares in my opinion. Silver Efex Pro is brilliant, but Topaz produced as good or better results for considerably less dosh. Silver Efex Pro is a tad easier to use, but Topaz is slightly more flexible.
I bought the Topaz suite and Nik HDR Efex Pro.
Complete disclosure, I often edit further in Photoshop. IMO, this more often produces the result I want.
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Good luck :)
Thanks!
I've never regretted buying Silver Efex. :)
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I would HIGHLY reccomend getting at least elements WAY before getting any NiK Software. I have both, and photoshop will do way more. :)
Here is an example in which the b&w conversion/editing was done with Silver Efex Pro instead:
Lightroom is good, but Silver Efex Pro is better. My demo time has expired and now I'm going crazy because I want it, but at this time, I can't justify spending that much money for something I'd only use for b&w, and I don't do that much b&w
I think I shall try the demo's. Thanks for the input everybody.
Nik has some very good tutorials on their website - that's how I've learned how to use their plug-ins.
I bought the Topaz suite and Nik HDR Efex Pro.
Complete disclosure, I often edit further in Photoshop. IMO, this more often produces the result I want.