When Google purchased Nik software in September, photographers were left wondering how the tech giant would assimilate Nik into its fold. It was clear that the company was lured by Nik’s mobile editing software Snapseed. Yesterday, Google, which had been mute on the subject since the purchase, unrolled a retooled suite of Nik software tools at a heavily discounted rate — $149 as compared to $499.
The Nik suite includes a variety of photo editing tools, a favorite among them being Silver Efex Pro 2, a highly intuitive black and white conversion software that provides tonality controls and toning steps similar to those once standard in the darkroom. Color Efex Pro 4 is a filter-driven solution that provides minute contrast controls, polarization, and a range of color enhancements. Dfine2 is a robust noise correction application and Sharpener Pro 3 allows for finesses when sharpening imagery for output. HDR Efex Pro 2 is an alternative HDR processing solution while Viveza 2 is ideal for precise color control. The plug-ins are all compatible with Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture.
The entire collection is available for a free 15-day trial at www.niksoftware.com. Google has graciously agreed to upgrade all users of previous plug-ins to the entire collection for free. They have also released a variety of new online tutorials. On a slightly related note, Snapseed, once a $9.99 app in iTunes, is now free in the iTunes store.
Google’s announcement seems to indicate the company is committed to the pro photography market.
Been procrastinating NIK software for what seems like ages as I am usually not a fan of plug-in-ish software. But, this is just too damned good to pass up. Will see tonight what I think.
I've tried a number of the more popular plug-ins over the years, but always felt like I could emulate the same effect with more control using photoshop alone. Does anyone who makes a living with photoshop swear by these kinds of plug-ins? Ignorantly I've always viewed them as products targeted at folks who "own" photoshop, but are too busy to really learn the program.
Just try the 15 day trial. Im a fan of most of the Nik plug-ins (was afraid of what google was going to do with them) a free upgrade was great though!
I would consider myself pretty Photoshop savvy, and I suppose given enough time I could replicate some, but not all of these plugins on a photo by photo basis. The problem is the time. I am a full time photographer and it's all about managing my time. For some images (like black and white & landscapes) you can try on different combinations of looks quickly until you find something that works. I would say this suite is well worth it.
I know Photoshop well, but am a professional photographer. I use Nik on almost all of my images...not because I can't do it in Photoshop, but because time is money. So if I can do something with Nik such as layering effects to get exactly the look I want, but taking 75% less time to do it, then I'll do it every time! And I'm not the only pro photog who does this---there are thousands of us who love the speed and, of course, the wonderful effects you can achieve.
My honest opinion in hearing Nik was now sold for much less is that I need to be much more careful using it, making sure I'm not producing the same effects as everyone else on the block. So I need to amp up my game. Much of that began when Instagram came out (and the other simlar filter iPhone cameras) because in general, my clients are much more savvy than they used to be regarding filters and effects. This is a good thing though, really, because it forces me to amp up my game to make sure I'm not just lazy using Nik sometimes. My business isn't built around filters (I do sports and children/family portraits, which don't lend themselves to many effects), but some of the best ones that are used CONSTANTLY within the profession, if you're curious, are tonal contrast (within Color Efex 4) and making black & whites with Silver Efex Pro 2 (SEP2). If you're into black and white photography, then there isn't anything to match SEP2. OnOne has a new b&w program, which is very good...but in my opinion is still less powerful than SEP2. And you can also sharpen images in SEP2 in an amazing way, combine multiple layers of color and black and white, etc. Nik's stuff is great, but if you do get the Suite, then watch the tutorials from Nik---many of the best people in the business offer free online classes.
Take my two cents for whatever you feel they're worth...
Got my email yeserday. I've wanted to upgrade to HDR Efex 2, but wasn't ready to drop the coin on just one plugin. The Big G took care of it for me. Pretty awesome in my book!
You say that "Google has graciously agreed to upgrade all users of previous plug-ins to the entire collection for free." So if I have HDR Effex 2 from before Google bought Nik I can download the entire collection for free? Any advice on how to do that? I'm having trouble finding anything on Google saying how to do that. That seems a little to good to be true.
I received an email from Google/Nik with a download link. At first I thought it was spam because is sounded too good to be true. I downloaded it and it upgraded all my Nik softwares to the whole new suite, for free. I had Color Efex Pro 4 and old versions of Viveza and Silver. Not sure how Google made that determination to give me the whole suite for free.
This is great news!
Anyone figure out how to get an upgrade if you didn't get the email from Google? I had the old suite and would love to upgrade. This is an awesome collection of plugins.
Check your spam box. I noticed the email they sent to my Gmail got flagged as spam.
Wow thanks for the tip mine was in the spams too!
So, Google sending emails to their own googlemail service get marked as spam.
FAIL
Found mine in the spam folder. Thanks for the tip.
On Nik's website it says that you are not eligible for the upgrade if you purchased the software before June 10, 2012. Unfortunately, this was the case for me.
I purchased the Nik collection in 2011 and received the email automatically with the upgrade link two days ago - check your spams.
I was unhappy when Google bought Nik. Now I wish Google would buy Adobe!
Wow! Thanks Google!
Anybody have an opinion on:
NIK vs
Alien Skin vs
VSCO
?
Does anyone know how to reach google. I can no longer install my NIk software. I had to replace my hard drive and reload NIk. It no longer sees a host application (photoshop). And I am working very hard not to vent my anger toward Google right now because they have removed ALL FORMS OF CUSTOMER SUPPORT from the NIk Website. Im about to give up on this Crap program. Now that a big Conglomerate has moved in and taken over, as I suspected, They ruined the software. I have zero idea what to do and feel like I just threw away 500. dollars of software and google does not give a crap.
Hi it is quite easy to contact Google/Nik software ask for the free upgrade and quote the serial number of your Nik software and a day later they will send you a mail with a link to the free up grade sit eHere is a link to the reply I received "Nik Software Support" <supportus@niksoftware.com
I see the pasted link did not show Try it manually
"Nik Software Support" The guy to speak to is Giuseppe he is most helpful
Best of luck mike
"The Google bear is huge and wild
It has devoured the infant child
The infant child is unaware
It has been eaten by the bear"