Nik Collection by Google Now Free!
By PhotoJoseph
March 24, 2016 - 8:00pm
This is a surprise… today, Google announced that Nik Collection by Google (formerly Nik Plugins) is free for download! If I recall, this used to be around $500 before Google acquired Nik Software, then it was I believe $150 under Google, but now it's free.
Read the release and get the download links from here: “Today we’re making the Nik Collection available to everyone, for free.”
In my opinion, the tool Silver Effex Pro is still the best B&W tool available.
Comments
on March 24, 2016 - 10:02pm
Wow, not sure how much I'll use it but I sure went and got it, thanks for posting this. All of the tools look worth experimenting with, especially the output sharpener. You can never have too many tools, especially with that problem exposure – Silver Effects bears some looking at. The fact that the set also loads into Aperture will sure make my friend happy.
jcraig
on March 25, 2016 - 4:22am
Kind of cool because I can now cost effectively fill my lab with it. But it also feels like the gradual end for another tool I used to love…
on March 25, 2016 - 7:36am
Well, that’s the worst news I’ve heard all day. It doesn’t take a lot to read between the lines here:
“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.”
Now it’s just a question of how long it will take for an update to your host software to break plugin compatibility, because that’s all, folks.
on March 25, 2016 - 8:56pm
Well, it's basically like the MacPhun apps with the exception of Viveza. The MacPhun apps can be used as stand-alone apps where as the Nik plug-ins cannot (except for HDR Efex Pro). If you continued support, you can get the MacPhun apps. if not, these free plug-ins will be good at least until they die.
Robert Ke
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on May 17, 2016 - 3:26am
Apps still work in Aperture but I cannot get them to load in LR any advise?
Jim H
on March 25, 2016 - 9:37pm
I installed the Aperture plugins and the Photoshop plugins into Affinity Photo. I already have some of the MacPhun apps that I got on sale at the Mac App Store to use as extensions for Photos. Sweet!!! i consider the MacPhun apps the successor to the Nik Collection.
Robert Ke
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on March 28, 2016 - 10:19pm
I also view this as a blow to MacPhun's CK in the short term since the Nik Collection is a direct competitor. MacPhun has extensions for Photos which Nik Collection most likely never will. I view Nik Collection as being as dead as Aperture while CK is still getting developed.
Robert Ke
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on March 29, 2016 - 12:22am
I think MacPhun's apps are more friendly for many users. The Nik plugins are awesome but quite complex. And as you say, if you're a Photos user, then Nik isn't much of an option (not without the annoyance of exporting and re-importing).
@PhotoJoseph
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on March 29, 2016 - 4:59am
Nik Collection is definitely a much steeper learning curve. learning the control and getting used to it will take a lot more time. MacPhun has a broad appeal and it works with Photos. Even though Photos has fustrating limitation that's pretty mind boggling, i still think it's the future because it works seemlessly with Photos for iOS which is the gatekeeper of photography on iOS. The truth is I feel photography on mobile has all the momentum and I would love to be able to do raw editing on iOS if it ever happens. Anything that works well with Photos is great in my mind.
Robert Ke
twitter: rke21
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on March 29, 2016 - 5:10am
i also wanted to note that macphun apps has “layers” for grouping adjustments and the best part is these “layers” have an opacity setting. We don't get that with Nik Collection.
Robert Ke
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on March 29, 2016 - 5:18am
Nik plugins do in fact have layers, with opacity settings that can be applied both globally and to masks. I’m thinking specifically of ColorEfex.
on March 30, 2016 - 5:50am
Thanks, i wasn't aware of layers in the color efex. Funny i haven't seen it. I've only see the control points which are really luminosity masks. I wish we can have that in the MacPhan apps. or a brush that's completely parametic and can set to effect areas based on luminocity, color, saturation, etc.
Robert Ke
twitter: rke21
also at:
instagram: rke21
facebook: outdoorphotographynow