Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0
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From the moment I downloaded the trial version from their website, I was hooked. Sure, you could probably duplicate these effects in Photoshop, but with this product it's done in seconds - and it's a lot more fun too. I was surprised by how powerful this tool is, and how easy it is to use. Sure, I was skeptical at first, and didn't think I was going to like this tool. I was addicted and HAD to buy it as soon as my trial period expired. Oh, and if you've notice noise in your images, try Dfine® 2.0.
It works like magic. I have had the entire Nik Products Suite for several years now and admittedly have a love-hate relationship with the software.
Yes, it can do neat things - but on the other hand, it's time consuming (NOT a time saver) and so you have to ask yourself it is really is worth it for the massive time sink in your workflow. First, 3.0 cleared up nearly all the program-crashing bugs that plagued a lot of Nik's software with Photoshop and version 2.0. The program runs cleanly when invoked and very rarely has it crashed on me. That stability is important: if Nik crashes, so too does your Photoshop. You will lose all work done to that point.
What Nik does is bring some creative effects to the table. The default of the effects (you can download a free demo to try them) always starts to strong. But you can create your own presets within the interface so you can always achieve consistent color effects. That's important since the program goes back to default settings once Photoshop is closed. But with effects from the ever-popular Bleach Bypass, Cross Processing, and color toning, there is a lot to like here. As well, you can control clipping in the lights and darks with many of the effects (or, if you have copious amounts of time, fiddle with the vaunted U-Control points). So, in all, what it does, it does well.
But here's the problem: this program is expensive AND a HUGE time sink. If you don't mind spending 10-20 minutes on each image you create (i.e., you do NOT have a life and don't mind sitting in front of the computer all day/night), this program will give you great images! But most of us, especially those with professional portrait studios, don't have the time. Honestly, almost all of Color Efex effects can be done in LR if you unlock the right combination. And in LR, unlike Color Efex Pro, your images are non destructively edited. Color Efex has a huge Achilles Heel (in both the PS and LR versions): you can only do ONE effect at a time. Which means you invoke the program, select your effect, play around with the sliders, then exit out.
Then you have to invoke it again for each new effect. Just doing a simple toned bleach bypass effect with Color Efex Pro is 10 minutes already - before any retouching is even started.
I've come to realize over the last year that as neat as the program is, it's not worth having sessions take 8 hours to process instead of 1 hour with a straight Lightroom edit that doesn't invoke the program. So here's my assessment: if you are a hobbyist with a lot of time to lavish attention on one single image for 30-60 minutes (or you want to make portfolio images special), then you will like what this program gives you (though I always encourage people to learn LR better anyway). If you are a professional or plan to become a professional who goes through large sessions, then I don't recommend the program. It's just too much of a time sink spent tinkering around with images (and losing consistency throughout as a result). My time is worth too much to spend with a program that won't even allow you to layer effects at the same time. From the moment I downloaded the trial version from their website, I was hooked.
Sure, you could probably duplicate these effects in Photoshop, but with this product it's done in seconds - and it's a lot more fun too. I was surprised by how powerful this tool is, and how easy it is to use. Sure, I was skeptical at first, and didn't think I was going to like this tool. I was addicted and HAD to buy it as soon as my trial period expired.
Oh, and if you've notice noise in your images, try Dfine® 2.0. It works like magic. I love what this does to reduce time in photoshop but it just makes you want more, I do believe that you will probably save money by buying the complete set because they all work together and so far I have bought 2 other programs to go with this, Define 2.0 and Viveza. They each do something different and they can work alone but i am finding that as you get into the details of the touchups you have a tendency to go back and forth between programs. They just make a really nice set.
My only problem with the whole set is I am not into HDR and that is one of the programs and I believe it is the most expensive. I digress, This is a fun and very creative program and I'm glad that I bought it.
I am sure that in the long run it will save me many hours behind the computer which will free me up to spend more time behind the camera. I have had the entire Nik Products Suite for several years now and admittedly have a love-hate relationship with the software. Yes, it can do neat things - but on the other hand, it's time consuming (NOT a time saver) and so you have to ask yourself it is really is worth it for the massive time sink in your workflow. First, 3.0 cleared up nearly all the program-crashing bugs that plagued a lot of Nik's software with Photoshop and version 2.0. The program runs cleanly when invoked and very rarely has it crashed on me. That stability is important: if Nik crashes, so too does your Photoshop.
You will lose all work done to that point. What Nik does is bring some creative effects to the table. The default of the effects (you can download a free demo to try them) always starts to strong. But you can create your own presets within the interface so you can always achieve consistent color effects. That's important since the program goes back to default settings once Photoshop is closed.
But with effects from the ever-popular Bleach Bypass, Cross Processing, and color toning, there is a lot to like here. As well, you can control clipping in the lights and darks with many of the effects (or, if you have copious amounts of time, fiddle with the vaunted U-Control points). So, in all, what it does, it does well. But here's the problem: this program is expensive AND a HUGE time sink. If you don't mind spending 10-20 minutes on each image you create (i.e., you do NOT have a life and don't mind sitting in front of the computer all day/night), this program will give you great images! But most of us, especially those with professional portrait studios, don't have the time.
Honestly, almost all of Color Efex effects can be done in LR if you unlock the right combination. And in LR, unlike Color Efex Pro, your images are non destructively edited. Color Efex has a huge Achilles Heel (in both the PS and LR versions): you can only do ONE effect at a time. Which means you invoke the program, select your effect, play around with the sliders, then exit out.
Then you have to invoke it again for each new effect. Just doing a simple toned bleach bypass effect with Color Efex Pro is 10 minutes already - before any retouching is even started.
Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 Select Edition
I've come to realize over the last year that as neat as the program is, it's not worth having sessions take 8 hours to process instead of 1 hour with a straight Lightroom edit that doesn't invoke the program. So here's my assessment: if you are a hobbyist with a lot of time to lavish attention on one single image for 30-60 minutes (or you want to make portfolio images special), then you will like what this program gives you (though I always encourage people to learn LR better anyway).
If you are a professional or plan to become a professional who goes through large sessions, then I don't recommend the program. It's just too much of a time sink spent tinkering around with images (and losing consistency throughout as a result). My time is worth too much to spend with a program that won't even allow you to layer effects at the same time. While there is no doubt that photoshop CS5 is feature packed, If I could have only one additional thing, it would be this suite.
Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 Crack Free
Whle all the effects are to numerous to go into depth here, let me just say that Tonal Contrast, and Pro Contrast alone make this worth the price. In addition Color Efex pro will let you accomplish with one step (maybe 2) many multi step Photoshop tasks. This product is about streamlining your workflow. Everything it does you can do in photoshop already, but what Color Efex pro does, it let you do it faster and easier. Try it out, you won't be disappointed.