Wikipedia

Nik Collection

The Nik Collection is a suite of photo editing plugins intended for use with a host application, such as Adobe Lightroom, Affinity Photo or DxO PhotoLab.

Developer(s)DxO Labs
Initial release2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Stable release
7.0 / 6 May 2024
Operating systemmacOS, Windows
PredecessorNik Software Complete Collection Ultimate Edition, Google Nik Collection 1.0
Available in5 languages
List of languages
English, French, German, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
TypeImage editing, Photo manipulation
LicenseProprietary
(non-subscription)
Websitenikcollection.dxo.com

History

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Nik Sharpener and Nik Color Efex were developed by Nik Multimedia Inc.[1] in the 1990s as digital photo filters that could be used in Photoshop or as standalone applications. Some years later, in 2003, Dfine 1.0, a denoising application and plugin was added to the list of products on offer.[2]

The newly rebranded Nik Software company[3] then added Viveza[4] and Silver Efex to the offer in 2008, and subsequently bundled all of their award-winning photo editing plugin applications, Dfine 2.0, Viveza, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro and Sharpener Pro 3.0 together in a single Collection.[5] The Complete Collection Ultimate Edition sold for $599.95 USD and the Complete Collection for Lightroom and Aperture for $299.95 USD. HDR EFex was added to the collection in 2010.[6]

After acquisition, Google relaunched the collection of six applications,[7] with the new Analog Efex,[8] in 2013[9] as the Google Nik Collection and reduced its price to $150 [10] and then, in 2016, made it completely free to use.[11][12]

In 2017 Google sold[13] the, now seven-application, collection to DxO Labs for an undisclosed amount.[14] DxO Labs have since added an eighth application: Perspective Efex.[15][16]

In 2023 it was announced that version 6.3 marked the first release of the software built entirely using DxO's own code.[17]

U Points

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U Point technology was originally developed by Nik Software in the early 2000s as a way to make selective adjustments. They realized that making selections in Photoshop was very difficult and time consuming, the tools were often very difficult to learn and even harder to master.[18] The name U Point comes from the idea that 'you', the photographer, simply point at what to adjust in the photo.[19] U-Point algorithms enable selections based on each pixel’s attributes, such as hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast.[20] So, users do not create traditional masks in Nik Collection; instead, using Control Points or Control Lines, they construct sophisticated selections based on pixel attributes.[21]

Version History

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Version 1.0

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Although all of the apps in the initial collection were developed by Nik Software over a number of years it was Google who launched the first Nik Collection product in 2013. It comprised Color Efex Pro 4, HDR Efex Pro 2, Silver Efex Pro 2, Dfine 2, Viveza 2, and Sharpener Pro 3.[22]

Version 2.0

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On 4 June 2019, almost 2 years after its acquisition by DxO Labs a second version was released that worked in standalone mode, no longer requiring a host program to function.[23]

Version 3.0

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In June 2020, version 3 was released with an eighth plug-in called Perspective Efex. Very similar to DxO ViewPoint, and often offering features common to the host program,[24] it can correct anamorphosis and other geometric issues as well as offer a "miniature" effect.[25] Nik Collection 3 won the category for Best Photo Software at the EISA awards some months after its release.[26]

Version 4.0

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Version 4 came out in August 2021 with a new UI for Viveza and Silver Efex. The 'U Point' selection engine features precision color selection using chrominance and luminance sliders for adjustment by hue, saturation or brightness. Other new features include a pack of 25 presets and 6 meta presets for use across the suite, as well as DxO's dehazing algorithm, ClearView, and film grain emulations both for Color Efex and Silver Efex.[27]

Version 5.0

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Launched in June 2022, featuring a new UI for Color Efex and Analog Efex, a floating selection palette for Lightroom and Photoshop, ClearView dehazing and grain effects for Color Efex, and U Point preset, luminance, and chrominance controls for Analog and Color Efex.[28]

Version 6.3

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Version 6.0, launched on the 16 May 2023, notable for the introduction of U Point Control Lines,[29] was followed four months later by 6.3, the first release to be entirely authored by DxO since they acquired the code from Google,[30] with the same UI applied to all plugins. Compatible with Apple Silicon, this version handles HiDPI monitors and multiscreening as well as automatically detecting Affinity Photo during installation.[31]

Version 7.0

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Released on the 6 May 2024, the first major release entirely coded by DxO, features only seven plugins following the removal of Perspective Efex. However, new features in Nik Color Efex include HSL filtering, dynamic filters, and access to Viveza as a filter. Upgraded selection tools include polygon and elliptical U Points as well as a new luminosity masking option. Direct plugin-to-plugin switching and the ability export directly from each plugin complete the workflow improvements.[32]

Awards

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  • Nik Software Complete Collection won the TIPA Award for Best Photo Software in 2011[33]
  • Version 3 of the software won the EISA 2020 Award for Best Photo Editing Software[34]
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  • Free version of Google Nik Collection download page on Archive.org
  • Nik Collection by DxO website

References

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  1. ^ "nik multimedia, Inc. Releases Its Award-Winning nik Color Efex Pro! Digital Photographic Filters in Four New Sets" (PDF) (Press release). NEW YORK, NY, Photo Plus Expo East: Nik Multimedia Inc. 1 November 2001.
  2. ^ Ashbrook, Stan (November 2007). "Dfine 2.0: Plug-in to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements Nik Software". PSA Journal. Vol. 73, no. 11. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Nik Multimedia, Inc. Changes Name to Nik Software, Inc. and Unveils New Corporate Identity" (PDF) (Press release). San Diego, USA: Nik Software Inc. 7 February 2006.
  4. ^ Nikitas, Theano (March 2008). "SOFTWARE WATCH". Photo District News. 28 (3): 123. ISSN 1543-0294.
  5. ^ "Nik Software Announces Lightroom Update to its Complete Collection of Five Award-Winning Digital Photographic Filters". PRWeb Newswire. 18 June 2009.
  6. ^ Ashbrook, Brad (July 2011). "Nik HDR Efex Pro v1.2". PSA Journal. Vol. 77, no. 7. pp. 6–7.
  7. ^ Corbell, Tony L.; Haftel, Joshua A. (2012). Nik software captured: the complete guide to using nik software's photographic tools. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley. ISBN 978-1-118-02222-1.
  8. ^ "ANALOG EFEX PRO". Practical Photoshop. No. 62. May 2016. pp. 1–4.
  9. ^ "Google now offers Nik's collection of six imaging plugins for $149". Popular photography (2008). 77 (6). 6 January 2013. ISSN 1944-0510.
  10. ^ Wauters, Robin (March 25, 2013). "Google bundles acquired Nik Software plug-ins for Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture, drops entire set price to $149". thenextweb.com. The Next Web.
  11. ^ Allan, Patrick (March 24, 2016). "Google's Nik Collection of Photo Editing Software Is Now Completely Free". lifehacker.com. Lifehacker.
  12. ^ "Today we're making the Nik Collection available to everyone, for free". plus.google.com. March 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Nik Collection Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  14. ^ "DxO acquires Nik Collection assets from Google, what does this mean for the future of Nik?". www.imaging-resource.com. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  15. ^ "Nik Collection 3 by DxO announced: Includes new Perspective Efex, faster workflow & more". DPReview. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  16. ^ Nikitas, Theano (12 June 2020). "New: DxO Nik Collection 3, Profoto Lighting Tools & More". Rangefinder.
  17. ^ Aldred, John (2023-08-30). "Nik Collection 6.3 – The end of a six-year journey to rewrite Google's code". DIY Photography. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  18. ^ Batdorff, John (2013). Plug in with Nik software: a photographer's guide to creating dynamic images with Nik software. Peachpit Press. ISBN 978-0-321-83977-0.
  19. ^ Corbell, Tony; Haftel, Joshua (2012). Nik software captured: the complete guide to using nik software's photographic tools. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-118-02222-1.
  20. ^ Long, Ben (2009). Nikon Capture NX 2. Peachpit Press. ISBN 978-0-321-55359-1.
  21. ^ Mart, Ron (12 November 2013). "Review: Analog Efex Pro (Nik Collection by Google)". Ron Mart Blog. Retrieved 24 April 2024. These brilliantly designed controls (which are basically intelligent masks) changed the lives of photographers and the world of photo editing.
  22. ^ Lardinois, Frederic (25 March 2013). "Google Launches Nik Collection, A $149 Bundle Of Nik Software's Plugins For Photoshop, Lightroom And Aperture". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  23. ^ Grigonis, Hilary (4 June 2019). "With new filters, the updated Nik Collection 2 no longer needs Adobe to run". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  24. ^ Lawton, Rod (4 June 2020). "DxO Perspective Efex Review". Life after Photoshop. Retrieved 3 April 2024. The only thing is… most of the host applications you might use to launch this plug-in will have some of these tools already.
  25. ^ Royer, Louis (3 June 2020). "DxO présente la NiK Collection 3 : pour une intégration toujours plus poussée avec Photoshop". Les Numeriques (in French). Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  26. ^ "History". Expert Imaging and Sound Awards. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  27. ^ Godet, Thibaut (16 August 2021). "TEST : Nik Collection 4 reprend des couleurs". Réponses Photo (in French). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  28. ^ Lehec, Jean-Nicolas (15 June 2022). "Nik Collection 5 by DxO : interface rajeunie, nouvelles fonctions pour Color Efex et Analog Efex et une grosse surprise". PhotoTrend (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  29. ^ Dave Kelly (2 July 2023). NIK Collection 6 (Now With Control Lines) Let's Check It Out!. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  30. ^ Innocente, Florian (30 August 2023). "DxO : tous les plug-ins de la Nik Collection 6.3 sont à niveau". Mac Generation (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  31. ^ Barroux, Antony (14 May 2023). "Nik Collection 6 : 8 plugins incontournables pour sublimer vos photos". PixFan (in French). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  32. ^ Coleman, Alex (7 May 2024). "Nik Collection 7 Released: Faster and Newer, But Loses A Bit Along the Way". Fstoppers. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  33. ^ "TIPA World Awards Archive". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  34. ^ "EISA World Awards Archive". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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