The latest offering of the famous software Nik Collection has just been released by DXO
So what does version 8 offer?
Is it worth an upgrade, a purchase or should you stick with version 7?

We will take a look at the changes, the Pro's and the Con's of the latest iteration of Nik Collection.

 

So firstly how do you use this software

• Stand alone

• Plugin for Lightroom

• Plugin for Photoshop

• In conjunction with DXO Photolab 8

• In conjunction with other editors (check with DXO site first for compatibility)

   

   

Whats impacted in the update

The key focus of the update is in the Silver Efex and the Color Efex modules

 

 

Whats Included
The software bundle included in Nik elements is unchanged

• Nik Silver Efex - Monochrome converter 10/10
  (for me still best in class for mono)

• Nik Color Efex - Massive selection of editing tools to enhance your images 9/10
  ( a must have for all photographers)

• Nik HDR Efex - Does what it says on the tin 7/10
  (does it well)

• Nik Pre Sharpener - get the image as you want it from the beginning 7/10
  (competent software)

• Nik Dfine - Remove noise and preserve detail 7/10
  (good but not as good as DXO PureRaw5)

• Nik Viveza - Courol and tone control 6/10
  (solid piece of software but not needed most of the time)

• Nik Analog Efex - Get that retro look or style 8/10
  (delivers well if you want to stylise your images)

•  

 

Whats Changed form Version 7 to 8

• How the plugin appears in Photoshop
  DXO has got rid of the floating box that was so annoying in photoshop and modified the software so that this now appears as part of the right and control panel in photoshop 9/10

• Workspace remodelling
  When you open the software you will see a change in the layout for the control panels such that where applicable you are encouraged to select a film type first (right hand panel) and then to progress with you processing (left hand panel)
  all in all this change is good and delivers a logical and improved workflow 8/10

• Import and Export Masks form Photoshop
  This is a game changer of an update as you can now utilise the power of photoshop mask in the Efex space and visa versa via a simple seamless process 10/10

• Save your edits as Photoshop Smart Object
  This allows you to return to Efex and adjust anything you have applied 10/10

• Color Reference Image (Silver Efex)
  This is located in the bottom left corner and although initially these feels like a nice feature I personally soon found it pointless 2/10

• Improved logic to application of presets (Silver Efex)
  Relevant sliders appear on the right hand side which make for a nice workflow 9/10

• New Local Adjustments (Silver Efex)
  Clearview (dehaze type processing ) and selective tones ( Ansel Adams approach to managing tonal ranges from 1 to 10 in your image) can be applied locally 10/10

• New Look to Filters (Silver Efex)
  pre defined options for quick application 7/10

• Improved process flow for saving you image
  Its is simple to select the format you want to save an image as 8/10

• Improved control and application to vignettes 8/10

 

Pros

• How the plugin appears in

• Workspace remodelling

• Import and Export Masks form Photoshop

• Save your edits as Photoshop Smart Object

• Improved logic to application of presets

• New Local Adjustments

Cons

• Inability to use multiple B&W conversions within a single image in silver Efex

• Insufficient control of colour filters in Silver Efex on monochrome conversions to ensure targeted impact

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Buy / Upgrade / Decline

 

DXO Nik Collection 8 Review
BUY - YES

UPGRADE - YES

DECLINE - NO