I recently purchased Google Nik Collection for photo editing. With their recent drastic price reduction, I took the opportunity to get a powerful collection of tools for a very reasonable price. The collection contains 6 different plug-ins that work with Photoshop, Lightroom, or Aperture. I use them from Lightroom and Photoshop.
The plug-ins are:
- Analog Efex Pro – filters that let you explore the look of classic cameras, films, and lenses
- Color Efex Pro – a set of filters for color correction, retouching, and creative effects
- Silver Efex Pro – converts your photos to black and white using darkroom inspired controls
- Viveza – selectively adjust color and tonality of images without masks or selections
- HDR Efex Pro – from natural to artistic, allows you to explore HDR photography or create HDR-look
- Sharpener Pro – image sharpening to bring out hidden details
- Dfine – improve images with noise reduction tailored to your camera
I love using these plug-ins, but found that I was much happier using them after I upgraded the memory in my MAC computer from 4GB to 16 GB. The performance was fair with 4 GB of memory but I had occasional long waits while processing. After editing two or three photos with multiple trips into and out of the plug-ins I often gave up and rebooted my computer because performance had slowed so much. With 16 GB of memory, performance is excellent—no more long waits bringing up the plug-ins, or while saving, no more rebooting periodically to speed up editing.
Before editing
I like using the plug-ins from Lightroom when I am making minor updates. I’ve developed a kind of rhythm where I use the pre-sharpener first, then Dfne to remove noise if noise is an issue in the photo, then Viveza if I want to play with the tone or structure, and finally Color Efex. I have no idea whether this order is the best or not. It is simply the way that made sense to me. I plan to do more study online to learn how to use the tools better, but my learning style is a learning by doing style where it helps to have used the tool before formal study.
When you use the plug-ins from Photoshop you have the additional benefit of layers. Each time you bring up a plug-in, Photoshop automatically adds a layer for the changes made while using the plug-in. This is especially helpful if you are layering many different effects.
Sunset Glow
I was using the plug-ins from Lightroom and discovered after adding a final effect and saving it that I preferred the photo without the final change. Too late! There was no way to undo the addition of that change. If I had been doing the editing in Photoshop with layers, I could have simply deleted the final layer.
Although I love the power of these tools, I’m probably in the developmental phase where I use them way too much or too strongly. That too, is part of my learning style. When I have a new tool I use it all the time because it is so much fun. Over time I develop more finesse and restraint in my use of the tool.
As I spend time reviewing old photos that didn’t make the cut before (because I didn’t know how to edit them effectively), I am having a lot of fun revisiting them and seeing how I can express more fully what I wanted to express when I made the photo.
Rocky Stream
This past week I may have been physically in Minnesota but much of my heart and spirit were in Hawaii much of the time as I edited many of the photos from my walk-about 2 years ago.
Plug-ins and filters will not make a lousy photograph great, but they will help you to bring out the beauty that you saw in a way that expresses how you saw it. They also allow you to play with artistic and surrealistic effects if you want to.
“Suppose you came upon someone in the woods working to saw down a tree. They are exhausted from working for hours. You suggest they take a break to sharpen the saw. They might reply, ” I didn’t have time to sharpen the saw, I’m busy sawing!”
Habit 7 is taking the time to sharpen the saw. By renewing the four dimensions of your nature – physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional, you can work more quickly and effortlessly.”
— Stephen Covey
Are there new tools available that could enhance your skills? Is it time to “sharpen your saw” by learning something new?
May you walk in beauty.
Waves Roll in Near Sunset
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