Do you know Google has created image editing plug-ins for desktop and Mac users? They have and it is called Google’s Nik Collection. Inspirational contents and educational video resources for the Nik Collection by Google have been created to illustrate some of the basic filter application and enhancement techniques possible with its 7 powerful plug-ins.
Google Nik collection
The Nik Collection by Google is a free desktop and Mac image editing plug-ins. The Collection includes 7 total plug-ins that provide a powerful range of photo editing capabilities, ranging from filter applications that improve color correction, retouching and creative effects through to image sharpening tools that bring out the hidden details in your images. You can also make adjustments to the color and tone of your images as well. Besides, they are fully compatible with image editing suites such as Photoshop and Lightroom. Looking for the Mac version of Google Nik Collection? Download it from here.
The 7 Plug-in are –
- Analog Efex Pro
- Color Efex Pro
- Silver Efex Pro
- Viveza
- HDR Efex Pro
- Sharpener Pro and
- Dfine
Analog Efex Pro focuses on effects that produce vintage looks or make digital photos appear more natural, while Color Efex Pro provides a ton of filters. Silver Efex Pro, on the other hand, is tailored for black-and-white images, while Viveza allows you to alter specific colors in the photo without using filters. Sharpener Pro allows you to improve clarity. From natural to artistic, HDR Efex Pro enables you to create HDR images from a sequence of images or a single shot and Dfine gives you noise reduction capabilities.
How it Works
The Google Nik collection is not a tool to convert the photos from any RAW format to JPEG on a standalone basis. It needs to have at least Photoshop or Lightroom to run the basic conversions. You may convert the photo using the software and then modify it using the Nik collection filters or settings.
How It is Helpful –
Nik Collection by Google is helpful in so many ways. Here are a few of them –
Create stunning images faster
Create stunning images faster by adding the power of the Google’s Nik Collection to your workflow today.
You can easily create photos with simplified yet advanced editing of Nik Collection by Google.
Advanced editing, simplified
The Nik Collection is free and compatible with Mac and Windows as well as Adobe Photoshop through CC 2015.
Easily create the photos you have imagined with these 7 powerful plug-in for Photoshop or Lightroom.
Make precise edits quickly
Use ‘U Point Technology’ to selectively edit just the parts of your photos that need retouching without losing time on complex masks and selections.
Drawbacks – It is not possible to rely just on the Google Nik collection for photo editing. Nik Collection is a set of plug-ins that requires Adobe Photoshop, Elements or Lightroom. It is not standalone software. Even though these are pro-level plug-ins, photo editing involves a lot more than what the Nik suite offers. A Photoshop user will need to use masks, levels, curves, selective adjustments and a whole lot more that Nik either does not offer or does not do very well. Even so, for both casual and professional users, Nik is a fantastic addition at an unbeatable price. Grab Nik’s Photoshop plug-ins for free, but do not expect any more updates or add new features over time. Get them while they still work!
This Nik collection by Google is a must for any photographers that need to get their hands on some high quality tools to improve the look and feel of their images. All the plug-in are easy to use, well made and definitely worth giving a shot.