This is exciting.
If you are someone interested in the digital photography Post production you probably have heard of the NIK Collection software. The NIK Collection is a product of the NIK Software company and originated in 1995. In 2012, the NIK company was purchased by Google. Prior to Google purchasing the NIK collection, it sold for $500 and was well worth the price. After Google acquired it, the NIK collection was offered for sale at an even better $149 pricepoint, and today Google announced they would be giving away the NIK collection for FREE!
Here is their announcement
Like I said THIS IS BIG!
Now, anyone can have the ability to create stunning images.
What does this mean for you?
Here’s what you can do with a little work.
This is Darken/lighten center and Define2
This is Detail Extractor and Analog Efex Pro2
And, . . . . Drum roll please,
Probably the best, easiest to use HDR Plugin HDR Efex Pro2
And did I mention FREE?
Each Plugin is very easy to use and can be adjusted to your artistic taste. When used in Photoshop, it also creates it’s own layer for layer masking.
It is not exaggerating to say I use the NIK Collection 80% of the time I process my images.
It really is an excellent software and if you do not have it, you no longer have a reason to not get it.
The software works within Photoshop, and also functions as a standalone software.
The only thing I can say is GO NOW ! Before they come to their senses.
You can use this LINK
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Dan Wampler
Dan Wampler is a digital artist from St Louis, MO. Having been interested in art and photography since childhood, he spent most of adult life working for Kodak and in the portrait photography industry. A student of the works of Ansel Adams, Any Warhol, and David Hamilton, Dan attempted to keep a wide range of artistic style.
As an early adopter of digital imaging, he found it gave him a way to completely incorporate art and photography. Began shooting Digital Infrared in 2004, and had first camera converted in 2006. His work has been seen in numerous gallery shows, is featured in an iTunes app. He produces Infrared and natural color digital art for sale and teaches his post-production techniques online.
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I think Frank has some very valid points of concern. Adding to that, the skeptic in me feels that nothing is really free. Could it be that it will become laden with ads. Whereas people who purchased in 2016 will get a refund as someone who purchased before that I must admit I feel a bit betrayed. That being said it’s some really nice software and if your into photo art you should take advantage of it.
I love the NIK products, but I do not view this free offering as a good thing. First off, ever since Google bought NIK there has been zero updates or software development. Now the handwriting is on the wall–––there never will be. Also, I can see a point when the NIK software will not function as a plug-in with newer versions of PS CC or be supported by new computer operating systems. It happens all the time with software that doesn’t keep up with the changing technology. At least, this is my take on it. But, for the time being, great for people who haven’t had the pleasure of using it. It’s awesome software. Just don’t get too dependent on it.
Yeah NIK collection is one of the best but not the only game in town. There’s now a lot of competition, a lot of it free, for these plug-in style photo enhancers/editors that make stylizing digital images a “piece of cake” Google probably gave up trying to monetize it since NIK software sales revenues probably amounted to less than a rounding error as far Alphabet’s overall bottom-line revenue is concerned.