For photo editing enthusiasts and for digital image manipulation professionals, the collection of Google Nik programs are now free for everyone. Google Nik Collection is a suite of PC programs that Google acquired a few years ago to improve its photo apps and to integrate what is still one of the best photo editing applications for Android and iPhone, Snapseed.
For those who have never heard of it, Goole Nik Collection is a collection of 7 very powerful graphics programs for PC and Mac, but with a simplified interface, to perform even very complex operations of editing images and photos.
Although these programs also work on their own, to take advantage of all the tools offered without limitations it is necessary to use them as plugins for a professional graphics program such as Photoshop, Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture and also for Photoshop Elements, the simplified Photoshop suite.
The Google Nik Collection therefore includes the following programs / plugins:
- Analog Efex Pro : to apply effects inspired by cameras and classic lenses.
- Color Efex Pro : to apply color filters to images.
- Silver Efex Pro, with black and white effects.
- Viveza, to make it easier to adjust the color without having to use masks.
- HDR Efex Pro, to create HDR photos and natural images.
- Sharpener Pro, to improve the details and sharpness of the images.
- Dfine, to improve the images and the colors of the photos.
The download of all seven programs could be done, free of charge, from the Google site.
Today Nik COllection has become owned by DxO which proposes it in a new version at the price of 60 Dollars.
The previous version, the free version, can still be downloaded on Majorgeeks .
As mentioned above, those who do not have Photoshop can still download and install Nik Collection even if they will find several difficulties or limitations.
To start the programs on your own you need to find the executable files that should be located in the C: / Program Files / Google / Nik Collection folder.
When opened alone, these Nik programs have a very spartan interface that is not easy to understand and use.
Only one photo can be uploaded at a time which if modified and saved replaces the original file (therefore a copy must be made).
The programs do not support RAW files and the HDR Efex Pro tool does not have the top left menu.
Basically, the Google Nik Collection tools are great when used with Photoshop (not in my opinion but according to every expert in digital graphics and photo manipulation), but they are absolutely not functional if taken alone, as programs run separately.
The fact that Google has freed these plugins from all costs is however a great opportunity for those interested in non-professional digital graphics, because they are compatible with the Photoshop Elements economic suite.
In practice, with 70 Euros (current price of the Elements program) you can get a simplified version of Photoshop which, enhanced by Nik Collection, becomes a professional program of absolute level (certainly more usable and powerful than the free GIMP).
READ ALSO: Top 10 free programs for editing and managing images and photos
