nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 Complete Edition

www.nikmultimedia.com

Reviewed by Maureen Shannon, NJPCUG

The best just got better! nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 is the second release of spectacular filters from nik Multimedia. Without a doubt, the filters from Color rEfex Pro have become my favorite filters for enhancing digital photographs. They add amazing effects and can take a plain photo and turn it into a work of art. I love these filters so much that I am tempted to apply them to every photo I have. From subtle to dramatic, there’s a filter for every need to be found in this new set.

The first image was enhanced with the Midnight Blue and Reflector Silver to the second. I added the Midnight Blue to the first example to darken the image and deepen the intensity of a brooding night shot then I used Silver Reflector to add more tonal effects to the rock formations and brighten the sky and the light water area but it still retains the distant stormy look. Applying the filters and making adjustments allows the user to decide the depth of the change that will be made. In one the very dark shade nearly eliminates the texture of the rock formations. In the other the shading and depth is enhanced and the rock texture is more pronounced.

New features that separate Color Efex Pro 2.0 from the rest of the pack are 16 bit functionality, a ‘true light’ color engine that preserves the color, detail, and contrast relationships, advanced controls that protect the highlights and shadows (in selected filters – with a histogram identifying potential problems), a selective module that applies filters quickly and easily to any part of an image – takes advantage of pressure sensitivity when used with a Wacom tablet), Reflector filters (effects similar to regular photographic reflectors), infrared conversions, and cross processing filters.

(Example of the fog filter)

The filters enhancements are affected by the detail, color, and range of contrast in an image. The filter identifies the image qualities and then adapts to the image values keeping the effect consistent. In the image to the left, I adjusted the fog to be denser. The consistency of the filter applications helps to maintain truer, more natural color levels with more options for natural enhancements. The filters will also work with any previous filters changes and will adapt the current changes to maintain color and light effects that natural.

The collection consists of 75 traditional and stylized filters offering a wide range of enhancements. A photo can be enhanced to look like a night shot, a brilliant fall look, warm golden sunshine, or any number of other changes that add color and impact to digital images. You can also change color photos to black and white or sepia tones to make them look like vintage photos. The possibilities are endless.

When you select a filter from the menu list, the interface opens. Adjustments are made here by moving the sliders and selecting other options. You also have the option to view a single image or a side by side (or top and bottom) views so that you can see the changes as you apply them.

Other features of Color Efex Pro 2.0 are save and load which lets you save the settings and then load them at a later time, image histogram, quick 100% view / full view, show more = image information, reset button – resets the settings to their default, adjustment sliders, help, and the cancel or OK to apply the changes and return to the image editor.

This is the list of filters contained in the Complete Edition which it the top version of the product. Color Efex Pro 2 is available in three editions: standard, select, and complete.

You can see that the filters can produce small changes or very dramatic ones. The tonal changes are magnificent. I love using them, the sunshine filter and the old photo enhancements. The traditional & stylizling filters ease of usage make it a snap to add artistic enhancements. It also makes them a must have if you are some one who enjoys digital photography and creative design. The filters can be applied individually or combined with others.

Available in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements (in the Automate or Automate Tools), is the nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 Selective palette.  With this option you can add any of the filter effects painting it in with complete control over the how much is added or where you add it. Using the tool options, you can paint, erase, fill, or clear the effects selectively and then you may either apply the changes or discard them.  The Selective filter can be applied with any input device such as a mouse or pressure tablet. Other features available in the Selective mode are applying the filter on a layer and saving the layer, help is available, a custom tab for filter effects you create, it can be launched with Photoshop, and the Show More option will either hide or display the editing tools.

In the photo above, I have added a vignette using the Selective tool method. Using this method, I could apply the vignette where I wanted it and add or remove the white color from any areas where I didn’t want it. I also used the Dynamic Skin Softener filter on Becky’s face to reduce spots before I applied the vignette around her.

Here’s another example of combining filters. This is a scan from a birth announcement card.
(Kira Riley Shannon) The texture was grainy and the color too red and with a yellowish cast. First I used the dynamic skin softener to even out the texture on her face. Then I applied the white neutralizer to reduce the yellowish cast. This improved the overall look but the blanket and other areas of cloth still had a high grainy texture. So I tried the BW Conversion’s Tonal Conversion filter. It turned the image into a great black and white image. The skin is very much smoother and all the red and other off tones are gone. I like the way changing to black and white took an image with strong color casts and turned it into a photo where the subject is cleaner looking and more pronounced. If I were putting a digital photo album together in which I wanted to use artistically enhanced images here and there for impact, this would be perfect for that purpose. The Dynamic Skin Softener filter is terrific. I used it on all of the photos of the babies to clarify their skin and remove the little spots and discolorations that they had. Kira’s was quite pronounced because this picture was taken shortly after she was born.

The large assortment of filters, the professional quality results you can obtain and the ease with which filter settings can be applied make this product and excellent choice for anyone who is working with digital images. The fabulous filter selection in the complete collection has made it one of the filters sets I use most often to improve the quality of my digital images. I use them to improve photos, enhance them, and to make them more artistic looking. When editing photos for web work, I have found them to be perfect for achieving that special look that is so necessary when I want to draw attention to an image. I don’t even need a particular reason to use them, I use them because of the beautiful results I get when doing normal editing and I love the interesting changes that I obtain when I do. If you enjoy tweaking photos or require filters that will achieve particular looks, this set has something for everyone.

Color Efex Pro 2.0 is Photoshop compatible and works with any image editor that accepts Photoshop plug-ins. It works with Windows 98SE through XP or later,  requires a 300 MHz Pentium or better – 800 MHz or faster recommended, 128 MB RAM – 256 recommended, 800x600 screen resolution at 16-bit color depth – 1054x768 at 24-bit recommended, 300 MB hard disk space for the complete edition. The Selective tool requires Adobe Photoshop 5.5 through CS or Adobe Photoshop Elements. Visit the nik Multimedia web site for more information www.nikmultimedia.com

Examples  from the nik Multimedia web site:    My Examples: