p.2 #1 · Silver efex by Nik - anyone checking it out?
What I really appreciate about the plugin is the way it changes the way I approach an image. Yes, you can do many of things easily in photoshop (film grain jumps to mind the one thing you can't do in the same way) but they take more time and I'm in a different mindset.
When I do digital black/white photography, I am trying to emulate how I did everything on film and enlargers. WIth Silver Efex, it presents everything in traditional terms. I select what type of film I would like to use and what color of filter I shot the image with. Then if you so choose, you can choose options that adjust how you "developed the picture" (like pushing and pulling). Then you can change the overall contrast and brightness like you are in front on an enlarger. Local adjustments to contrast and brightness can then be made to certain areas like dodging and burning (or burning with a color filter). Finally, you can then tone the image choosing whether it is a paper or silver effecting chemical. This flow feels very natural to me and can be done amazingly quickly.
p.2 #2 · Silver efex by Nik - anyone checking it out?
I think Tom has a point. I've never used the Nik silver effex but I do use Image Factory's b&w pro plug-in with good results. At the same time, I can't say that these results are any better or worse than PS, but the plug-in sure saves a lot of time. I sometimes convert an image using both methods just to see the difference and really haven't come to any definitive conclusions.
Which begs the question....is the Nik silver effex superior to the Image Factory plug in? I somehow doubt it, but if any one has used both and I would appreciate hearing back with your opinions.
p.2 #3 · Silver efex by Nik - anyone checking it out?
I haven't used the Imaging Factory's plugins, but it looks like they might not be available much longer-
From the website:
"Due to technical as well as personal reasons I have decided to stop development of my plugins and hence cease operation of theimagingfactory."
p.2 #5 · Silver efex by Nik - anyone checking it out?
I don't use Photoshop (yet) so I got DxO's "Film Pack."
It's seems to be a pretty scaled-down product compared to Silver Efex and Alien Skin. However, it can run stand-alone, so it can be used by us Photoshopically-challenged lens-jockeys.
The choices are not extensive, and the toners have no gradiation (either full-on or nothing at all) but what it does it does well, and the grain-simulation is terrific.
p.2 #6 · Silver efex by Nik - anyone checking it out?
I cannot get the Nik link for a $50 discount on NAPP to work. I am a memeber and I am logged on but when I try and use the $50 discount link I get page cannot be displayed. I have looked on NAPP for a discount code so that I can go directly to Nik but no luck. Any help on how you guys got the discount would be very appreciated
p.2 #7 · Silver efex by Nik - anyone checking it out?
rachp wrote:
I cannot get the Nik link for a $50 discount on NAPP to work. I am a memeber and I am logged on but when I try and use the $50 discount link I get page cannot be displayed. I have looked on NAPP for a discount code so that I can go directly to Nik but no luck. Any help on how you guys got the discount would be very appreciated
I just tried it and the link is working fine. Log into Napp. Go to the members discounts section for software and plug-ins. There is a special link there that takes you to the Nik site w/ the Nik Silver Efex Pro for $149 instead of $199. Doing it this way you also get some free b&w photo paper.
Note: you can also go to the Adorama website and get it for $169 w/ free shipping, but no free b&w paper.
