Nik Collection 9
p.1 #1Nik Collection 9
I'm curious if anybody still uses these? DXO loves emailing me trying to get me to buy it or combine it with PureRAW. I had the full collection pre-Google and then once Google made them free. I liked a lot of functionality of how edits are applied however I feel like a lot of other editing programs have caught up and maybe surpassed Nik's original advantages (U-points, color grading, sharpening, etc). Thoughts?
Jun 12, 2026 at 12:15 PM
p.1 #2Nik Collection 9
I'm old school; I still use them (albeit almost exclusively in Photoshop). Nik's Colorefex's pro contrast tool has been worth the price of admission (minus my loyalty/upgrade discounts) for me over the years. That said, Snapseed's tonality tool is awesome for the same purpose; however, it's only available on mobile.
My $0.02.
My $0.02.
Jun 12, 2026 at 01:38 PM
p.1 #3Nik Collection 9
I have NIK Collection 3 and use the Silver Efex Pro 2 for B&W conversions; other than that, I don’t use it much.
Jun 12, 2026 at 08:16 PM
p.1 #4Nik Collection 9
I went from the pre Google and free Google version to Nik collection 8, and will upgrade when 10 comes out. Its a great tool set. Only problem for me is the additional tif it generates, although there is an option to make the changes editable.
Robin Whalley has some very good youtube videos about various nik collection tools.
Here for instance the depth tool in the latest version
a good one about Nik Viveza (in combination with Affinity Photo).
Also check out his videos about silver efex pro and color efex pro like this one
There are also multiple video out about the excellent Photoshop integration for those using Photoshop.
Unfortunately it lacks the real integration in DXOs own Photolab, like Filmpack. C1 requires a roundtrip too. Best integration is into Photoshop.
Dave Kelly has a video for each Color efex pro tool.
Robin Whalley has some very good youtube videos about various nik collection tools.
Here for instance the depth tool in the latest version
a good one about Nik Viveza (in combination with Affinity Photo).
Also check out his videos about silver efex pro and color efex pro like this one
There are also multiple video out about the excellent Photoshop integration for those using Photoshop.
Unfortunately it lacks the real integration in DXOs own Photolab, like Filmpack. C1 requires a roundtrip too. Best integration is into Photoshop.
Dave Kelly has a video for each Color efex pro tool.
Jun 12, 2026 at 09:26 PM
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p.1 #5Nik Collection 9
SEP came along at the time I was switching from film to digital.
It's pretty much indispensable for me.
Not the world's biggest fan of DxO however.
Edited on Jun 14, 2026 at 06:58 AM · View previous versions
It's pretty much indispensable for me.
Not the world's biggest fan of DxO however.
Edited on Jun 14, 2026 at 06:58 AM · View previous versions
Jun 13, 2026 at 06:22 AM
p.1 #6Nik Collection 9
I don't use on a regular basis, but every now and then based on photograph. ColorEfex Pro, Silver Efex and Output sharpener are the tools I use more frequently. Viveza, rarely. They have come a long way if you compare with the free versions. As for as PureRAW is concerned, I use DXO Elite and version 5 comes with it and a very good tool. If you have never used any of them, I'd say try them for free first and make your own mind, Honestly, you might enjoy the upgrades.
Only thing that I don't like about DXO is, their shady packaging of features into different tools and force you buy them. In my opinion, some of the features that are there in Nik 9 (depth mapping, color grading for example) should have been there as part of Photo Lab as part of RAW processing. If they can have it in NIk V9, they definitely can have in PL. That is just one example that I say, a shady bundling of features.
Only thing that I don't like about DXO is, their shady packaging of features into different tools and force you buy them. In my opinion, some of the features that are there in Nik 9 (depth mapping, color grading for example) should have been there as part of Photo Lab as part of RAW processing. If they can have it in NIk V9, they definitely can have in PL. That is just one example that I say, a shady bundling of features.
Jun 13, 2026 at 12:49 PM
p.1 #7Nik Collection 9
guywithgas wrote:
I don't use on a regular basis, but every now and then based on photograph. ColorEfex Pro, Silver Efex and Output sharpener are the tools I use more frequently. Viveza, rarely. They have come a long way if you compare with the free versions. As for as PureRAW is concerned, I use DXO Elite and version 5 comes with it and a very good tool. If you have never used any of them, I'd say try them for free first and make your own mind, Honestly, you might enjoy the upgrades.
Only thing that I don't like about DXO is, their...Show more →
No argument here - it's clear that the "own it forever" model only works for DXO if they can force you to buy multiple products. PureRAW is the exception.
I don't use on a regular basis, but every now and then based on photograph. ColorEfex Pro, Silver Efex and Output sharpener are the tools I use more frequently. Viveza, rarely. They have come a long way if you compare with the free versions. As for as PureRAW is concerned, I use DXO Elite and version 5 comes with it and a very good tool. If you have never used any of them, I'd say try them for free first and make your own mind, Honestly, you might enjoy the upgrades.
Only thing that I don't like about DXO is, their...Show more →
No argument here - it's clear that the "own it forever" model only works for DXO if they can force you to buy multiple products. PureRAW is the exception.
Jun 13, 2026 at 01:51 PM
p.1 #8Nik Collection 9
pete478888 wrote:
I went from the pre Google and free Google version to Nik collection 8, and will upgrade when 10 comes out. Its a great tool set. Only problem for me is the additional tif it generates, although there is an option to make the changes editable.
Robin Whalley has some very good youtube videos about various nik collection tools.
Here for instance the depth tool in the latest version
a good one about Nik Viveza (in combination with Affinity Photo).
Also check out his videos about silver efex pro and color efex pro like this one
There are also multiple video out about the...Show more →
Thanks - I'll check these out. I think SFX is the most compelling of them all, the rest I feel like are shorcuts or repackaging of adjustments you could make in Photoshop (not that that's a bad thing, it's just a question of value vs time saved).
I went from the pre Google and free Google version to Nik collection 8, and will upgrade when 10 comes out. Its a great tool set. Only problem for me is the additional tif it generates, although there is an option to make the changes editable.
Robin Whalley has some very good youtube videos about various nik collection tools.
Here for instance the depth tool in the latest version
a good one about Nik Viveza (in combination with Affinity Photo).
Also check out his videos about silver efex pro and color efex pro like this one
There are also multiple video out about the...Show more →
Thanks - I'll check these out. I think SFX is the most compelling of them all, the rest I feel like are shorcuts or repackaging of adjustments you could make in Photoshop (not that that's a bad thing, it's just a question of value vs time saved).
Jun 13, 2026 at 01:54 PM