This set of tools is perfect for mimicking film of all types, as well as vintage cameras and lenses. For example, you would use Analog Efex Pro if you want a vintage film look, but would most likely use Color Efex Pro if you want to bring out the colors in your landscape photo. Some experimentation will help when you first download the Nik Collection. You have to select which Nik toolset to work with from the Lightroom menu. If the original file is anything else, like a JPEG, you can edit a copy of the original with NO Lightroom edits applied, or edit the original itself. If the original file is a RAW or DNG file, you can’t select anything except to create a copy that has LR edits applied. At the top of this pop-up window, you’ll see options about creating copies that maintain LR edits within them. You’ll also choose color mode, resolution, and compression. I gravitate towards TIFF to maintain as much quality to the image as possible. You’ll have the options of TIFF, PSD, or JPEG file types. This is NOT a virtual copy this is an actual new image file. The edits you do in Nik, even as a Lightroom plug-in, are on a copy of the photo. When you select a tool to use on a photo, a pop-up window will appear to ask you what type of file you want the copy to be. Things to Keep in MindĪs with any new version download, it will take a bit of time to integrate this collection into your workflow. In this menu, you’ll hover over “Edit In” and see that the components of the Nik Collection are now each listed as an option! The only one missing is the HDR Efex Pro, but we’ll talk more about why that is when we review that tool. Within the Develop Module, you can choose a photo to work on and right-click (or Ctrl+click on a Mac) on the photo itself for the menu to appear.

Once it’s installed, you can open Adobe Lightroom, which will look the same as always.

It scans your computer to find what compatible programs you have. The installer will walk you through each step, including which image editing tool you want to use the plug-in with. Once you’ve downloaded the file, open to begin the installation.

While there are many tool packets, you only need one download to get all the components.

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