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DxO has released the latest version of its presets application and has added the ability to work with Raw files. The company says it discovered most of its users shoot in Raw and want to be able to work with these files in its programs, so DxO has included PhotoLab 2.3 Essential edition in the package. The software features a direct button that converts and sends processed Raw files directly to Nik Collection 2.
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| The Nik Collection interface sitting over the PhotoLab 2.3 window, using the Super Punch preset from the new En Vogue effects in Color Efex Pro |
Previously, Nik Collection was available only as a plug-in for Adobe products, but with this new update, users will also be able to remain completely in the DxO environment without having to use Lightroom or Photoshop.
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There are 40 new presets in the Nik Collection 2, which have been labelled ‘En Vogue’ to reflect their modern and fashionable looks. The styles are spread across the Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro and Analog Efex Pro modules, and bring the total number of presets to 196. The included PhotoLab 2.3 application adds Raw support for a range of new cameras, including the Canon EOS RP and Olympus OM-D E-M1 X, and has 500 new lens modules. In total there are 47,500 camera/lens combinations to work with.
The Nik Collection 2 is available now with special prices of $ 99.99 for new users and $ 59.99 for those upgrading until the end of June. From then new users will pay $ 149.99, and those upgrading will pay $ 79.99. For more information see the DxO website.
Press release:
New Nik Collection 2 by DxO Offers Unmatched Creative Possibilities and RAW File Compatibility
DxO, one of the most innovative companies in the photography and image editing industry, has announced the release of the Nik Collection 2 by DxO, a major upgrade to the famous plugin suite for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Elements. After bringing the Nik Collection back to the market with the software’s first stable version with customer support in June 2018, DxO is expanding the plugin suite with over 40 new creative presets and high-resolution monitor support for Windows. In addition, the Nik Collection 2 now comes with DxO PhotoLab 2.3 ESSENTIAL Edition, DxO’s recently released advanced RAW photo editing software.
Choose from more than 40 new “En Vogue” styles to create unique images with a single click.
The Nik Collection 2, which has gained a significant following for its high-quality, creative filters, has added 42 new “En Vogue” presets to its original set of 156: 10 new recipes for Color Efex Pro, 10 new black and white presets to Silver Efex Pro, 12 new HDR presets to HDR Efex Pro, and 10 new tool combinations to Analog Efex Pro.
The latest filters in the Nik Collection 2 will take your photos’ emotional impact to the next level. For example, “Blue Monday,” which is available in Color Efex Pro, combines the fresh look of subtle Varitone coloring, the visual interest of cross processing, and the softness of slightly desaturated effect. “More Silver,” which is available in Silver Efex Pro, pairs the crispness of silver toning with a fine grain, resulting in black and white photographs that feature a level of balanced contrast typically achieved through darkroom techniques. Photographers who would like to add a bit of nostalgia to their images can turn to “Burned Edges,” in Analog Efex Pro to reproduce the burned-edge, vignetting, toning, and framing effects typical of old-fashioned analog cameras.
The “En Vogue” series was created in collaboration with Dan Hughes, a highly respected lecturer of photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and a former instructor with Nik Software. “I was honored to be a part of the expansion of the Nik Collection by DxO,” he said. “The plugin suite has helped promote the art of photography, and the addition of new effects has significantly increased its potential by offering all photographers new creative opportunities.”
Improved high resolution display with Windows
To better meet users’ needs, the Nik Collection 2 now supports high-resolution monitors (HiDPI) with Windows. The graphic elements of the Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, and Analog Efex Pro plugin interface have been improved to ensure flawless readability when viewed through high-resolution monitors—just like with the macOS version.
All the potential of RAW files within an optimized workflow
DxO’s recent surveys of Nik Collection customers revealed that nearly all users work in RAW. To help them harness the full power of this file format, the Nik Collection 2 by DxO now comes with DxO PhotoLab 2.3 ESSENTIAL Edition, DxO’s advanced and multiple award-winning photo editing software. The software has been adapted to offer users direct access to the plugins from their workspace via a dedicated button and drop-down menu. After the image is edited in DxO PhotoLab 2, it can be quickly converted and sent to one of the Nik Collection plugins, where the photo can be further altered and enhanced with creative effects.
“By offering our advanced photo editing solution along with the Nik Collection 2, we are giving users access to DxO’s powerful and high-quality RAW treatment technology as well as its unparalleled optical corrections, which were developed over fifteen years of measurements and analyses conducted in its laboratory,” said Jean-Marc Alexia, VP Product Strategy and Marketing with DxO. “DxO also offers high-quality de-noising capabilities, smart exposure optimization with DxO Smart Lighting, and U Point local adjustment technology, which is now available for use with RAW images.”
DxO PhotoLab 2.3: support for new cameras
On top of providing access to Nik plugins directly from the software’s workspace, DxO PhotoLab 2 continues to support new equipment. In addition to adding support for Leica M 10-D and M 10-P, Nikon D3500, Panasonic Lumix DC-S1, DC-S1R, LX100 II, Sony A6400, and DSC-RX100 VA, DxO PhotoLab 2.3 can now process files from Canon EOS RP and Olympus OM-D E-M1 X. It has also added more than 500 new optical modules to its library, bringing its total number of camera/lens combinations to 47,500.
To read the full list of all devices supported by DxO PhotoLab 2.3, visit: https://www.dxo.com/en/dxo-photolab/supported-cameras/
Price and availability
The Nik Collection 2 is now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/en/photo-software/dxo-nikcollection) for $ 99.99 instead of $ 149, and $ 59.99 instead of $ 79 for the upgrade until June 30, 2019.
The ESSENTIAL and ELITE editions from DxO PhotoLab 2.3 are now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/en/photo-software/dxo-photolab) for $ 129 and $ 199, respectively. DxO PhotoLab 2 users can download this upgrade for free.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)