Nik Collection

Nik Sharpener and Nik Color Efex were developed by Nik Multimedia Inc.{{cite press release |last= |first= |date=1 November 2001 |title=nik multimedia, Inc. Releases Its Award-Winning nik Color Efex Pro! Digital Photographic Filters in Four New Sets |url=http://download.niksoftware.com/downloads/pdf/usa_pressreleases/Nov_1_2001.pdf |location=NEW YORK, NY, Photo Plus Expo East |publisher=Nik Multimedia Inc.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061209034723/http://download.niksoftware.com/downloads/pdf/usa_pressreleases/Nov_1_2001.pdf|archive-date= 9 December 2006}} in the 1990s as digital photo filters that could be used in Photoshop or as standalone applications. Some years later, in 2003, Dfine 1.0, a denoising application and plugin was added to the list of products on offer.{{Cite news| volume = 73| issue = 11| pages = 8| last = Ashbrook| first = Stan| title = Dfine 2.0: Plug-in to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements Nik Software| work= PSA Journal| date = November 2007}}

The newly rebranded Nik Software company{{cite press release |last= |first= |date=7 February 2006 |title=Nik Multimedia, Inc. Changes Name to Nik Software, Inc. and Unveils New Corporate Identity |url=http://download.niksoftware.com/downloads/pdf/usa_pressreleases/Feb_7_2006.pdf |location=San Diego, USA |publisher=Nik Software Inc.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061209034649/http://download.niksoftware.com/downloads/pdf/usa_pressreleases/Feb_7_2006.pdf|archive-date= 9 December 2006}} then added Viveza{{Cite journal| issn = 1543-0294| volume = 28| issue = 3| pages = 123| last = Nikitas| first = Theano| title = SOFTWARE WATCH| journal = Photo District News| date = March 2008}} and Silver Efex to the offer in 2008, and subsequently bundled all of their award-winning photo editing plugin applications, Dfine 2.0, Viveza, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro and Sharpener Pro 3.0 together in a single Collection.{{Cite news| title = Nik Software Announces Lightroom Update to its Complete Collection of Five Award-Winning Digital Photographic Filters| work = PRWeb Newswire| date = 18 June 2009| url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A221714440/GBIB?u=nysl_ce_syr&sid=bookmark-GBIB&xid=57de0052}} The Complete Collection Ultimate Edition sold for $599.95 USD and the Complete Collection for Lightroom and Aperture for $299.95 USD. HDR EFex was added to the collection in 2010.{{Cite news| volume = 77| issue = 7| pages = 6–7| last = Ashbrook| first = Brad| title = Nik HDR Efex Pro v1.2| work = PSA Journal| date = July 2011}}

After acquisition, Google relaunched the collection of six applications,{{Cite book| publisher = Wiley| isbn = 978-1-118-02222-1| last1 = Corbell| first1 = Tony L.| last2 = Haftel| first2 = Joshua A.| title = Nik software captured: the complete guide to using nik software's photographic tools| location = Indianapolis, IN| date = 2012}} with the new Analog Efex,{{Cite news| issue = 62| pages = 1–4| title = ANALOG EFEX PRO| work = Practical Photoshop| date = May 2016}} in 2013{{Cite journal| issn = 1944-0510| volume = 77| issue = 6| title = Google now offers Nik's collection of six imaging plugins for $149| journal = Popular Photography | date = 6 January 2013}} as the Google Nik Collection and reduced its price to $150 {{cite web |last=Wauters |first=Robin |date=March 25, 2013 |title=Google bundles acquired Nik Software plug-ins for Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture, drops entire set price to $149 |url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/03/25/google-bundles-acquired-nik-software-plug-ins-drops-price-to-149-and-adds-free-trial/ |website=thenextweb.com |publisher=The Next Web}} and then, in 2016, made it completely free to use.{{cite web |last=Allan |first=Patrick |date=March 24, 2016 |title=Google's Nik Collection of Photo Editing Software Is Now Completely Free |url=http://lifehacker.com/googles-nik-collection-of-photo-editing-software-is-now-1766932934 |website=lifehacker.com |publisher=Lifehacker}}{{cite web |date=March 24, 2016 |title=Today we're making the Nik Collection available to everyone, for free. |url=https://plus.google.com/+NikCollection/posts/AFGsG2Di7EK |website=plus.google.com}}

In 2017 Google sold{{Cite web |title=Nik Collection Help |url=https://support.google.com/nikcollection/?hl=en#topic=3000839 |access-date=2017-05-30 |website=support.google.com |language=en}} the, now seven-application, collection to DxO Labs for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite web |title=DxO acquires Nik Collection assets from Google, what does this mean for the future of Nik? |url=https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2017/10/24/dxo-acquires-nik-collection-assets-from-google |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=www.imaging-resource.com}} DxO Labs have since added an eighth application: Perspective Efex.{{Cite web |title=Nik Collection 3 by DxO announced: Includes new Perspective Efex, faster workflow & more |url=https://www.dpreview.com/news/0971711957/nik-collection-3-by-dxo-announced-includes-new-perspective-efex-faster-workflow-more |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=DPReview}}{{Cite news| last = Nikitas| first = Theano| title = New: DxO Nik Collection 3, Profoto Lighting Tools & More| work = Rangefinder | date = 12 June 2020}}

In 2023 it was announced that version 6.3 marked the first release of the software built entirely using DxO's own code.{{cite news|title=Nik Collection 6.3 – The end of a six-year journey to rewrite Google's code |url=https://www.diyphotography.net/nik-collection-6-3-the-end-of-a-six-year-journey-to-rewrite-googles-code/ |access-date=2023-09-08 | website=DIY Photography |date=2023-08-30 |last=Aldred |first=John}}

U Point technology was originally developed by Nik Software in the early 2000s as a way to make selective adjustments. They realized that making selections in Photoshop was very difficult and time consuming, the tools were often very difficult to learn and even harder to master.{{Cite book| publisher= Peachpit Press| isbn = 978-0-321-83977-0| last= Batdorff| first= John| title= Plug in with Nik software: a photographer's guide to creating dynamic images with Nik software| date = 2013}}

The name U Point comes from the idea that 'you', the photographer, simply point at what to adjust in the photo.{{Cite book| publisher = Wiley| isbn = 978-1-118-02222-1| last1= Corbell| first1= Tony| last2= Haftel| first2= Joshua| title = Nik software captured: the complete guide to using nik software's photographic tools| date = 2012}} U-Point algorithms enable selections based on each pixel’s attributes, such as hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast.{{Cite book| publisher = Peachpit Press| isbn = 978-0-321-55359-1| last= Long| first= Ben| title = Nikon Capture NX 2| date = 2009}} So, users do not create traditional masks in Nik Collection; instead, using Control Points or Control Lines, they construct sophisticated selections based on pixel attributes.{{Cite web| website = Ron Mart Blog| access-date=24 April 2024| last= Mart| first= Ron| title = Review: Analog Efex Pro (Nik Collection by Google)| date =12 November 2013 |url=https://www.ronmartblog.com/2013/11/review-analog-efex-pro-nik-collection.html |quote=These brilliantly designed controls (which are basically intelligent masks) changed the lives of photographers and the world of photo editing.}}

Although all of the apps in the initial collection were developed by Nik Software over a number of years it was Google who launched the first Nik Collection product in 2013. It comprised Color Efex Pro 4, HDR Efex Pro 2, Silver Efex Pro 2, Dfine 2, Viveza 2, and Sharpener Pro 3.{{cite web |date=25 March 2013 |access-date=6 March 2024 |title=Google Launches Nik Collection, A $149 Bundle Of Nik Software's Plugins For Photoshop, Lightroom And Aperture |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/25/google-launches-nik-collection-a-149-bundle-of-nik-softwares-plugins-for-photoshop-lightroom-and-aparture/?guccounter=1 |last=Lardinois | first=Frederic |website=Tech Crunch|language=english}}

On 4 June 2019, almost 2 years after its acquisition by DxO Labs a second version was released that worked in standalone mode, no longer requiring a host program to function.{{cite web|title=With new filters, the updated Nik Collection 2 no longer needs Adobe to run |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/nik-collection-2-launches-2/ |last=Grigonis| first=Hilary |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Digital Trends |date=4 June 2019}}

In June 2020, version 3 was released with an eighth plug-in called Perspective Efex. Very similar to DxO ViewPoint, and often offering features common to the host program,{{cite web|language=en|title=DxO Perspective Efex Review|url=https://www.lifeafterphotoshop.com/nik-perspective-efex-review/ | last=Lawton| first=Rod |date=4 June 2020|access-date=3 April 2024 |website=Life after Photoshop | quote=The only thing is… most of the host applications you might use to launch this plug-in will have some of these tools already. }} it can correct anamorphosis and other geometric issues as well as offer a "miniature" effect.{{cite web|language=french|title=DxO présente la NiK Collection 3 : pour une intégration toujours plus poussée avec Photoshop |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/nik-collection-2-launches-2/ | last=Royer| first=Louis |date=3 June 2020|access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Les Numeriques}} Nik Collection 3 won the category for Best Photo Software at the EISA awards some months after its release.{{cite web|language=en| title = History | website = Expert Imaging and Sound Awards| access-date = 19 April 2023 |url=https://eisa.eu/history/photography-2020-2021/}}

Version 4 came out in August 2021 with a new UI for Viveza and Silver Efex. The 'U Point' selection engine features precision color selection using chrominance and luminance sliders for adjustment by hue, saturation or brightness. Other new features include a pack of 25 presets and 6 meta presets for use across the suite, as well as DxO's dehazing algorithm, ClearView, and film grain emulations both for Color Efex and Silver Efex.{{cite web|language=french|title=TEST : Nik Collection 4 reprend des couleurs |url=https://www.reponsesphoto.fr/actualites/test-nik-collection-4-reprend-des-couleurs-3153.html#item=1 |last=Godet| first=Thibaut |date=16 August 2021|access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Réponses Photo}}

Launched in June 2022, featuring a new UI for Color Efex and Analog Efex, a floating selection palette for Lightroom and Photoshop, ClearView dehazing and grain effects for Color Efex, and U Point preset, luminance, and chrominance controls for Analog and Color Efex.{{cite web|language=french|title=Nik Collection 5 by DxO : interface rajeunie, nouvelles fonctions pour Color Efex et Analog Efex et une grosse surprise |url=https://phototrend.fr/2022/06/nik-collection-5-by-dxo/| last=Lehec| first=Jean-Nicolas|date=15 June 2022|access-date=24 January 2024 |website=PhotoTrend}}

Version 6.0, launched on the 16 May 2023, notable for the introduction of U Point Control Lines,{{cite AV media |people=Dave Kelly |date=2 July 2023 |title=NIK Collection 6 (Now With Control Lines) Let's Check It Out! |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmnDKMrKzvk |access-date=28 March 2024}} was followed four months later by 6.3, the first release to be entirely authored by DxO since they acquired the code from Google,{{cite web|language=french|title=DxO : tous les plug-ins de la Nik Collection 6.3 sont à niveau |url=https://www.macg.co/logiciels/2023/08/dxo-tous-les-plug-ins-de-la-nik-collection-63-sont-niveau-138891| last=Innocente| first=Florian|date=30 August 2023|access-date=24 January 2024 |website=Mac Generation}} with the same UI applied to all plugins. Compatible with Apple Silicon, this version handles HiDPI monitors and multiscreening as well as automatically detecting Affinity Photo during installation.{{cite web|language=french|title=Nik Collection 6 : 8 plugins incontournables pour sublimer vos photos |url=https://www.pixfan.com/nik-collection-6/| last=Barroux| first=Antony|date=14 May 2023|access-date=7 February 2024 |website=PixFan}}

Released on the 6 May 2024, the first major release entirely coded by DxO, features only seven plugins following the removal of Perspective Efex. However, new features in Nik Color Efex include HSL filtering, dynamic filters, and access to Viveza as a filter. Upgraded selection tools include polygon and elliptical U Points as well as a new luminosity masking option. Direct plugin-to-plugin switching and the ability export directly from each plugin complete the workflow improvements.{{cite web|language=en|title=Nik Collection 7 Released: Faster and Newer, But Loses A Bit Along the Way |url=https://fstoppers.com/reviews/nik-collection-7-released-faster-and-newer-loses-bit-along-way-666056| last=Coleman| first=Alex|date=7 May 2024|access-date=15 May 2024 |website=Fstoppers}}

• Nik Software Complete Collection won the TIPA Award for Best Photo Software in 2011{{cite web |url=https://www.tipa.com/search-results/?wpv_view_count=3062&wpv-wpcf-main-group=&wpv-wpcf-year=&wpv-wpcf-manufacturer-search=Nik+Software&wpv_filter_submit=Search |title=TIPA World Awards Archive |access-date=26 March 2023}}
• Version 3 of the software won the EISA 2020 Award for Best Photo Editing Software{{cite web |url=https://eisa.eu/history/photography-2020-2021/ |title=EISA World Awards Archive |access-date=26 March 2023}}

• Free version of Google Nik Collection download page on [https://archive.org/details/nikcollection-full-1.2.11 Archive.org]
• Nik Collection by DxO [http://nikcollection.dxo.com/ website]

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Lightroom

Category:Photo software

Category:Raster graphics editors

Category:Image processing software

Category:DxO Labs