Post Processing Software Plug-in's
May 1, 2015 14:44:19 #
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
May 1, 2015 14:57:33 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
I shoot Canon so know nothing of NIK Silver or Color Pro.
I have bought and used five Topaz plugins in the past however, I have not used any of them since I became more adept with Photoshop.
My opinion.
May 1, 2015 15:09:55 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
Necessary? Probably not. But useful? Possibly so. I have found that some of the plugins do offer features worth having on hand, and that these plugins can also be more efficient and effective than trying to create the same effect in Photoshop or Lightroom alone. For example, I find the NIK Viveza plugin to be extremely valuable in making selective lighting adjustments. Quick, easy and more precise and manageable than using PS or LR by themselves.
May 2, 2015 05:55:59 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
I would say very useful indeed. If your happy with your images out of the camera and feel LR is a good photo editor you probably will not use them much.
If you feel LR is extremely limited in what it can do and proper photo editing needs Photoshop and layers you will find them invaluable.
You do not post any pictures here so its not possible to say whether in my humble opinion your stuff would benefit.
All I can say is I use plug ins daily. Generally selectively along with Photoshop and layers.
May 2, 2015 06:34:05 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
Yes. While you can finish an image with PS, the plugins provide a faster path to a finished product. The presets are nothing more than a specific set of photoshop settings that provide an effect on the image - so all the masking, curve and level adjustments, etc are already done for you. Most plugins will provide additional adjustments, and the ability to save your own favorite "presets." Some, like OnOne, can open up raw files, though I am not pleased with the results compared to LR. But OnOne Perfect Photo Suite can be used as a PS replacement in many cases, since it can function as a standalone package.
May 2, 2015 08:49:32 #
grusum wrote:
I shoot Canon so know nothing of NIK Silver or Color Pro.
I have bought and used five Topaz plugins in the past however, I have not used any of them since I became more adept with Photoshop.
My opinion.
I have bought and used five Topaz plugins in the past however, I have not used any of them since I became more adept with Photoshop.
My opinion.
Shooting Canon has nothing to do with this. The Nik software can be used by Canon shooters too. No discrimination.
May 2, 2015 09:00:30 #
Gene51 wrote:
Yes. While you can finish an image with PS, the pl... (show quote)
I agree with Gene. A lot of people find Topaz Remask easier to use/better for making accurate selections than Photoshop. OnOne Perfect Resize is great for making enlargements. Third party plugins for noise reduction, panoramos (Photomatix for example) and HDR are popular because some people feel they do a better job than Photoshop. Sometimes the plug in is clearly superior to Photoshop. One such example was PhotoKit Sharpener. My understanding is that Adobe ended up purchasing the rights to the algorithms and incorporated them into Photoshop and Lightroom.
May 2, 2015 10:02:04 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
I've assessed NIK and Topaz. There isn't anything they do that you can't accomplish with LR alone.
--Bob
May 2, 2015 10:46:21 #
Gene51 wrote:
Yes. While you can finish an image with PS, the pl... (show quote)
I did want to add, that as good as LR is at rules-based (parametric) editing, it should not be considered a finishing tool. That work is best left to pixel editors with accurate, granular ability to adjust an image.
May 2, 2015 11:59:48 #
May 2, 2015 12:26:58 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
Anything that a plug-in does can be duplicated in Photoshop without third party plug-ins. But not everyone has the necessary Photoshop skills to do this. Many people prefer to spend money on plug-ins rather than learn Photoshop in greater depth.
May 2, 2015 12:45:44 #
It would be extremely difficult to duplicate the special effects of Topaz Glow in Photoshop.
Some plugins have presets that speed up the process of converting your photos; for example, different styles of monochrome and sepia.
It all depends on how much manipulation you desire. If all you want from your post-production is a perfect rendition of reality, then Photoshop is probably all you need.
But if you enjoy getting creative with your shots, presets can be a helpful asset.
Some plugins have presets that speed up the process of converting your photos; for example, different styles of monochrome and sepia.
It all depends on how much manipulation you desire. If all you want from your post-production is a perfect rendition of reality, then Photoshop is probably all you need.
But if you enjoy getting creative with your shots, presets can be a helpful asset.
May 3, 2015 02:50:19 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
Yes. Topaz has various ways of changing pictures that's much easier than LR.
May 20, 2015 15:33:46 #
jmunny wrote:
I was wondering, with the advancements of Adobe Light Room, is it really necessary to have plug-in software such as NIK Silver & Color Pro, Topaz packages, etc.? Are there things avail with those products that can not be found in LR or PS???
Yes, because the plugins are basically pixel editor-based, and the adjustments in LR are rules-based, aka parametric. Parametric adjustments rarely offer the pixel-level accuracy that proper photofinishing often requires. But LR is excellent for proofing and general, not finish, editing.
May 20, 2015 17:50:17 #
I use Paint Shop Pro, and I'll get Topaz Black and White effects, next time they put it on sale. Nope, don't need it bad enough, to pay full price.
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