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NIK collection ?? how can you use it
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Nov 18, 2017 08:41:02   #
Howie1a Loc: st pete fl
 
I have downloaded the NIK for pictures I think it is a editing program but when I try to open it it sayes it is a config file and doesn't work kid of a pain but I understand it is a good sharpening program help

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Nov 18, 2017 08:48:31   #
nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas
 
I think you have to be using a photo editor that will attach NIK to itself such as Photoshop or one of its off shoots. I don't think NIK is a stand alone photo editor. I use PaintShop Pro and never was able to get NIK to work with it. I'm not giving up my PaintShop. For the money, one of the best photo programs out there. There seems to be such a bias toward Light Room. I tried it once and wasn't impressed. Couldn't see that it did anything any better than PaintShop.

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Nov 18, 2017 08:53:13   #
Howie1a Loc: st pete fl
 
Hi I have paint shop pro but didn't like it I am using windows essentials and it has been a simple and easy editor to use I was thinking the NIK collection might be better but it doesn't work or at least I can't get it to work. Howie

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Nov 18, 2017 08:55:41   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
Howie1a wrote:
I have downloaded the NIK for pictures I think it is a editing program but when I try to open it it sayes it is a config file and doesn't work kid of a pain but I understand it is a good sharpening program help


You have to open it with a Photo Editing program like Photoshop or Lightroom, and others. Try looking in your Filters drop down menu for installed Nik filters. You may have to open an image first for Nik to be active. When you click OK, Done, Close or what ever when you are finished making changes it should take you back to your primary PP program again for saving in a chosen file format. Nik is only an add-on as far as I know, and that is how I use it. Topaz on the other hand today can be run as a stand-a-lone and via Ps or Lr, etc. There may be format issues too, JPG, TIFF, PSD and 8-bit vs 16-bit. One may have to convert when using Nik or Topaz.

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Nov 18, 2017 09:14:38   #
Howie1a Loc: st pete fl
 
.

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Nov 18, 2017 09:14:53   #
Howie1a Loc: st pete fl
 
.

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Nov 18, 2017 10:37:43   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Howie1a wrote:
I have downloaded the NIK for pictures I think it is a editing program but when I try to open it it sayes it is a config file and doesn't work kid of a pain but I understand it is a good sharpening program help


What you download from the internet is an installation file. When you run it pay attention to where the actual ".exe" files are installed on you computer. For some common image editors it will install as a "plug-in" or filter. If you don't have one of those, you can drag an image file on top of the EXE you want and it will open.

In other words, you DON'T need another image editing program.

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Nov 18, 2017 10:45:36   #
pixbyjnjphotos Loc: Apache Junction,AZ
 
nikon_jon wrote:
I think you have to be using a photo editor that will attach NIK to itself such as Photoshop or one of its off shoots. I don't think NIK is a stand alone photo editor. I use PaintShop Pro and never was able to get NIK to work with it. I'm not giving up my PaintShop. For the money, one of the best photo programs out there. There seems to be such a bias toward Light Room. I tried it once and wasn't impressed. Couldn't see that it did anything any better than PaintShop.


I have used NIK as a plug-in to PaintShop Pro for several years and it works flawlessly well. Install NIK and point PSP preferences/file locations/plug-ins to to the location of NIK. If I remember right you have to point PSP to each of the NIK apps individually. I agree that PSP is a great program for the money. I have used it since JASC days and I would not attempt to learn PhotoShop and Lightroom at this stage of the game. AfterShot Pro works well too. Have a GREAT DAY!

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Nov 18, 2017 12:40:06   #
Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado
 
I just tried to open my Nik Collection apps and all of them opened on their own. All I had to do was open the app (like Silver Efix Pro 2), chose an image and it opened ready for processing. Not sure why one would need to have it as a plug-in to work. I am on a MacPro 6 and do not have PS or use any other Adobe program. Makes great B&W pics and some RAW processing.

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Nov 18, 2017 13:46:05   #
Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado
 
Correction. Most of the Nik apps opened after it had opened Aperture. The Silver Efex Pro 2 opened on it's own. So, my error. Did not see the Aperture app opened to plug-ins until I tried it again.

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Nov 19, 2017 10:24:59   #
Festus Loc: North Dakota
 
Howie1a wrote:
I have downloaded the NIK for pictures I think it is a editing program but when I try to open it it sayes it is a config file and doesn't work kid of a pain but I understand it is a good sharpening program help


NIK Is not a free standing program. It needs to be installed into a host program and you access the various components through the host program.

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Nov 19, 2017 10:29:18   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Festus wrote:
NIK Is not a free standing program. It needs to be installed into a host program and you access the various components through the host program.


It will work stand-a-lone. As I wrote above, you can open Windows Explorer, find the NIK app you want and drag a photo file on top. It opens, you edit and then you save. No host required.

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Nov 19, 2017 16:40:32   #
eog
 
NIK will run on its own or as a plug-in to Photoshop or Lightroom. To run NIK by itself just drag the picture that you want to edit to any of the NIK apps, e.g., Color Efex Pro, then the app will open with your picture all ready for edit. That's all there is to it.

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Nov 19, 2017 17:13:59   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
The only reason you are being told it needs to be opened in an editor is because many people didn't bother to learn how to use it as a free standing collection. At the time Google made it free, Tim Grey made his NIK tutorials free. You may want to check them out.

Analog Efex Pro 2
Color Efex Pro 4
HDR Efex Pro 2
Silver Efex Pro 2


The four apps above can be opened normally. They have a "File Open" command in the menu bar. The others, as mentioned above, you drag the image file onto the executable.

Forums are a dangerous place to try to learn.

Never take authority when you can have fact. Never guess when you can know!!!!

In other words, try it for yourself.

--

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Nov 19, 2017 19:05:55   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
Howie1a wrote:
I have downloaded the NIK for pictures I think it is a editing program but when I try to open it it sayes it is a config file and doesn't work kid of a pain but I understand it is a good sharpening program help


The Nik software programs are plugins. They can be run as a stand-alone by dragging and dropping a file onto executable file for the program that you want to use. For example if I wanted to run "Color Efex Pro" I would drag-n-drop the picture onto "C:\Program Files\Google\Nik Collection\Color Efex Pro 4\Color Efex Pro 4.exe". This will open Color Efex Pro 4 with the picture loaded. To use Nik software as stand-alongs it is easier to create a shortcut for eack Nik program's executable file and put them in a folder on your desktop. That way they are much easier to get to when you want to use them.

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