I have NIK which 3 is included in Corel PSP 4X, 5X tho 4 is current. So with PSP X5 "Ultimate" at the $50 sale mark, it is worth while to buy it for its self and NIK (also face make over and other plugins). Topaz 40% off sale ends midnight 12/31. Code to put in the code box is ... Topaz2012 .... Based on that price I would go with the full bundle. If price is an issue get B&W if you do B&W and the best of all the Adjust 5. $50 but at 40% off just $30!!. Topaz also, thus far, has upgraded for free where as the other plugin/preset packages cost to up grade. Topaz also has a stand alone in which all are in one package and intigrated for easy working... also topaz has a lazy mans un-mask program... and great "edge aware" (mask and brushes) sloppy work, unsteady hand, end result is great.

I have watched many Topaz Webinars both on line and archived (see resources at the www.topazlabs.com site). I watched only on-one and it was not well done... unfair sample... rest may be great.

Could be that I like Topaz best simply because I have used Topaz the most. Surly all are good for particular operations and results. Me, I like over sharpened detail and saturated surreal look, not saying that is the stock and trade of Topaz... simply that which of these "plugin/preset" packages is best is probably a tossup, and thus a moot question. Assuming that they are all about the same then go for price and upgrade price history.

If every one in your photo club uses a particular one, then go for that because of the buddy help availability. Me, I am considered impure because I use Topaz and PSP and go to an Adobe Church Purist Camera Club filled with expensive DSLRs.

Even tho not conforming to the club norms, I won 3 place (year long competition) in the non-pro division in 2011 and got booted up to Pro class, because of high points, at the end of 1 quarter of 2012. I did that with a 7 YO P&S pan TZ3 and PSP and Topaz. So, in a sense, I did not win, the Post Processing combo won by taking my mediocre photos and working magic. That comment is reality and not humility.

I vote for Nik software when it comes to easy access from Aperture. I also consider onOne's Perfect package very easy to use. My recent experience with Aperture has been very good; it seems to be much more stable than previously.

My only bad experience, contrary to what seems to be its current high ratings, came with Lightroom. I found its method of saving adjustments in one file and images in another, too much of a hassle for my aged grey matter.

Above all my opinion regarding NIK software's ease of use has stood the test of time.

All the best,

M

NIK is just one of many vendors of post processing software; there are many others and they all do some things better than others.
Not all programs work as both stand-alone and as a plug-in (launched from within another program and sharing data). The most plug-in supported post processing software are those made by Adobe (Photoshop & Lightroom)

Good luck Bill but I still emphasize... don't quit your day job.

Bill,

On the site, at the very top of page, click on 'subscribe'
Next page will show the option "$24.95 per month". Click on that one.
It will go into your cart. Then just enter the code in the 'coupon code" box and checkout. Don't worry because you have plenty of chances to back out of buying ... So when you see the total of zero, just confirm and you got it.

You will have to create an account if you don't have one already.

Let me know if that works