As many members know Google’s Nik Collection of software editing programs is now a
Free download for both Windows and Mac systems, go to Google Nik Collection, it works as a
plugin add-on to Aperture, Lightroom, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, the snag is that it
now only works with certain older versions of these programs so read the small print at the
bottom of the page which tells what it actually works with.
This was a very expensive and highly desirable suite of programs when first launched
costing over €300 for the full collection of seven modules, when bought by Google it’s price
dropped to around €120 and its now free, its possible that Google would need to carry out some
software development to allow it to work with the latest Adobe products and they don’t consider
it worth while to do so.
That’s fine but what they don’t tell you is that the collection will also work as a standalone
program, definitely on a Mac and probably also on Windows. The modules were designed as
plug-ins so they relied on the host program to carry out functions like cropping and printing so
you will need to start off in your usual editing software to crop when necessary, edit it in one of the Nik modules and return it to your editing program to print, a bit awkward but usually worth
it. The collections most popular module is Silver Efx Pro, perhaps the best black and white
conversion and editing program yet designed.

C. Dennehy

https://www.google.com/nikcollection/