Nik software starts shipping Silver Efex Pro 2

Nik Software Releases Silver Efex Pro™ 2

Powerful new features build on Silver Efex Pro’s legacy of offering the best tool for creating stunning black and white images

 

Hamburg – February 24th, 2011 – Nik Software today begins shipping Silver Efex Pro 2, a major upgrade to its award-winning Silver Efex Pro software. Many photographers regard Silver Efex Pro as the leading solution for creating black-and-white images, delivering new features, better performance, and an improved workflow. Silver Efex Pro 2 offers a unique darkroom-inspired workflow and the ability to fine-tune images with precise selective adjustments powered by U Point technology. To learn why Silver Efex Pro is the leading black-and-white imaging software, users can watch training videos, download a free trial, download visual preset styles, and join live online training sessions here.

“Nearly every pro I know already uses Silver Efex Pro to create their B&W conversions, but I can tell you this: they'll all be upgrading to version 2 the minute it comes out. It's that good!” said Scott Kelby, President, National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP). “Nik Software really gets the whole user experience for photographers, and you can see that attention to detail throughout Silver Efex Pro 2. When it comes to creating fine art black and white conversions, this changes everything,” Kelby concluded.

Silver Efex Pro 2 introduces new features that offer even more control over image detail, contrast, and tonality, making it easier to go beyond the limits of the traditional darkroom. The software’s new features include the History Browser for endless experimentation, revolutionary algorithms such as Dynamic Brightness, Amplify Blacks and Whites, Soft Contrast, and Fine Structure, plus finishing touches like Image Borders and selective colorization.

Nik Software’s proprietary U Point® technology provides revolutionary selective editing by enabling photographers to make the precise detail, contrast, and tonality enhancements necessary for amazing black-and-white images, without the need for complicated selections or layer masks. The selective enhancements applied through U Point technology are automatically blended throughout an image for natural results.

 

Key Features
    •    NEW History Browser facilitates intuitive comparison of previous edits and different looks
    •    NEW Dynamic Brightness enables adaptive brightening adjustments for different areas in the image
    •    NEW Amplify Blacks and Amplify Whites increases the presence of highlights and shadows adaptively throughout the image, creating a unique contrast effect
    •    NEW Visual Presets categorized by photographic style provide great, single-click starting points, which can be customized and shared with others. Photographers who wish to download and contribute their own presets can view submit them here.
    •    NEW Soft Contrast applies contrast intelligently based on image details, creating a less harsh contrast and bringing a stylized mood and depth to images
    •    NEW Fine Structure brings out even the smallest details and textures resulting in more visible image detail without creating an over-sharpened look
    •    NEW Image Borders use organic image elements to create unique and completely random borders, giving classic darkroom-style edges a modern look with infinite possibilities
    •    NEW Selective colorization easily adds color elements back into images utilizing U Point technology to precisely select objects
    •    NEW GPU Processing takes full advantage of the processors found on advanced display adapters providing even faster performance

Pricing and Availability

Silver Efex Pro 2 is available directly from Nik Software and through specialty resellers. A list of Nik Software resellers may be found here.

The suggested retail price of Silver Efex Pro 2 is 199.95 €. Upgrades from the first version are 99.95 € (all prices incl. VAT). Customers who purchased Silver Efex Pro or a Nik Software Complete Collection after January 17th, 2011 are eligible for a free upgrade.

Silver Efex Pro 2 installs as a 32-bit and 64-bit plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 or later, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.6 or later (Windows® and Macintosh®) or Apple® Aperture™ 2.1.4 or later (Macintosh). For more information about Silver Efex Pro 2, including video tutorials, live online training, and a free 15-day fully functional trial version, please visit here.

Nik Software unwraps new Academic Program

Lower product prices and expanded distribution broaden reach to the academic community in North America.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) June 3, 2010 — Nik Software announces today a new academic program designed to make its award-winning digital imaging software products accessible to more students and faculty located in the U.S. and Canada at more affordable prices. The program includes broader academic distribution through channels serviced by The Douglas Stewart Company and pricing up to 50% off standard retail prices for all students and educators at any accredited educational institution.

This distribution partnership with The Douglas Stewart Company now enables us to offer academic pricing on a much broader scale and reach virtually every student and educator in North America. “We have been committed to the academic market for over a decade and have always seen the importance of supporting the next generation of aspiring photographers,” said Michael Slater, president and CEO of Nik Software.

The Douglas Stewart Company is the leading distributor and marketer of computer products, consumer electronics and school supplies exclusively serving the education market. By partnering with The Douglas Stewart Company, academic versions of all Nik Software products will be available through thousands of new stores, including traditional college bookstores.

In addition, educational retailers like Journey Education and Academic Superstore, as well as traditional Nik Software retailers such as Amazon, B&H Photo and others, will also sell boxed academic versions. Eligibility for students and faculty is provided by a simple third-party verification service.

Discounted pricing for Academic versions of Nik Software products are as follows:


Dfine 2.0 - $49.99
Viveza 2 - $99.99
Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete - $149.99
Silver Efex Pro - $99.99
Sharpener Pro 3.0 - $99.99
Complete Collection for Lightroom and Aperture - $149.99
Complete Collection Ultimate Edition for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Aperture - $299.99

Free fully functional 15-day trial software, live online training, and over 80 training videos are available for all Nik Software products at: http://www.niksoftware.com.

About Nik Software
Nik Software, Inc. is a privately held company that develops software solutions and provides award-winning educational programs for the digital imaging and photography markets. Established in 1995, Nik Software has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals including U Point® technology (www.upoint.com), Dfine® 2.0, Viveza® 2, Color Efex Pro™ 3.0, Silver Efex Pro™, and Sharpener Pro™ 3.0 software. For more information visit www.niksoftware.com.

Nik Software updates Silver Efex Pro for Lightroom

Nik Software Announces Silver Efex Pro™ Update for
Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 2

Award-winning Silver Efex Pro now compatible with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Hamburg, April 8th 2009 - Nik Software announces today that Silver Efex Pro, its popular digital photographic plug-in offering the most advanced, complete, and straightforward black-and-white solution, is now available for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 and higher. The update is available now as a free download to current owners of Silver Efex Pro.
“With Silver Efex Pro now joining Viveza and Color Efex Pro for Lightroom, three of our most
powerful products offer photographers even more efficient ways to apply image enhancements
seamlessly within Lightroom,” said Michael J. Slater president and CEO of Nik Software. “Our goal is to provide compatibility with popular photo applications such as Lightroom. Offering these free updates for Lightroom enables our users to continue their workflow using their favorite plug-in products regardless of which application they use.”

Silver Efex Pro installs as a plug-in for Lightroom 2.3, itself a free update from earlier versions and available for download at www.adobe.com/downloads/updates. Once installed, Silver Efex Pro is accessible via the Lightroom Photo>Edit In… menu. Edits made using the plug-in within Lightroom are non-destructive in nature, with edits applied automatically to a newly generated TIFF file and not the original. It also takes advantage of Lightroom and its efficiencies for everyday tasks, like the ability to edit multiple images in one session, saving time and increasing productivity for photographers.

About Silver Efex Pro

Silver Efex Pro uses a range of advanced imaging algorithms that protect against unwanted artifacts, a comprehensive collection of 18 emulated black-and-white film types, and a state-of-the-art grain engine that truly mimics the traditional silver halide process to create the highest quality black and-white images possible from scanned or digital color photographs. Nik Software's patented U-Point technology, also found in Silver Efex Pro, provides easy-to-use tools for direct on-image control of tonality, contrast, and structure. Precisely controlling specific areas of a photo can be achieved easily using just a few mouse clicks without the need to create complicated selections and layer masks. Silver Efex Pro combined with U Point technology offers users unprecedented control over selective tonal and contrast adjustment in black-and-white images. For more product information including video lessons visit: www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro.

Working seamlessly within Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture, Silver Efex Pro begins by presenting photographers with a basic “neutral” conversion of their color image to black-and-white. One-click adjustments can be made from a choice of nearly 30 preset styles from nostalgic processes like the ambrotype and tintype to classic artistic renderings, trendy high contrast, soft focus or grainy images that emulate the most popular film types and shooting styles.

This initial set of creative options can be used as is or as a starting point for photographers who
wish to create and even share their own customized black-and-white styles. In addition, color
filters, variable toning controls (includes sepia, selenium, split-toning and user-defined colors for maximum flexibility), vignettes, burning, and more only add to the number of advanced stylistic effects photographers will enjoy with Silver Efex Pro.

Nik Software also announces that all of its remaining photographic filter products are being updated to support Lightroom. The next plug-in will be Sharpener Pro 3.0. As these Lightroom-compatible versions become available, current owners will receive updates free of charge. All products as well as a Complete Collection Lightroom Editiopn are expected to be available by the end of the second quarter of 2009.

Pricing and Availability

The fully compatible Silver Efex Pro product, offering support for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Apple Aperture, is available immediately for electronic delivery directly from Nik Software (www.niksoftware.com) or through specialty camera retailers. A complete list of resellers may be found at www.niksoftware.com/resellers. Current owners of Silver Efex Pro may download a free update at www.niksoftware.com/lightroom.

The suggested retail price of Silver Efex Pro is € 199.95 (incl. VAT). Silver Efex Pro installs as a pluginfor Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom or Apple Aperture 2.1 and is available for Windows and
Macintosh operating systems, including Vista and Leopard. For more information about Silver Efex Pro, including video tutorials showing the software running within Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture and a free 15-day fully functional trial version, please visit
www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro.