But the purchase of the Nik Collection by DxO Labs in June 2018 has breathed new life into the programs, and the latest release of Nik Collection 2 brings an expanded list of presets and effects to the suite, along with HiDPI monitor support for Windows. While the fears were not totally realized, Google did little to update or improve the software suite. Yes, the original free version is a dated version, that's what DxO stated on their website.īut for those of us who can still use it, really cannot beat the value of this 'free' version.When Google purchased Nik Software to gain access to Snapseed, Nik fans, myself included, groaned in dismay in fear that Google would let the Nik Collection of software wither and die.

More, tools for the year 2000, and less, tools for 2020. The net result, in my eyes, is that NIK tools seem a bit dated. And the Topaz plugin tools seem to work with pretty much everything, not just Photoshop.

(I know, Topaz seems to be having some QC issues lately, but that doesn't negate the brilliance of the overall technology). And Topaz's selective masking, along with the whole 'AI' concept for sharpening and Noise control are significant improvements in those fields. And as a result, I find other software more compatible with my workflow.Ĭertainly, ACDSee's Light EQ and Pixel Targeting are major improvements in lighting control and color masking. It's not a 'BAD' product, but over the years, the other software publishers have sought new ways to do those unique things that NIK did so well, and improve upon those old things that all software does.

Nik collection review