

The plug-ins for the Adobe programs installed seamlessly and once installed gave several ways to easily move back and forth between the hosts and the Nik programs. Nik Collection 2 did not overwrite my Elite Edition with the Essential on installation. I did like the ability to access the collection by clicking a tab in DxO PhotoLab 2, although I have the Elite rather than the Essential Edition. Without an HiDPI monitor, I was unable to test that in Windows, but I assume it works as well as the Mac integration. The Nik plug-ins all provide a similar look and include U-point technology for easy local adjustments. 10 new tool combinations for Analog Efex Pro.in the Tool flyout menu.12 new presets for HDR Efex Pro in the Presets subpanel.10 new presets for Silver Efex Pro in the Presets subpanel.

10 new recipes for Color Efex Pro in the Recipes subpanel.The original seven plug-ins (Viveza, Dfine, Sharpener Pro, Color Efex Pro, Analog Effects Pro, Silver Efex Pro and HDR Efex Pro) are updated with 42 new presets, adding to the original 156. All photos ©Stan Sholik unless otherwise noted. Photoshop gives several paths to accessing the Nik Collection 2 plug-ins. The MSRP of $149 now includes the $99 DxO PhotoLab 2 Essential Edition RAW processing software along with plug-in support for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop Elements. 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. 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.
