For example, we noticed a sizable delay when applying simple Color Efex Pro 2 presets to our photos. The standalone programs have some processing issues, particularly when applying presets and filters to images. The Nik Collection’s performance certainly isn’t perfect, and we feel that it’s one area this software could improve. We feel that the collection is reasonably priced, but as you will see in our conclusion, the price may not be warranted for everyone. Plus, while many of the features and tools of Nik Collection 4 are available in other editing programs, the Nik Collection offers far more detail and depth. Put another way, each program costs $16.88, which doesn’t sound as bad! For a one-off cost, you get eight full programs, each of which can be used as a standalone offering or as a plugin. After all, who would pay $135 for a series of plugins? But this is not entirely accurate.

To some, the cost of Nik Collection 4 may seem expensive. Happily, HDR Efex Pro 2 lets you simulate HDR effects with minimum effort. It can be difficult to create realistic HDR photos, plus photographers don’t always have the time or technology to create such shots. In terms of effectiveness, we found the AI technology to be excellent – you can quickly and easily remove background noise from your photos to improve their visual appeal. This makes it easy to see the effectiveness of the noise reduction. We like the different preview modes, such as the Compare mode here, you can see a single image and use a slider to show a before and after comparison. For example, you can add additional control points so the AI algorithms can easily detect areas of noise that need processing. You can then edit this if the result is not what you want. However, its functionality is fantastic and it couldn’t be simpler to use.īy default, Dfine 2 applies an automatic noise reduction filter to your photo. Like other version 2 programs in this Nik Collection 4, the interface does look a little dated. DFine 2 is a relatively automated program that is incredibly simple to use.

Nik perspective efex