A tutorial that is not overly verbose, but provides a comprehensive and ordered look at a software product, feature, or process is worth the time spent. This one ticks those boxes. Despite being a longtime user of the Nik suite, I was quickly engaged and even learned a couple things about the software that I didn't know. Thank you. This was an excellent tutorial!
I truly appreciate your comments Chris. After a “you should learn the program before making a video” comment the other day, (which I know I should ignore) this one made my day! I’m so glad you found some new aspects of Silver Efex. I’ve used it for 15 years…Love it! Have an awesome day! 😊
Hi Kate. I work 80% in B&W. This is also the main reason I bought Nik. With this excellent video, you have put me back on the right track. By watching the other videos I will definitely use it in my color work. But my priority is still black and white. Many thanks for the work you put into this. I am sure you will make many users of Nik happy. Antoine.
Been a long time Nik user, since before Goggle had it, and have seen lots of tutorials, Kate Silvia has to be one of the best presenters on Nik software that I've run across!
Thanks Kate - very thorough! When I watched your zone system review, it made me wonder why Adobe doesn’t offer this simple answer to luminosity masking in programs like Lightroom. So quick and easy - yet powerful.
Thank you. That is a wonderful idea. Adobe is really missing out on a traditional darkroom method that a ton of people would like to have in LR. I’m glad you enjoyed the tutorial. 😊
Thanks Kate, that tutorial was so entertaining and fun to watch . To create a B&W in this Nik 7 is faster and more precision in the area you want , less masking than LrC . Cheers
Thanks for this tutorial: really useful and well presented. The suggestion of starting with a chosen film type and working from there is brilliant. The way these are laid out on the menu make them seem like an afterthought, but perhaps many using these programs have never shot film…
Than you so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed this tutorial. I started that workflow because I was a film shooter, and just felt like it was a natural transition in software to do the same thing. Have an awesome day! 😊
Great overview about the latest iteration of NIK. I appreciate your comments about upgrading from 5 or 6. Quick question: I see from your panel that you have the various TK panels from Tony Kuyper installed. Have you or do you plan to do videos about how you use those various panels? For me personally, I've standardized my workflow around these panels. Thanks in advance.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I do like Tony’s panels. I’ve been learning to use them myself and do plan on putting some tutorials together soon. There’s so much to cover with those panels, it’s hard to know where to begin. 🤣🤣. I do have one video from a couple months ago where I demo his Gen fill panel to achieve painterly looks. That’s fun to experiment with for creativity.
Actually, you Can! Just right click on any image on your computer (RGB image only) and select the NIK program you want. Also, you can open the program and go to the file menu and open your image from there. ☺️
First class.. Being a bit jaded by Adobe I am drifting my way back to the Nik suite and I have certainly learned/relearned some ways to use their products from you, Thank you for that. One thing I may have missed is how to collapse the stack under the control point..? Excellent work carry on. You can open a 'Buy me a coffee' link for support
Ah yes…that stack under the control point can get a little annoying. They changed it in the last update. It’s to the right of the control point choices…When you hover your cursor over it, it says Hide Local Adjustment parameters in the preview. The shortcut is Shift-E. 😊. I knew I’d forget to mention something. 🤣🤣
Good question! You could just as easily bring your files directly into NIK and do all of your adjustments. But RAW files in particular need some basic raw adjustments like sharpening and contrast added to them. While I can do that in NIK, it’s just my usual workflow to process a color image until I’m happy with it. Then, if I feel like creating a black and white, I’ll then bring it into NIK. I always recommend that people choose the workflow and software that works for them, not necessarily following every step that someone else does. That leads to knowing the software better, which leads to better final results. Glad you enjoyed the video! ☺️
Excellent video … thanks. I’m early days when it comes to photo editing. Currently shooting mostly B&W landscapes with a Fuji X100V and editing the JPEG’s and occasional raw .RAF’s with Apple Photos on my 2014 Intel iMac. If I purchase and install Silver Efex stand alone suit on my iMac, do you think I can then edit with Silver Efex within Photos as an extension? Monochrome is my main interest and it seems that Silver Efex is an excellent tool for editing these images.
Thank you so much. Apple Photos stores their images as a package that cannot be accessed from other programs…like plugins such as Nik. However Nik can be used as a stand alone program and you can open images directly into Silver Efex. You’d just have to export the image you want to use from Apple Photos…to a folder you keep somewhere on your system, and then open the image from there into Nik. I’d make sure your operating system can handle the software first. Have fun with your black and white photography. It’s amazing.
Really thanks for your explanation of silver efex 7. I have one question to yoy.. I use Silver Efex for 95% and 5% color efex. I have the 6 version and I doubt or it is usefull to upgrade. In the 6 version was an update that increase the speed between LR and NIK. Do you have an advice>> thxs bart
Hi Bart, Thanks for commenting on the video. There were some significant changes to Nik with regard to the control points and the addition of a polygonal tool for CP's. Whether or not you'd need something like this depends on the types of adjustments you make within the program. I showed it briefly in the video. If the new ability to switch from Nik program to Nik program, along with the new polygonal tools aren't something you'd use...you may want to wait until the next version. There's a big difference from Nik 5 to Nik 7...but not as much from 6 to 7. Nik 6 should work great for a while. :)
Kate, I use Silver Efex version 4.3, strictly for the presets. Does the latest version add any presets? I find that it is easier to do my other edits in LRC and PS, so if DXO hasn’t added presets to version 7 I don’t need it. Thanks.
HI. I'm not sure how many presets there were before, but there are 64 now and organized a little differently. If that's not a big enough difference, then yes, you don't need the upgrade right now. Hope this helps. Have an awesome day. Kate
This is the best Silver Efex tutorial that I have come across. Thanks, I learned a lot!
Wow, thanks!😊
thanks kate for such a clear tutorial. the best i've come across!
You're so welcome! I’m so glad you found it helpful. ☺️
A tutorial that is not overly verbose, but provides a comprehensive and ordered look at a software product, feature, or process is worth the time spent. This one ticks those boxes. Despite being a longtime user of the Nik suite, I was quickly engaged and even learned a couple things about the software that I didn't know. Thank you. This was an excellent tutorial!
I truly appreciate your comments Chris. After a “you should learn the program before making a video” comment the other day, (which I know I should ignore) this one made my day! I’m so glad you found some new aspects of Silver Efex. I’ve used it for 15 years…Love it! Have an awesome day! 😊
My first introduction to this software - very helpful!
Glad it was helpful! ☺️
Hi Kate.
I work 80% in B&W.
This is also the main reason I bought Nik.
With this excellent video, you have put me back on the right track.
By watching the other videos I will definitely use it in my color work.
But my priority is still black and white.
Many thanks for the work you put into this.
I am sure you will make many users of Nik happy.
Antoine.
Very kind of you to take the time to comment. Keeps me motivated when the work is appreciated. Have an awesome day! 😊
Been a long time Nik user, since before Goggle had it, and have seen lots of tutorials, Kate Silvia has to be one of the best presenters on Nik software that I've run across!
Wow, thank you!😊
Hi Kate...this is the very BEST tutorial for Nik I have ever seen.Thank you very much, Rick
You just made my day…thank you soooo much for your kind words. Glad you found it helpful. 😊
Excellent teacher! Subscribed.
Awesome, thank you! 😊
Thanks a lot
Happy to help 😊
Thanks Kate - very thorough! When I watched your zone system review, it made me wonder why Adobe doesn’t offer this simple answer to luminosity masking in programs like Lightroom. So quick and easy - yet powerful.
Thank you. That is a wonderful idea. Adobe is really missing out on a traditional darkroom method that a ton of people would like to have in LR. I’m glad you enjoyed the tutorial. 😊
Thanks Kate, that tutorial was so entertaining and fun to watch . To create a B&W in this Nik 7 is faster and more precision in the area you want , less masking than LrC . Cheers
I’m so glad you found it helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Nik is a fantastic software package. Have an awesome day! 😊
Very helpful, Kate. Thanks!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment let me know it was helpful. Have a great day! ☺️
Thanks for this tutorial: really useful and well presented. The suggestion of starting with a chosen film type and working from there is brilliant. The way these are laid out on the menu make them seem like an afterthought, but perhaps many using these programs have never shot film…
Than you so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed this tutorial. I started that workflow because I was a film shooter, and just felt like it was a natural transition in software to do the same thing. Have an awesome day! 😊
Great overview about the latest iteration of NIK. I appreciate your comments about upgrading from 5 or 6.
Quick question: I see from your panel that you have the various TK panels from Tony Kuyper installed. Have you or do you plan to do videos about how you use those various panels? For me personally, I've standardized my workflow around these panels.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I do like Tony’s panels. I’ve been learning to use them myself and do plan on putting some tutorials together soon. There’s so much to cover with those panels, it’s hard to know where to begin. 🤣🤣. I do have one video from a couple months ago where I demo his Gen fill panel to achieve painterly looks. That’s fun to experiment with for creativity.
Nice! I wish this was stand-alone software…
Actually, you Can! Just right click on any image on your computer (RGB image only) and select the NIK program you want. Also, you can open the program and go to the file menu and open your image from there. ☺️
@@KateSilviaPhotography thank you!
Great tutorial ! Merci Kate ;)
So glad you found it helpful! Thanks for commenting. ☺️
First class.. Being a bit jaded by Adobe I am drifting my way back to the Nik suite and I have certainly learned/relearned some ways to use their products from you, Thank you for that.
One thing I may have missed is how to collapse the stack under the control point..? Excellent work carry on.
You can open a 'Buy me a coffee' link for support
Ah yes…that stack under the control point can get a little annoying. They changed it in the last update. It’s to the right of the control point choices…When you hover your cursor over it, it says Hide Local Adjustment parameters in the preview. The shortcut is Shift-E. 😊. I knew I’d forget to mention something. 🤣🤣
Good idea on the Buy me a coffee…thanks for the suggestion. I like to teach but suck at marketing!🤣
And...the Buy me a Coffee Link is now in my About section. Thanks so much for the suggestion. :)
Thank you Madam! Why would you first develop in color instead of bringing your RAW file directly to Efex and develop directly in BW?
Good question! You could just as easily bring your files directly into NIK and do all of your adjustments. But RAW files in particular need some basic raw adjustments like sharpening and contrast added to them. While I can do that in NIK, it’s just my usual workflow to process a color image until I’m happy with it. Then, if I feel like creating a black and white, I’ll then bring it into NIK. I always recommend that people choose the workflow and software that works for them, not necessarily following every step that someone else does. That leads to knowing the software better, which leads to better final results. Glad you enjoyed the video! ☺️
Excellent video … thanks. I’m early days when it comes to photo editing. Currently shooting mostly B&W landscapes with a Fuji X100V and editing the JPEG’s and occasional raw .RAF’s with Apple Photos on my 2014 Intel iMac. If I purchase and install Silver Efex stand alone suit on my iMac, do you think I can then edit with Silver Efex within Photos as an extension? Monochrome is my main interest and it seems that Silver Efex is an excellent tool for editing these images.
Thank you so much. Apple Photos stores their images as a package that cannot be accessed from other programs…like plugins such as Nik. However Nik can be used as a stand alone program and you can open images directly into Silver Efex. You’d just have to export the image you want to use from Apple Photos…to a folder you keep somewhere on your system, and then open the image from there into Nik. I’d make sure your operating system can handle the software first. Have fun with your black and white photography. It’s amazing.
@@KateSilviaPhotography OK … thanks! 📷😄
Really thanks for your explanation of silver efex 7. I have one question to yoy.. I use Silver Efex for 95% and 5% color efex. I have the 6 version and I doubt or it is usefull to upgrade. In the 6 version was an update that increase the speed between LR and NIK. Do you have an advice>>
thxs
bart
Hi Bart, Thanks for commenting on the video. There were some significant changes to Nik with regard to the control points and the addition of a polygonal tool for CP's. Whether or not you'd need something like this depends on the types of adjustments you make within the program. I showed it briefly in the video. If the new ability to switch from Nik program to Nik program, along with the new polygonal tools aren't something you'd use...you may want to wait until the next version. There's a big difference from Nik 5 to Nik 7...but not as much from 6 to 7. Nik 6 should work great for a while. :)
Kate, I use Silver Efex version 4.3, strictly for the presets. Does the latest version add any presets? I find that it is easier to do my other edits in LRC and PS, so if DXO hasn’t added presets to version 7 I don’t need it. Thanks.
HI. I'm not sure how many presets there were before, but there are 64 now and organized a little differently. If that's not a big enough difference, then yes, you don't need the upgrade right now. Hope this helps. Have an awesome day. Kate
You must first learn how to use the Plugin and then make the video, you have omitted important aspects of the program.
Aspects such as?? Everybody else seems to really like this overview of Silver Efex. I guess ya can’t make everyone happy. Peace.