Black & White Silver Efex Pro 2

Silver Efex Pro 2 · **2 Likes**

I recently purchased Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro 2 after my free trial ran out. The software is expensive at $180 for a plug-in, but I have found that I can not come near its results on my own. I'm simply not too good at processing monochrome. Fortunately, I had an Amazon gift card balance that took care of most of the expense.

Many of you have this software already, but for those that don't, it's got great manual controls and also a good amount of presets included. I usually pick a preset I like and then tweak it with the manual controls if necessary. My favorite part is the "toning" section. Lots of control there, too, and great options like copper, sepia, coffee, selenium, etc.

Anyway, here are a few photos I've converted to monochrome using Silver Efex 2. Hope you like them and thanks very much for looking!

f/3.5, ISO 640

f/2, ISO 100

f/3.5, ISO 3200

f/2.5, ISO 100

jsherman999 · 04-26-2012, 08:20 PM

Nice! I use SEP 2 also, it's pretty cool.

**Bob Harris** · 04-26-2012, 09:01 PM

Looks good Lori and to think they included a free pair of shoes too. Great shot of Snickers, I got to get a cat someday.

joe.penn · 04-26-2012, 09:01 PM

Good stuff Lori!

**Cee Cee** · 04-26-2012, 10:18 PM

good results, I like the "tone" in the shooz, good PP always takes so much time, If you shoot a lot It can become overwhelming, if it saves time and gives great results then it's worth it - sadly I don't have it.

loco · 04-27-2012, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Nice! I use SEP 2 also, it's pretty cool.

Thanks!! Well, any software you use is fine by me!

Originally posted by Bob Harris

Looks good Lori and to think they included a free pair of shoes too. Great shot of Snickers, I got to get a cat someday.

Thank you, Bob! LOL! Yeah, cats make nice models when humans don't want to cooperate.

Originally posted by joe.penn

Good stuff Lori!

Thank you, Joe!

Originally posted by Cee Cee

good results, I like the "tone" in the shooz, good PP always takes so much time, If you shoot a lot It can become overwhelming, if it saves time and gives great results then it's worth it - sadly I don't have it.

Many thanks, CC! Give it a try. There's a free trial. Warning: You'll probably end up buying it if you try it, though.

charliezap · 04-27-2012, 08:11 AM

Very nice looking shots Lori.--charliezap

**dcmsox2004** · 04-27-2012, 08:26 AM

like the tweaking of b+w with various effects... these are very well composed/executed... dave m

Den · 04-27-2012, 10:01 AM

Beautiful B&W tones. Couldn't afford NIK's so I went with Topaz's. Seemed to work about the same, quality wise. A lot less $.

loco · 04-27-2012, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by charliezap

Very nice looking shots Lori.--charliezap

Thanks, Charlie! Glad you like them.

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

like the tweaking of b+w with various effects... these are very well composed/executed... dave m

Thank you, Dave! It's fun to experiment.

Originally posted by Den

Beautiful B&W tones. Couldn't afford NIK's so I went with Topaz's. Seemed to work about the same, quality wise. A lot less $.

Never tried Topaz, was that pleased with SEFX2. Good to know there's another option. Thanks for the kind words!!

liukaitc · 04-27-2012, 10:27 AM

ha, I like use filter too. makes me look like a retouch pro...

mischivo · 04-27-2012, 01:08 PM

In all honesty, I hope you had a HUGE balance on your gift card, as this type of software is usually a waste of money. I think that the only features it excels at are simulating film looks. However, I've always had issue with such features, as they never tell you what what your input image should be for the results to be authentic.

loco · 04-27-2012, 05:44 PM

Originally posted by liukaitc

ha, I like use filter too. makes me look like a retouch pro...

LOL! Hey, I'm the first to admit I need all the help I can get.

Originally posted by mischivo

In all honesty, I hope you had a HUGE balance on your gift card, as this type of software is usually a waste of money. I think that the only features it excels at are simulating film looks. However, I've always had issue with such features, as they never tell you what what your input image should be for the results to be authentic.

Well, we can't all be experts at black and white processing. For those of us who aren't, a tool like this is extremely helpful. Have you ever tried Silver Efex Pro? There are quite a few great photogs on this site (most definitely not including me!) who use it with great success.

I'll be the judge as to what is a waste of my money, thanks.

**Sailor** · 04-28-2012, 07:18 AM

Nice job, Lori. That second shot (of the onion) is outstanding.

Jer

magkelly · 04-28-2012, 08:23 AM

Topaz is awesome. Nik is okay too, but honestly I think the Topaz is a better buy. I can do almost anything in Topaz that I can do in Nik and it's easier actually.

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04-26-2012, 08:20 PM	#2
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Nice! I use SEP 2 also, it's pretty cool.

04-26-2012, 09:01 PM	#3
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Looks good Lori and to think they included a free pair of shoes too. Great shot of Snickers, I got to get a cat someday.

04-26-2012, 09:01 PM	#4
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Good stuff Lori!

04-26-2012, 10:18 PM	#5
Cee Cee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glenroy, Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,441	good results, I like the "tone" in the shooz, good PP always takes so much time, If you shoot a lot It can become overwhelming, if it saves time and gives great results then it's worth it - sadly I don't have it.

04-27-2012, 05:41 AM	#6
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846 Original Poster	Originally posted by jsherman999 Nice! I use SEP 2 also, it's pretty cool. Thanks!! Well, any software you use is fine by me! Originally posted by Bob Harris Looks good Lori and to think they included a free pair of shoes too. Great shot of Snickers, I got to get a cat someday. Thank you, Bob! LOL! Yeah, cats make nice models when humans don't want to cooperate. Originally posted by joe.penn Good stuff Lori! Thank you, Joe! Originally posted by Cee Cee good results, I like the "tone" in the shooz, good PP always takes so much time, If you shoot a lot It can become overwhelming, if it saves time and gives great results then it's worth it - sadly I don't have it. Many thanks, CC! Give it a try. There's a free trial. Warning: You'll probably end up buying it if you try it, though.

04-27-2012, 08:11 AM	#7
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	Very nice looking shots Lori.--charliezap

04-27-2012, 08:26 AM	#8
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	like the tweaking of b+w with various effects... these are very well composed/executed... dave m

04-27-2012, 10:01 AM	#9
Den Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington (State) Posts: 929	Beautiful B&W tones. Couldn't afford NIK's so I went with Topaz's. Seemed to work about the same, quality wise. A lot less $.

04-27-2012, 10:08 AM	#10
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846 Original Poster	Originally posted by charliezap Very nice looking shots Lori.--charliezap Thanks, Charlie! Glad you like them. Originally posted by dcmsox2004 like the tweaking of b+w with various effects... these are very well composed/executed... dave m Thank you, Dave! It's fun to experiment. Originally posted by Den Beautiful B&W tones. Couldn't afford NIK's so I went with Topaz's. Seemed to work about the same, quality wise. A lot less $. Never tried Topaz, was that pleased with SEFX2. Good to know there's another option. Thanks for the kind words!!

04-27-2012, 10:27 AM	#11
liukaitc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,008	ha, I like use filter too. makes me look like a retouch pro...

04-27-2012, 01:08 PM	#12
mischivo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 397	In all honesty, I hope you had a HUGE balance on your gift card, as this type of software is usually a waste of money. I think that the only features it excels at are simulating film looks. However, I've always had issue with such features, as they never tell you what what your input image should be for the results to be authentic.

04-27-2012, 05:44 PM	#13
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846 Original Poster	Originally posted by liukaitc ha, I like use filter too. makes me look like a retouch pro... LOL! Hey, I'm the first to admit I need all the help I can get. Originally posted by mischivo In all honesty, I hope you had a HUGE balance on your gift card, as this type of software is usually a waste of money. I think that the only features it excels at are simulating film looks. However, I've always had issue with such features, as they never tell you what what your input image should be for the results to be authentic. Well, we can't all be experts at black and white processing. For those of us who aren't, a tool like this is extremely helpful. Have you ever tried Silver Efex Pro? There are quite a few great photogs on this site (most definitely not including me!) who use it with great success. I'll be the judge as to what is a waste of my money, thanks.

04-28-2012, 07:18 AM	#14
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Nice job, Lori. That second shot (of the onion) is outstanding. Jer

04-28-2012, 08:23 AM	#15
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	Topaz is awesome. Nik is okay too, but honestly I think the Topaz is a better buy. I can do almost anything in Topaz that I can do in Nik and it's easier actually.