Black & White Nik Silver Effex Pro

Nik Silver Efex Pro · 11:13 AM

Finally broke down and bought this program after seeing what could be done with it. This is my first try at a B&W using the program. The original was rather bland with a really nothing sky. It was raining to boot. So instead of tossing the photo I decided to try out Nik. What do you think? Is it too much? I couldn't believe the detail it pulled out of the sky.

**usn ret** · 05-15-2013, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by slowpez

Finally broke down and bought this program after seeing what could be done with it. This is my first try at a B&W using the program. The original was rather bland with a really nothing sky. It was raining to boot. So instead of tossing the photo I decided to try out Nik. What do you think? Is it too much? I couldn't believe the detail it pulled out of the sky.

BW looks great Susan, now you need to go back and get a pic in the golden hour.....TFS Cliff

slowpez · 05-15-2013, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by usn ret

BW looks great Susan, now you need to go back and get a pic in the golden hour.....TFS Cliff

Thanks Cliff. Will be a while before we get back to this state park.

**Bob Harris** · 05-15-2013, 12:09 PM

I agree about the detail here Susan and the b/w almost gives it a hand drawn pencil look, looks like you have a fun program to play with.

daacon · 05-15-2013, 03:16 PM

Well done Susan - it really did save that shot I quite like it.

**eaglem** · 05-15-2013, 03:26 PM

I like both shots but good to see what that software does.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-15-2013, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by First Poster

Finally broke down and bought this program after seeing what could be done with it

Interesting, this Nik Silver Effex Pro I know nothing about, a bit like me and so many other things in life.

Does it act as a plug in/preset for Lightroom/CS6 or is it stand alone application?

SJM · 05-15-2013, 05:09 PM

Hi Susan. I like what the NIK software did. I have this color Efex Sliver Pro .. just have not used it yet. looks like I better start.

Sue

fotogaffer · 05-15-2013, 05:20 PM

I think it looks good in black and white and I agree it is much more captivating in B&W than in the original colour version. I think photos like this with lots of strong lines make great B&W conversions. Thanks for sharing.

**wizofoz** · 05-15-2013, 05:36 PM

I too have recently discovered nik silver effex. Once one gets into it, it is a surprisingly intuative and simple program to use.

Here is an example

stormtech · 05-15-2013, 08:50 PM

I bought the NIK set when the sale was last month, but have not even tried any of it out yet. This is a great example here - you've given me the push to start working with it.

Den · 05-15-2013, 09:02 PM

Way to go. Nicely done. I had one Nik plugin and as such Google gave away the whole suite for free awhile ago. I use Silver Efx and Topaz B&W. They're both very cool. You can take that image and use single image HDR treatments for even further enhancement of the sky.

**wizofoz** · 05-16-2013, 12:44 AM

Stormtech, Den, thanks This is the first view one gets of Milford Sound in south western New Zealand. A truly awesome place.

The B&W looks much better printed at 20x30" than it does here on the screen. The funny thing was, I never really played with this shot from 3 years ago until I was looking for something to convert to B&W. I'll have to bear the conversion more in mind when looking for future 'keepers'

slowpez · 05-16-2013, 06:05 AM

Originally posted by Bob Harris

I agree about the detail here Susan and the b/w almost gives it a hand drawn pencil look, looks like you have a fun program to play with.

Thanks Bob. It is fun.

Originally posted by daacon

Well done Susan - it really did save that shot I quite like it.

I agree Dave. The sky in the original was just awful but I quite like what Nik did with just a few tweaks from me.

Originally posted by eaglem

I like both shots but good to see what that software does.

Thanks EM.

slowpez · 05-16-2013, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by kerrowdown

Interesting, this Nik Silver Effex Pro I know nothing about, a bit like me and so many other things in life.

Does it act as a plug in/preset for Lightroom/CS6 or is it stand alone application?

You can get the whole suite here for $126 USD using the coupon code. Used to run around $500 I think. Silver Effex is just one part of the suite. It is a plug-in for lightroom, photoshop (I use it on an old copy of PS 6.0 so it should work on all versions), elements and one other one whose name escapes me. Someone said it runs as a stand-alone too but I am not sure about that.

You can check it out and get the discount code here:
Ron Martinsen's Photography Blog: Nik Complete Collection by Google now only $149 (Before Discount)

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05-15-2013, 05:36 PM	#10
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	I too have recently discovered nik silver effex. Once one gets into it, it is a surprisingly intuative and simple program to use. Here is an example Attached Images

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05-15-2013, 11:28 AM	#2
usn ret Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ridgecrest, Calif Posts: 1,274	Originally posted by slowpez Finally broke down and bought this program after seeing what could be done with it. This is my first try at a B&W using the program. The original was rather bland with a really nothing sky. It was raining to boot. So instead of tossing the photo I decided to try out Nik. What do you think? Is it too much? I couldn't believe the detail it pulled out of the sky. BW looks great Susan, now you need to go back and get a pic in the golden hour.....TFS Cliff

05-15-2013, 11:49 AM	#3
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462 Original Poster	Originally posted by usn ret BW looks great Susan, now you need to go back and get a pic in the golden hour.....TFS Cliff Thanks Cliff. Will be a while before we get back to this state park.

05-15-2013, 12:09 PM	#4
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	I agree about the detail here Susan and the b/w almost gives it a hand drawn pencil look, looks like you have a fun program to play with.

05-15-2013, 03:16 PM	#5
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Well done Susan - it really did save that shot I quite like it.

05-15-2013, 03:26 PM	#6
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,146	I like both shots but good to see what that software does.

05-15-2013, 03:27 PM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by First Poster Finally broke down and bought this program after seeing what could be done with it Interesting, this Nik Silver Effex Pro I know nothing about, a bit like me and so many other things in life. Does it act as a plug in/preset for Lightroom/CS6 or is it stand alone application?

05-15-2013, 05:09 PM	#8
SJM Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northeastern Ohio Photos: Albums Posts: 1,358	Hi Susan. I like what the NIK software did. I have this color Efex Sliver Pro .. just have not used it yet. looks like I better start. Sue

05-15-2013, 05:20 PM	#9
fotogaffer Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 716	I think it looks good in black and white and I agree it is much more captivating in B&W than in the original colour version. I think photos like this with lots of strong lines make great B&W conversions. Thanks for sharing.

05-15-2013, 08:50 PM	#11
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	I bought the NIK set when the sale was last month, but have not even tried any of it out yet. This is a great example here - you've given me the push to start working with it.

05-15-2013, 09:02 PM	#12
Den Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington (State) Posts: 929	Way to go. Nicely done. I had one Nik plugin and as such Google gave away the whole suite for free awhile ago. I use Silver Efx and Topaz B&W. They're both very cool. You can take that image and use single image HDR treatments for even further enhancement of the sky.

05-16-2013, 12:44 AM	#13
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	Stormtech, Den, thanks This is the first view one gets of Milford Sound in south western New Zealand. A truly awesome place. The B&W looks much better printed at 20x30" than it does here on the screen. The funny thing was, I never really played with this shot from 3 years ago until I was looking for something to convert to B&W. I'll have to bear the conversion more in mind when looking for future 'keepers'

05-16-2013, 06:05 AM	#14
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bob Harris I agree about the detail here Susan and the b/w almost gives it a hand drawn pencil look, looks like you have a fun program to play with. Thanks Bob. It is fun. Originally posted by daacon Well done Susan - it really did save that shot I quite like it. I agree Dave. The sky in the original was just awful but I quite like what Nik did with just a few tweaks from me. Originally posted by eaglem I like both shots but good to see what that software does. Thanks EM.

05-16-2013, 06:12 AM	#15
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462 Original Poster	Originally posted by kerrowdown Interesting, this Nik Silver Effex Pro I know nothing about, a bit like me and so many other things in life. Does it act as a plug in/preset for Lightroom/CS6 or is it stand alone application? You can get the whole suite here for $126 USD using the coupon code. Used to run around $500 I think. Silver Effex is just one part of the suite. It is a plug-in for lightroom, photoshop (I use it on an old copy of PS 6.0 so it should work on all versions), elements and one other one whose name escapes me. Someone said it runs as a stand-alone too but I am not sure about that. You can check it out and get the discount code here: Ron Martinsen's Photography Blog: Nik Complete Collection by Google now only $149 (Before Discount)