If you’re a user of the Nik Collections, you’re probably aware that Google withdrew support and ceased development of the tools earlier this year. Yesterday I heard the news that DxO has purchased the Nik assets from Google and they have already integrated the Control Point technology into their DxO Photo Labs software. Some time back I was a user of DxO, but found it slow in comparison to other tools. With the integration of Control Point technology, I can see DxO software tacking a major step forward.
Having downloaded and tried the DxO Photo Labs software, I’m very impressed with its capabilities on my Olympus and Sony RAW files. The only issue I have at present is that it doesn’t support many of the Fuji RAW files including the X-T1 or X-T2. Unfortunately, this is enough to prevent me making a purchase.
If you want to read more you can find the announcement here
https://nikcollection.dxo.com/
This also includes a link to download the current version of the Nik Collection if you need to reinstall it (such as after upgrading Photoshop).
This is great news for the Nik Collection as not only integrating the control point technology into their own products, they are planning a new release of the Nik Collection next year. Once the new release is available I plan to invest time revising and updating my Nik Collection books.
The Lightweight Photographer 
I’ve decided to move away from Adobe and move to DxO and probably Affinity, or ON1. I’ve already upgraded my DxO to the new ‘PhotoLab’ and agree you can already see the NIK influence for lots of reasons, so I Look forward to the updates.
Good news although I expect it will now cost. DxO still doesn’t support Fujifilm RAW though.
That’s true but I don’t mind paying for software that’s being developed. I just hope they keep the price realistic. Many of the plug-in providers are now charging quite a lot and want you to upgrade every year. That’s one of the reasons I like the Topaz model where you have updates for life.
Thanks for the news Robin – I upgraded my DxO software on the strength of this and keep my fingers crossed that they deliver good software, sensibly priced for us all. Currently the Nik download links don’t work (for Mac anyway). Cant help but wonder if they’ve been experiencing a huge response.
I had to say goodbye to my XT2 as it went seriously – faulty three times back to base. I switched to Olympus E1 mkii and have been very pleased to date.
I’m looking forward to your updated books in due course, always a pleasure to work through.
Sorry to hear about the X-T2 but I can imagine the EM1 MKii is a great camera.
When I looked earlier the old Google site still had the Nik downloads including Mac. It might be worth saving a copy from there.
Thanks for your support.
How do you like Topaz for conversion of Fuji RAW files? I’ve been a Capture One user since 2003, but my last update was version 7. Now, I would have to pay the full price to update to version 10 to process my X-T20 files. I’m unwilling to do that, so I’m looking for new processing software at a more affordable price.
I must admit that I haven’t tried converting Fuji RAW files with Topaz, at least that I can remember.
I got the message earlier that they are retiring support for Capture One Pro 8 and I’m reluctant to upgrade as I currently don’t use it much. I think they are trying to encourage people over to subscriptions.
Personally I would avoid trying to find one piece of software that does it all. In my experience the best RAW converter for Fuji files is RAW Therapee and its free. It is though quite complicated and takes a lot of getting used to. The results are top notch though if you can invest the time. I would then look to use other filters such as Topaz for enhancement. Topaz Adjust is a great all round adjustment filter and good value. I also like Eposure X2 but they now have an annual update (X3 has just been released) and their prices are going up. Topaz is buy once and receive lifetime updates.
It seems like there are too many choices for really good editing software today that just cause one to be confused. I have recently been trying to wrap my mind around On1 2017/2018 after using Light Room/Photoshop for years. As a casual photographer it is difficult to rationalize the need for new software unless there is a real quality advantage or some need to spend less. And yes, I love Nik, especially Color Effects and Silver Effects and I have not yet found any really great advantages against the simplicity of those. I guess it is up to Robin and other dedicated professionals to show us the way and help us out of this morass of software confusion. But that in itself is difficult as it must not be easy to be able to master all these platforms, let alone be able to afford them. However, Robin, I hope you will continue to keep us informed as to what your strong recommendations are, especially, parallel to the type of cameras that we respectively use.
Thanks John. I will certainly do my best. I love exploring software and equipment and it’s always good to be able to share my thoughts.
For those that like to convert to mono ON1 Effects 10.5 is a free download that has a pretty good mono conversion set of tools. Not as flexible as NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 but gives very good conversions and the rest of the suite is pretty good especially for free. Topaz BW Effects 2 I also use but not too often. They all have their pros and cons I guess. Link below for anyone interested.
https://www.on1.com/products/effects10/
Thanks for adding this Graham. As you say this is free and its good. The quality of the resulting image is very impressive. It’s essentially a cut down version of the Effects software that was the release prior to the current one.
If you like Black and White and film effects, the Exposure softwareis very good. It good with colour film simulation as well.
Another alternative is the Black and white converter from Photo Wiz.
Wonderful image and news. Nik has been a part of my workflow for years!
Thank you. It’s great news on Nik.
I emailed DxO about the lack of Fujifilm RAW support and it appears they have no plans to support Fuji. Quite why this is so I don’t know as it is a mature format. Whether there has been any history between the two companies or perhaps their algorithms for sharpening Fuji RAW don’t work who knows. I guess you could convert the Fuji RAW to Adobe DNG and work on them in DxO but frankly if they are not supporting Fuji then why should I bother. While I have a stable WIN7 computer and NIK works fine then I won’t be looking elsewhere. It might change in the future I guess.
Graham – I think it’s more to do with the fact that the X-Trans sensor in most of Fuji cameras does not use a Bayer matrix like most other cameras and many of the algorithms used by DxO were designed to process the output of sensors using the Bayer matrix.
I think your right. I have only seen a dedicated XTrans algorithm one and that’s in RAW Therapee.
Thank you Robin, I have been a DXO user for some years now using it on various images and I think it is very good. They go to extreme lengths to produce lens correction’s even on one lens. There prime noise reduction for high ISO images is regarded as the best in the business. When I view an image at 100% it is sharp and well defined and if they progress as they are they could give other producers of software a run for the money. I have just had the main hard drive crash on my PC and are still in the process of trying to get back to normal, I was very glad that Adobe now has a call centre in the UK again, the internet security I had installed they said was not to good so they installed a better one for me hopefully it will be ok. If I had to contact Adobe outside of the UK that would have been the end of it. DXO say that a new version of NIK will be introduced middle of 2018 and hopefully they will include use of the brush and cloning tool’s and they will certainly have a winner.
Best Wishes John.
Thanks John. I have high hopes for a new and improved Nik Collection. DxO have a good and well deserved reputation but I wish they would start supporting Fuji. Sorry to hear about your PC. If your still on the lookout for good Internet Security software, take a look at Bull Guard. I have used it for some time now having experienced lots of problems with the major brands.
Thank you Robin. Let’s hope that DXO will be supporting the Fuji system as it has many followers. Looking back now in hindsight I wish that I had purchased a Mac instead of a PC this thing I have has cost a fortune over the years and was purpose made on recommendation to order. I did use Bull Guard internet security and have had very little problems with it. But Adobe recommended that I switch over to Mc Afee and it was installed by them time will tell.
Hope all goes well for your daughter.
Best Wishes.
John.
Hi John, I do hope DxO adds Fuji to their list of supported cameras but I have my doubts. I have heared of a few people contacting them and being advised there are no plans.
Hello Robin. May I suggest that you try the Danish software Capture One 10 pro for processing your Fuji files, they do a 30 day free trial. I have used it on and off for some years now, but will be using the software more, I think Capture One and DXO produce excellent image quality, there are a lot photographers who have switched over to Capture One, the detail it produces is excellent. Last year I took an image looking down into a large tulip and the detail Capture One produced was by far the best.
Best wishes.
John.
Hi John, Thanks for the suggestion. I was actually a long term user of Capture One Pro but stopped renewing after V8 (I still use their library management software which they bought from Microsoft who bought it from iView). The software is quite good but it doesn’t match Iridient for Landscape work. It does have many great tools though which Iridient doesn’t. I have tried to move away from Lightroom but it’s just too convenient for everything I need to do.