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    DXO launches Nik Collection 7, their biggest update to the suite ever

    By 3 Comments Third Party Software 3 Mins Read

    Paris (France): DxO Labs, the company that has stood at the forefront of photo editing
    technology for over 20 years, presents the latest edition of Nik Collection, the photo editing
    suite of seven premium applications that extend the capabilities of programs such as
    Photoshop, Lightroom, Affinity Photo, and DxO PhotoLab.

    Version 7 introduces major advances in Nik Collection’s renowned U Point technology,
    giving users options for ellipses, polygons, and luminosity masks, and offering photographers
    more control than ever before. In addition, the suite is faster across the board, with 30% faster
    opening, instant switching between plugins, and more.

    “Nik Collection exists to accelerate visual creativity in any photography workflow. With
    version 7, not only have we maximized performance, but we’ve introduced new selection
    tools that deliver a remarkable level of control,” explains Boris Oliviero, Product Director.
    “As an upgrade, users get creativity, speed, and flexibility like never before.”

    Major upgrades to U Point local adjustments

    Nik Collection’s signature U Point local adjustment technology gets three new tools to give
    users outstanding precision when making selections. The introduction of a new Polygonal
    Tool allows photographers to quickly mask out irregular shapes, while standard Control
    Points can now be stretched or squashed into any elliptical form.

    A new color picker tool allows users to choose a hue and tone for the adjustment to target,
    independent from the placement of the adjustment itself.

    Furthermore, Luminosity Masks can be used across the suite to target levels of brightness.
    With these upgrades, the fastest, simplest, and most intuitive selection technology becomes
    better than ever.

    Speed upgrades across the board

    Version 7 introduces significant boosts to speed and efficiency:

    • Open files faster: Images now launch up to 30% quicker, be it from a host program
      or in standalone mode, underpinning a more efficient workflow
    • Switch seamlessly between plugins: Version 7 lets users jump effortlessly between
      plugins without having to return to the host program, making edits flow more
      smoothly
    • Access Nik Viveza from within Nik Color Efex: Nik Collection 7 introduces a fluid
      and simplified workflow, giving users additional access to Nik Viveza as a filter from
      within Nik Color Efex
    • Quick Export: Users can conveniently output images from within a plugin, creating a
      smoother workflow experience
    • Library upgrades: Version 7 introduces a Quick Search tool and allows users to
      organize their presets and filters for quicker access.

    Nik Color Efex receives significant upgrades

    Nik Color Efex now features an extended HSL filter for altering color ranges complete with a
    new Vibrancy slider. In addition, a new ‘stacking’ feature means photographers can combine
    and reorder all filters as required for creative effect.

    Other changes

    For consistency, Nik Perspective has been removed from Nik Collection 7. Thanks to parallel
    installation, owners of previous versions will be able to continue to use this plugin.

    Price and availability

    Nik Collection (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website at the following prices:

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works.

    Go to discussion...

    3 comments

    1. I’ve been using it from the start. Some very annoying minimal updates in the past . The best of these software are almost in the original version. Yes they’ve improved it but not often in a useful way. I see they have now added luminosity functionality. I always thought it daft that Silver efex pro showed you on a scale of one to 10 luminosity in the image but you couldn’t pick the brightest parts only to darken. Is it worthwhile, on balance yes. Hopefully this is a more substantial update than many of their past ones.
    2. I’ve been using it from the start. Some very annoying minimal updates in the past . The best of these software are almost in the original version. Yes they’ve improved it but not often in a useful way. I see they have now added luminosity functionality. I always thought it daft that Silver efex pro showed you on a scale of one to 9 luminosity in the image but you couldn’t pick the brightest parts only to darken. Is it worthwhile, on balance yes. Hopefully this is a more substantial update than many of their past ones.
      Funny.
      Just a few days ago Skylum dropped an update for luminar Neo, giving us luminance masks. (And some more bullcrap like changing the colour of water and stuff like that)
      I think they were so proud of their AI stuff, that it took them quite a long time to realise, people weren't actually using a lot of it, because it's unreliable as hell.
      Especially the masking ai in luminar absolutely sucks. I almost exclusively use the more traditional options and get far better results quicker.
      I'm glad they saw the need for luminance masking finally and reintroduced it to Neo, as previous versions of luminar had that feature
    3. I’ve been using it from the start. Some very annoying minimal updates in the past . The best of these software are almost in the original version. Yes they’ve improved it but not often in a useful way. I see they have now added luminosity functionality. I always thought it daft that Silver efex pro showed you on a scale of one to 10 luminosity in the image but you couldn’t pick the brightest parts only to darken. Is it worthwhile, on balance yes. Hopefully this is a more substantial update than many of their past ones.
      Even after the many years of using it, and then going back to it, I still find the interface very clunky compared to all the other plug-in options.

      However, I do think one of the biggest changes is subtle, more under-the-hood. From my experience with it this past year (after much time with tech support to get it to open properly!), Nik seems to have better control of halos and artifacts, and that's critical. Images look better, and it's not as easy to overdo things as it was years ago.

      I'm not seeing any mention of interface improvements in the press-release. Working with SiverEfex, for example, could be so much easier if the Film Effects section could have its own intensity/opacity slider. Just way too fiddly in many cases.

      Since SilverEfex came out many years ago, LR and PS have become better and easier for B&W conversions, and so have Exposure and ON1. I don't see that SilverEfex has anything new to offer besides better control of halos and artifacts--but the other apps never really had much of an issue in that respect.

      Hoping they keep improving! Will be happy to continue using Nik 6, as it is finally running smoothly and fast on my i9-13900K system. Maybe a version 7.5 will entice?

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