I have a Nik Coupon Code of “STUCKINCUSTOMS” for 15% off this and all the Nik products. Just go to Nik Software, and you will save some money!
This page is just for Silver Efex Pro. I have a full Nik Review up here on the site too
Nik Silver Efex Pro
Wow this thing is cool. Those of you that are regular readers to the blog know that I don’t do a lot of Black & White photography. I have nothing at all against it… I see things in a very vibrant and alive way, and I’ve spent a long time perfecting a technique that helps bring this to photographic reality. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a good B&W pick. Often times, the default B&W conversion in Photoshop can just be… well, boring. And predictable. Sometimes I take something and convert it to B&W and then look at it and think, “Yeah, well, that’s how I kinda thought it would look”.
So, I reluctantly tried Silver Efex Pro, because I expected it to be a slightly improved version of what Photoshop can do — but I was wrong! This is very fun to use and you can get a wide variety of looks. Frankly, I really like the Holga and Pinhole settings on the left, and then tweaking it further on the right. There are many many wonderful options here that can really make a B&W image “alive” and pop off a page.
I have since talked to the rep from Nik and he tells me that they used a bunch of classic B&W shots to make sure they could get all those as presets. It’s very fun and you’ll see something immediately!
Below, I have put several screenshots of the things I have done with the product, so you can begin to get an idea.
Silver Efex Pro enables you to make a choice on the left to give you a basic look, then you can really make it unique on the right.
The Antique Photo treatment sounds like a gimmick. But it came out fairly amazing, don’t ya think?
The Holga and Pinhole treatments are two of my favorites.
This shot from Argentina I was able to customize with an icy blue tint.
Silver Efex’s B&W options can enable some cool results
When it comes to Vignette, the “Stylizing” dropdown has a ton of very easy-to-use options
January 18th, 2010 00:56 | Derek
I love Silver Efex Pro and have been using it for a while. coming from the old school of B&W training I loved developing my own B&W, and this plug in is as legit (and easier) than working in the dark room! If you get only one… get this one.
January 25th, 2010 05:10 | The Raised Bones of Arlington National Cemetery
[...] Silver Efex Pro Review [...]
February 26th, 2010 10:13 | Greg Pritchard
Hi Trey
I also use this tool and like yourself I have always veered from B&W photography just because we all know what it will look like. However, since i found this little baby its changed my hole perspective of B&W. I tend to hdr everythig i do in colour then run them images through Siver Effex Pro. I use the High Structure style then tweak it a little. All in all i have to agree this is a worthy tool, and i cant recommend it highly enough.