DxO has released Nik Collection 8, the latest version of its popular plugin suite for Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and DxO PhotoLab. This update brings about a significant number of updates and new features, such as a redesigned Photoshop panel, better masking capabilities, and significant improvements to Silver Efex and Color Efex. These updates promise to make your editing workflow more seamless than ever before.
One of the biggest changes in version 8 is how the plugins now work with Photoshop. You can now import Photoshop masks directly into any Nik plugin. That means all of Photoshop’s selection tools, like object selection, channels, and more, can be used to define exactly where effects are applied inside the Nik suite.
Smarter Masking & Photoshop Integration
And it’s not just going from Photoshop to Nik, the reverse works too. You can now send masks created in Nik back into Photoshop, and they’ll stay fully editable. There’s also a new option to transfer masks between Nik plugins, making complex edits less painful.
When you return from Nik back to Photoshop, you now get several choices:
- Send your edit back as a Smart Object for non-destructive changes later;
- Apply it directly to the current layer;
- Or add it as a new layer with a mask so you can blend effects more precisely.
This version also adds a brand-new Photoshop panel to replace the old Nik Palette. It’s dockable, customizable, and includes fast access to plugin launchers, masks, and layer controls.
A More Efficient Photoshop Panel
The old Nik Palette is now gone. Instead, the Nik Collection 8 uses a brand new, fully customizable, dockable Photoshop panel. You can now choose which plugins to display (saving screen space), launch any plugin with a single click, and easily access essential layer and mask controls directly from the panel. This panel allows for a much more streamlined and efficient use of the software.
Major Upgrades to Silver Efex
Nik Silver Efex has long been considered one of the best black-and-white tools out there and is popular with many photographers. Silver Efex has seen a major overhaul in version 8, making it better than ever. There’s now a Colour Reference Image mode, letting you view the original colour photo alongside your monochrome version. This is helpful when tweaking things like colour filters or film sensitivity settings.
The UI is now more in line with other plugins like Color Efex and Analog Efex, keeping filters on the left side until you apply them. When you load a preset, only the relevant filters show up, giving you less clutter and more clarity. Local Adjustments also now support ClearView (DxO’s haze-cutting tool) and Selective Tones, and Filters now include new preset Looks for quick experimentation.
New Colour Masking in Color Efex
Color Efex now lets you select specific colour ranges for local adjustments. Click a colour, refine the range, and then tweak contrast, brightness, or whatever else you need. This adds a much-needed level of precision to local edits inside Color Efex.
Faster Export Options
Quick Export has been refined too. It’s now easier to export to TIFF, and the export options are right there in the interface so there’s no more digging through menus just to make a change.
Pricing & Availability
Nik Collection 8 is available now for macOS and Windows for $159.99 for a New License or $89.99 to upgrade from Nik 6 or 7. A 30-day free trial is available from DxO’s website.
