Where Nik Collection has always stood out as a unique tool is its large number of presets, film simulations, and filters that cover both color and monochrome images and can be found across its three core plugins: Color, Analog, and Silver Efex Pro. The UI for all plugins is similar and brings continuity throughout, although with the latest update some of the sections in the right-hand-side panel can be difficult to navigate at times due to Nik Collection 4 opting for a dark minimalist design, which comes with small icons that can be hard to see or find. So while it might not be as tightly integrated as some might like, that does have its benefits.

However, because the plugins are broken down in eight separate ways, it can make it easier for inexperienced users to work their way through the collection and become accustomed to the different looks that can be created in each one of them. If you first correct your image in Perspective Efex, you will need to edit it in other plugins separately afterwardīecause Nik boasts over 250 presets across the collection, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with the different creative directions that you can take. On the flip side though, it keeps the plugins lean by not automatically including features you don’t necessarily need. This isn’t the best workflow because it takes time to swap between the two or three plugins.

However, users will have to swap between the plugins if, for example, they want to first work on correcting the perspective in Perspective Efex or sharpen the RAW file in Sharpener Pro, followed by image adjustments in one of the other plugins. Nik Collection 4 works well in conjunction with Lightroom and Photoshop, PetaPixel’s David Crewe noted when it was announced, but it can also be a great stand-alone editing tool.

Nik collection sharpener pro 3