Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Digital Image Processing => Topic started by: Rajan Parrikar on January 17, 2011, 07:14:28 pm

Title: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on January 17, 2011, 07:14:28 pm
FYI: Nik Software has today announced the availability of Silver Efex Pro 2 for pre-order. Upgrade pricing is $99.95.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: sniper on January 18, 2011, 06:17:52 am
Wonder whats new in it.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: fdisilvestro on January 18, 2011, 11:10:13 am
The new features in this page:

http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php?view=usa/features.html (http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php?view=usa/features.html)

According to the System Requirements, the windows Version need PS CS4 (or later) or LR 2.6 or later. Instead, the Mac version will work also with PS CS3 / LR 2.3. I wonder why the difference.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Colortrails on January 18, 2011, 11:22:26 pm
Thanks for the update! Silver Efex Pro is one of the few plugins that I really feel adds something to my workflow that can't easily be duplicated in Photoshop or Lightroom without a decent amount of time commitment per image.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Chairman Bill on January 19, 2011, 01:14:18 am
$99!? That's €73. Nik want €179.99 for an upgrade, and that's with a 10% discount! It's a download, so no import taxes. Even allowing for sales tax of 20%, that's an incredible mark-up for buyers in Europe. Rip off, anyone?

Can't see me upgrading any time soon.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on January 19, 2011, 03:48:54 am
$99!? That's €73. Nik want €179.99 for an upgrade, and that's with a 10% discount! It's a download, so no import taxes. Even allowing for sales tax of 20%, that's an incredible mark-up for buyers in Europe. Rip off, anyone?

Can't see me upgrading any time soon.
Bill, the web site is confusing but that's the price for v1 with a "free" upgrade to v2. The v1->v2 upgrade is EUR99.95, including VAT. See here (https://webshop.niksoftware.com/4DCGI/ezshop?action=productgroupshow&warengruppe=Silver%20Efex%20Pro%20Upgrades&groupID=94&sTICKCOUNT=77980442&fromaction=showpage&skontaktid=898125&skontaktkey=PTALP50kqsAYXPOvGJD7Mtm4dTs0e1&suchid=692002&Suchstartpos=1&worldnr=&warengruppenlist=&PageType=&Beschriftung=Silver%20Efex%20Pro%20Upgrades).
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Chairman Bill on January 19, 2011, 11:56:00 am
Oops! Thanks for pointing that out. I just need to decide whether it's worth it for the upgrade.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Philmar on January 27, 2011, 05:10:54 pm
thanks for posting this - i'd been waiting for this for quite a while!!
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: bretedge on January 31, 2011, 04:14:43 am
I'm a big fan of SEP and use it on almost all b&w conversions.  I will upgrade to v2 primarily because it allows more local control of shadows, mid-tones and highlights, but also for a few of the less obvious new features.  I wrote a pre-review of Nik Silver Efex 2 (http://blog.bretedge.com/2011/01/18/announcing-nik-software-silver-efex-pro-2/) on my blog, for those interested in a quick & dirty look at the new features.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on February 24, 2011, 01:24:44 pm
Update: Available for download today.
Title: Problems being reported with Silver Efex 2.0
Post by: Robert DeCandido PhD on February 25, 2011, 08:59:52 pm
Problems being reported with Silver Efex 2.0

On my system - Version 2.0 takes forever to load in CS5 (both 32 and 64 bit), and then process a file (SLOW!); and it crashes Photoshop CS 5 (both 32 and 64 bit). Others are reporting similar problems on FM Forums and DP review.

My advice is to wait until they sort out bugs...The previous version of Silver Efex works just fine.

Am working away from home on an HP laptop with Windows 7 and 6GB Ram.

Robert DeCandido PhD

Title: Re: Problems being reported with Silver Efex 2.0
Post by: Mark D Segal on February 27, 2011, 12:14:03 am
Problems being reported with Silver Efex 2.0

On my system - Version 2.0 takes forever to load in CS5 (both 32 and 64 bit), and then process a file (SLOW!); and it crashes Photoshop CS 5 (both 32 and 64 bit). Others are reporting similar problems on FM Forums and DP review.

My advice is to wait until they sort out bugs...The previous version of Silver Efex works just fine.

Am working away from home on an HP laptop with Windows 7 and 6GB Ram.

Robert DeCandido PhD



On my system (MacPro / OSX / PSCS 5 64 bit) it works just fine. Loads quickly, processes quickly enough, doesn't crash. Maybe your problem isn't the fault of that app? Any web forum will always turn up a few people with issues - doesn't necessarily mean others shouldn't buy the software. If there were a flood of complaints across a variety of computing set-ups, different story, but this doesn't seem to be the case here - yet. It's early times - just hit the market several days ago. This is a very, very good piece of software for what it allows one to do.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Robert DeCandido PhD on February 27, 2011, 04:26:44 am
Previous version of SEPro was (is) fine on my system; $99 is steep for an upgrade to a plug-in...

Overall I prefer Convert to Black-and-white Pro.

No problems installing latest versions of Viveza and their Sharpening program on my system...So far it seems to be the PC folks having problems, not the MAC folks.

Others are reporting problems too - there will be updates from NIK. Wait.

Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: sniper on February 27, 2011, 06:03:29 am
We had similar problems with the hdr pro, tried 3 computers and gave up in the end, hope this is better we use SFP a lot.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on February 27, 2011, 09:58:09 am
$99 is steep for an upgrade to a plug-in...

Overall I prefer Convert to Black-and-white Pro.

So far it seems to be the PC folks having problems, not the MAC folks.


If that's the case, could be a PC-only issue. Time will tell. But one thinks they would have tested it thoroughly on both platforms before releasing it. I note they have no public beta program. Perhaps they should consider doing this in the future, because it nets-in a much broader variety of user conditions than they could possibly recreate themselves in their lab.

I don't know the extent of your awareness about what it takes to redevelop software, but this is a big, costly undertaking. They weren't only adding features, they were re-writing code to improve basic processing efficiency. When you start doing that, it's like re-working the app from the ground-up for at least two platforms if not more. That consumes a lot of labour and overhead, which needs to be paid for out of EXPECTED future sales. So the price is the price. They have no interest in shooting themselves in the feet over-pricing software, nor do they have an interest in losing money on every copy sold. So it depends on whether the price is worth it to us the customers. It has enough new features that I bought it. Others MMV, but don't buy it and then complain about the price.

As for Convert to B&W Pro, yup, in its day a great piece of software, but Nik SEFX Pro just blows it out of the water in so many ways.............time to move on.

Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on February 27, 2011, 01:24:00 pm
I have been playing with it for a couple of days now (Mac, Snow Leopard) and thus far haven't experienced any issues.  Silver Efex Pro is a fantastic tool.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on February 27, 2011, 02:12:50 pm
I was just on your website. Excellent photographs.

Mark
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Robert DeCandido PhD on February 27, 2011, 09:45:35 pm
Here's a good thread - looks like PC folks are having the problems:

http://www.nikforums.com/showthread.php?321-Problems-being-reported-with-Silver-Efex-2.0

Folks are running Viveza and other NIK plug-ins with no problems on Windows machines (including version 1 of SEPro).

Wait before purchasing and keep using version one (SEPro) if on a PC.



Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on February 27, 2011, 10:00:22 pm
Here's a good thread - looks like PC folks are having the problems:

http://www.nikforums.com/showthread.php?321-Problems-being-reported-with-Silver-Efex-2.0

Folks are running Viveza and other NIK plug-ins with no problems on Windows machines (including version 1 of SEPro).

Wait before purchasing and keep using version one (SEPro) if on a PC.





I just read that thread. Assuming you are "rdcny", what it all boils down to is several people having issues, the NIK rep telling you all to send them the detailed system info they need so they can assess it and fix it, and he expressed his surprise and disappointment, saying they did have a fairly wide-spread beta testing program. Maybe you should have detailed this kind of stuff over here before advising people on the basis of very thin knowledge and experience not to buy the product. Clearly not every one on a PC is having the same problems these several folks are having, and equally clearly the same issues get blown out of proportion by the fact that a number of the same people post the same stuff to several forums, so one real complaint becomes three or four virtual complaints. I hope they manage to sort it out for you - and they most likely will - it's in their interest to have satisfied customers. I too get p.....d when stuff doesn't work and I've paid good money for it, but given the good-will and interest they're showing, in your place I'd be patient and cut them some slack.
Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: Robert DeCandido PhD on February 27, 2011, 11:12:20 pm
Mr. Segal,

I simply am advising people with PCs to wait to purchase. Where I am from that is called voting with one's feet. :)

If the plug-in does not work as advertised for whomever, add to the $99 the time it takes to solve the problem. :'(

Hopefully NIK will have a solution this week - that will make everyone happy...it is indeed in everyone's interest, including NIK. :) :)

Meanwhile I am trying to connect the dots with all available information for folks - glad you read the threads and that I am not the only one having problems with their software. Everyone now knows there is a NIK forum to post questions about SEPro, and that their technical services division knows about the issues some folks (only with PCs?) are having.

Regards from NYC,

rdc

Title: Re: Silver Efex Pro 2 announced
Post by: sniper on February 28, 2011, 02:28:27 am
We hit problems, very slow running takes minutes to load (unlike version 1.0) seems to need a lot more compure resourses that the old version, not impressed myself.