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Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Digital Image Processing => Topic started by: mvsoske on March 25, 2013, 01:47:30 pm

Title: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mvsoske on March 25, 2013, 01:47:30 pm
I just received an email supposedly from Google letting me know as a registered Nik user, I could download the "New Nik Collection".  Anyone know if this is legit or have any other information on it?  If it is legit, it's worded that if anyone uses just one Nik product they will be giving you the entire collection for free.  Makes me nervous about the future of Nik.

Mark
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: howardm on March 25, 2013, 01:52:45 pm
They lowered the price of ALL 6 plug-ins (the entire collection) to a total of $149 so if you bought a single plug-in (probably $149),
they will give you the remainder.  I think you'll have to email support w/ the current registration # though.

It's fully legit and you can use DZISER as an additional discount code.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mvsoske on March 25, 2013, 02:00:01 pm
Thanks.  I suppose I should have gone to their website first.  Still just curious as to their direction in the future.

Mark
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: howardm on March 25, 2013, 02:10:01 pm
You and everyone else :)

They say they are committed to the product and this is their first salvo. 

From the story on Digital Photography Review Connect

"I talked to Josh Haftel, Product Manager at Google, who told me that this new bundle is all but identical to the previously available versions, with the only changes of note being an all-in-one installer, and Google branding. He also commented that Google plans to continue to develop and support Nik software’s plugins, saying:

“We definitely plan to continue developing and evolving the software. This is our first release and by bringing this under the Google brand, we hope to show our commitment not only to Nik users, but to the photography community at large.”

If you previously bought any of these plugins, Google isn’t going to leave you in the cold for already having dropped a lot of money. If you purchased any individual plugin within the last five years, you get the entire collection for free. If you spent more than $149 on plugins since February 22nd of this year, you’ll be refunded the difference."

http://connect.dpreview.com/post/4452357456/google-nik-software-plugins
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Morris Taub on March 25, 2013, 02:38:42 pm
I found this a bit hard to believe as well. Went to their site. Hit the appropriate links, and got an email with a link for a free download of all the software. I did buy SEP in 2008. Easy peazy. Installed. Working as advertised.

If there's a 'catch', I don't know. What the future holds for NIK, don't know that either.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Vladimirovich on March 25, 2013, 02:40:29 pm
what is interesting - how that will affect a competition (pricewise).
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mvsoske on March 25, 2013, 03:33:56 pm
Thanks everyone. Good to know the install worked and all is good.

Mark
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: acktdi on March 25, 2013, 06:07:15 pm
They're almost giving it away at this point.  I've been running the trial of Silver Efex and Viveza, they're great products and definitely worth $150.  I thought their complete collection price of 400+ was absurd though.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: fdisilvestro on March 25, 2013, 06:42:32 pm
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing. Funny thing is that I use gmail and their own promotional mail got into the spam folder!
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Ed B on March 25, 2013, 07:38:56 pm
I wonder if Google will take this suite and make it stand alone with their own raw converter?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Chairman Bill on March 26, 2013, 05:29:13 am
Well that was nice, & easy, in equal measure. Since moving everything to my new Mac, Silver Efex has been playing up, wanting me to enter the serial each time I use it. I'm now upgraded to Silver Efex 2 for free, and everything just works. Brilliant.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: walter.sk on March 26, 2013, 06:05:20 pm
Had all of the NIK except Sharpener.  Got my email from Google/NIK and downloaded my NIK installer and ran it.  All of the 6 programs are working.  I have a couple of questions:

1) I have the NIK software on a Windows machine with one email address, which is the one referred to above.  I also have the NIK software on a Mac laptop, and have a different email address on that, as well.  In the past I have simply gone to the NIK website and downloaded upgrades, and had no problem with them recognizing my installed version once I entered my serial numbers, which were on the NIK website under my account.  Now, I forwarded the Google/NIK email to my Mac, and it came up empty.  So, which should I do: download the Mac version of the NIK installer to a thumbdrive in my PC and then copy it to the Mac, or should I just download the Mac Trial Version from the Mac and run it?  Will it recognize that I have 5 of the 6 programs on the Mac and register the stuff the way it did on my PC?

2)  Having installed the Google/Nik set on my PC, I find that it has uninstalled or overwritten my previous versions.  However, I can find no indication, even clicking on the NIK symbol, that my software is still registered to me.  Has Google simply put that info on their website so that it will be done automatically when they offer upgrades>
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: fdisilvestro on March 26, 2013, 07:19:21 pm
Hi,

1) Two things to try:

a) In the mail, could you right click on the "MAC" button and select "Copy link Address"? Then paste it to a text message that you can send to your Mac and try it there.

or

b) At the bottom of the mail there should be a link to "To view this email as a web page, click here". Open the page, copy the URL and send it to your Mac.

2) No clue about how Google handles the registration

Regards,

Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mefnj on March 26, 2013, 11:30:57 pm
2)  Having installed the Google/Nik set on my PC, I find that it has uninstalled or overwritten my previous versions.  However, I can find no indication, even clicking on the NIK symbol, that my software is still registered to me.  Has Google simply put that info on their website so that it will be done automatically when they offer upgrades>

this is rather troubling... all the posts over here https://plus.google.com/112991908363536599988/posts/dwJAcwuphTa (https://plus.google.com/112991908363536599988/posts/dwJAcwuphTa) seem to say that the Google NIK Collection wil NOT overwrite your previous versions and you can still use them as is... i use Color Efex Pro 4 and both versions of HDR Efex Pro as standalone programs (i don't have or use PS or LR) on my Win 7 machine and would really not want to lose that capability due to installing the Nik Collection. 

any further experience??
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mefnj on March 27, 2013, 12:04:29 am
this is rather troubling... all the posts over here https://plus.google.com/112991908363536599988/posts/dwJAcwuphTa (https://plus.google.com/112991908363536599988/posts/dwJAcwuphTa) seem to say that the Google NIK Collection wil NOT overwrite your previous versions and you can still use them as is... i use Color Efex Pro 4 and both versions of HDR Efex Pro as standalone programs (i don't have or use PS or LR) on my Win 7 machine and would really not want to lose that capability due to installing the Nik Collection. 

any further experience??

UPDATE:  I asked the question to the people moderating the discussion linked to above, and i got this response back

"The Nik Collection contains all of the Nik plug-ins. The installer will replace the old Nik Software versions of Color Efex Pro 4, HDR Efex Pro 2, Silver Efex Pro 2, Viveza 2, Sharpener Pro 3, and Dfine 2. It will leave older products alone, like Color Efex Pro 3, Silver Efex Pro 1, HDR Efex Pro 1, etc. You really don't want two copies of the same product on your system :)"

so... i guess what happened was supposed to happen when you installed the Nik Collection

i'm still wondering about the use of the pieces as standalone instead of plugins...
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Petrus on March 27, 2013, 12:37:39 am
I downloaded the trial version, tested it, and bought the package. Came to $129 with the discount code mentioned in the second post of this thread. Looks like are real steal deal to me. No doubt that a true PS wizard could do the same things by manipulating PS controls and layers manually, but we only have a certain amount of time in this life...
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: tived on March 27, 2013, 01:13:03 am
is this offer for one or two seats? (installs)

Henrik

EDIT: Looked under help and it says install on two computers!!! FYI
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: walter.sk on March 27, 2013, 11:39:57 am
...In the mail, could you right click on the "MAC" button and select "Copy link Address"? Then paste it to a text message that you can send to your Mac and try it there.
or
...At the bottom of the mail there should be a link to "To view this email as a web page, click here". Open the page, copy the URL and send it to your Mac.
I downloaded the Mac version to a thumb drive on my PC and ran it on the Mac from the thumb drive.  No problem.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Misirlou on March 27, 2013, 12:52:00 pm
It's fully legit and you can use DZISER as an additional discount code.

I used that code, and bought the bundle for $126. Excellent.

Just curious - where did that code come from originally?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Baxter on March 27, 2013, 01:08:25 pm
Does anyone know a way to prompt them to send the email with the link to download the whole suite for existing customers?

I bought Silver Efex Pro, then upgraded it to Version 2, but have had no sign of the email they said they would send. Having been on to what was the Nik software website, I see it's been rebranded and the contact support and login sections are no longer visible.

Does anyone know whether in the installation of the whole suite, saved presets are retained? It's taken me a while to refine the looks I like for presets and am keen that this facility is retained.

Many thanks

Baxter
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: hokuahi on March 27, 2013, 01:17:09 pm
I installed it on both of my Macs, desktop, and laptop, without any problem. No presets were destroyed or changed. Looking at my plug-ins menu I saw the Nik Collection which I had just installed, and the previous versions of my Nik plug-ins listed separately as they had been. I didn't want both so I found the old versions in the PS Plugin folder and just deleted them.

No problems.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mefnj on March 27, 2013, 07:27:24 pm
UPDATE:  I asked the question to the people moderating the discussion linked to above, and i got this response back

"The Nik Collection contains all of the Nik plug-ins. The installer will replace the old Nik Software versions of Color Efex Pro 4, HDR Efex Pro 2, Silver Efex Pro 2, Viveza 2, Sharpener Pro 3, and Dfine 2. It will leave older products alone, like Color Efex Pro 3, Silver Efex Pro 1, HDR Efex Pro 1, etc. You really don't want two copies of the same product on your system :)"

so... i guess what happened was supposed to happen when you installed the Nik Collection

i'm still wondering about the use of the pieces as standalone instead of plugins...

UPDATE 2: I installed the Nik Collection.  It did overwrite my existing HDR Efex Pro 2 and Color Efex Pro 4, but all my customs were intact.  AND all the components will run as 32-bit standalone programs by simply dragging the image you want to edit onto a desktop shortcut icon for a component .exe.  YESSSS!!!

Hope everyone else has similar good experience.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: louoates on March 27, 2013, 09:06:46 pm
Sure is legit. I downloaded the update last night and it works beautifully although I've used only a few features so far. Looks about the same in all the neat functions. I love the whole suite, especially the output sharpener.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 27, 2013, 10:38:33 pm
... Funny thing is that I use gmail and their own promotional mail got into the spam folder!

For years I thought Windows is the worst product on this planet. In 2005, I switched when I realized that my day starts not with my computer serving my needs, but me serving the computer: download and install latest virus definitions, check for malware, etc.

Now my day starts with checking what Gmail erroneously sent to the spam folder. Without exception, 99% of my Linked In communication is already there (one way for Google to deal with the competition, I guess). And, as you noticed, Google's own product ended up in their spam folder too. How ironic.

I simply stopped using Gmail for anything serious and important.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Alan Klein on March 28, 2013, 11:40:31 am
The coupon when used to purchase says: David Ziser Promo (Excludes 3rd party products & specials).
What does that mean?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Petrus on March 28, 2013, 01:52:54 pm
The coupon when used to purchase says: David Ziser Promo (Excludes 3rd party products & specials).
What does that mean?

Apparently this David Ziser guy is a photography blogger of some sort and has a promotional deal with Google/Nik. It works, who cares. Or did I sell my soul?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: mvsoske on March 28, 2013, 02:37:53 pm
David Ziser is a well-known (to those in the business) wedding photographer that does a great deal of teaching, seminars, etc.  http://www.davidziser.com/, and most likely has been a spokesperson for NIK.

http://www.davidziser.com/

Mark
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Alan Klein on March 28, 2013, 03:42:22 pm
What does (Excludes 3rd party products & specials) mean?  How does it effect the product I'm buying?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: howardm on March 28, 2013, 04:39:10 pm
It doesn't.

There are LOTS of NIK discount coupons running around the net.  Even NIK knew the product was overpriced and many photographers who did seminars or webinars etc that 'pushed' NIK products would give a coupon code to give 15% off.

Jason Odell (code:  JODELL) is another.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Misirlou on March 28, 2013, 06:18:16 pm
Let's all drink a toast to David Ziser the next time we have cocktails with fellow photo geeks. Or Jason Odell, if you prefer.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: David Eckels on March 28, 2013, 07:45:14 pm
Why would you take advantage of this "upgrade" if you already have the Complete Collection (bought last Fall)?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: louoates on March 28, 2013, 08:39:31 pm
Why would you take advantage of this "upgrade" if you already have the Complete Collection (bought last Fall)?

I thought the same thing but there are differences in the underlying program structure. And since it's a free update that turned out to be very quick and problem-free, I'm glad I downloaded and installed it.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Dennishh on March 28, 2013, 09:52:21 pm
I just called the telephone number from support and gave them my name and e-mail. They sent a link to download all the filters free because I own Color efx pro 4.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: JeffKohn on March 28, 2013, 10:44:18 pm
Why would you take advantage of this "upgrade" if you already have the Complete Collection (bought last Fall)?
Because going forward, the "Nik Collection by Google" may be the only way to get updates and upgrades. And it's free.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Alan Klein on March 28, 2013, 11:28:55 pm
Jeff:  You have a wonderful portfolio.  Nice eye for composition color and inspirational pictures.   Your family shots with you on vacation are terrific.  You seem to have a patient and helpful wife. Your B/W's are very good.  Were you using NIK Special Efex or something else?  How do you get the sky black?  Alan.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: JeffKohn on March 29, 2013, 10:41:22 am
Jeff:  You have a wonderful portfolio.  Nice eye for composition color and inspirational pictures.   Your family shots with you on vacation are terrific.  You seem to have a patient and helpful wife. Your B/W's are very good.  Were you using NIK Special Efex or something else?  How do you get the sky black?  Alan.
Thanks for the kind words, Alan. I've been using Silver Efex Pro for my B/W conversions since it first came out. Hated to spend that much on a plugin at the time, but for the use I've gotten out of it, it was well worth it.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Alan Klein on March 29, 2013, 11:30:45 am
When making a black sky, do you find it gets grainy looking if you darken too much?  Your shots seem to not have that but it could be ahrd to tell because it's small picture. Do you see the graininess when you enlarge?  Do you use the "red" filter in Speial Efex or just  the "blue" slider?
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: PhotoEcosse on March 29, 2013, 06:18:53 pm
I just received an email supposedly from Google letting me know as a registered Nik user, I could download the "New Nik Collection".  Anyone know if this is legit or have any other information on it?  If it is legit, it's worded that if anyone uses just one Nik product they will be giving you the entire collection for free.  Makes me nervous about the future of Nik.

Mark

At last - a piece of ethical marketing by a software company.

Well done Google/Nik.

Let's hope Adobe take note and rein-in their odious money-grabbing practices.

I was delighted to receive that e-mail from Google, which allowed me to move up from the Silver Efex/HDR Efex/Color(sic)Efex trilogy that I had purchased some time ago and obtain the full suite free of charge.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: JeffKohn on March 29, 2013, 10:59:50 pm
When making a black sky, do you find it gets grainy looking if you darken too much?  Your shots seem to not have that but it could be ahrd to tell because it's small picture. Do you see the graininess when you enlarge?  Do you use the "red" filter in Speial Efex or just  the "blue" slider?
The deeper the blue in the sky to start with, the easier it is to darken during conversion. Polarizing filters can help. I use a mix of the color filter and the individual color sliders. You might see some grain at 100% on screen, but it doesn't show on prints. (In fact I often add grain to large prints, IMHO it looks better than the smooth, plastic look of a grain-free digital enlargement).
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 30, 2013, 01:37:53 am
At last - a piece of ethical marketing by a software company...

Sounds more like a fire sale to me.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Garnick on March 30, 2013, 09:52:23 am
This may sound like a bit of paranoia on my part, but I am somewhat skeptical of the intent and/or possible ramifications of this offer from Google.  I usually read all of the terms of use etc included with the installation of any software package.  I have indeed downloaded the "free" NIK/Google collection, having been a registered user for many years.  However, after reading the "Terms of Service" I have some minor reservations about the install.  Google refers to this software as a "Service" and there are several items in the "Terms" that I find questionable and perhaps troublesome.  Therefore, I'm going to refrain from installing until I've had more time to completely digest the information in the "Terms of Service".  One of the sentences related to downloadable software is as follows - "You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of our Services or included software, nor may you reverse engineer or attempt to extract the source code of that software, unless laws prohibit those restrictions or you have our written permission".  I have no issue with most of that statement, except for the reference to "copying".  Generally the first thing I do after downloading any software is to make several backups of the installation package.  In this case, three backups on three separate drives, plus a DVD.  I take NO chances on losing downloaded software.  My concern is how Google would know if I have copied the install package of the NIK/Google Collection.  In my opinion that information can only be made available to Google through a thorough scan of my computer, and that is a very disturbing possibility to consider.  And of course there's also the fact that at any time Google can make the "Service"(software) unusable on any computer, according to the "Terms".  I may be way out in left field on this, but I'll exercise caution at this point and keep an eye on this thread until I'm satisfied that no one else harbors such concerns.

Gary

P.S. One of my favourite quips - "Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't out to get me" 
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: Paris1968 on March 30, 2013, 10:17:06 am
The discount code RONMART also drops the price to $126.00.
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: LoisWakeman on April 02, 2013, 11:52:11 am
Does anyone know a way to prompt them to send the email with the link to download the whole suite for existing customers?
Go to the Nik support/help pages at http://support.google.com/nikcollection/#topic=3039620, and send details including a serial number and they will email you a link back that downloads a registered rather than a trial copy - mine came in about 30 seconds!
Title: Re: Nik Collection by Google
Post by: plugsnpixels on April 28, 2013, 02:54:02 pm
what is interesting - how that will affect a competition (pricewise).

An interesting question, yes! There are a couple of other plug-in suites that come to mind from onOne (http://www.plugsandpixels.com/ononesuite.html) and Topaz (http://www.plugsandpixels.com/topazsuite.html). Also AKVIS.

Nik/Google offers (6) plug-ins for $150 (discount available); onOne (7) for $200 (occasional discount available); Topaz (10) for $300 (15% discount available) and AKVIS (18) for $468 and up.

You'd have to line them up and make a comparison chart to be exactly sure but there is some overlap and some uniqueness among the sets.

I was surprised to see Google actually not only re-release the Nik plug-ins but charge for them (albeit a much lower price). I understand they weren't really updated, just rebranded, which raises a bit of a red flag (this would have been a great opportunity to kick them up a notch). They promise further development, but one has to wait to see. Between the future uncertainty due to the nature of Google and the questionable TOS, I wouldn't fully trust them.