Silver Efex Pro...Worth the Download?

I have Adobe Photoshop Elements, but I struggle with my black and white conversions. Is Silver Efex Pro worth the download? Would love some feedback, pros and cons, etc

Whole thread devoted to SFXP1 and SFXP2...
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1147384

My opinion, yes. It's got a large number of built in conversions which you can use as a starting point for your own conversions.
Have a look at this thread if you haven't seen it already: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1147384 Jay beat me to it
I'm pretty sure it's compatible with Elements, but you'd have to check that.
There's also online support and some tutorials etc.

Paulos75 wrote in post #14854352
My opinion, yes. It's got a large number of built in conversions which you can use as a starting point for your own conversions.
Have a look at this thread if you haven't seen it already: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1147384 Jay beat me to it
I'm pretty sure it's compatible with Elements, but you'd have to check that.
There's also online support and some tutorials etc.

Thank you Paul! I have been through that thread and the images are just phenomenal compared to anything I have converted using Elements. It just seems so pricey right now, but I think I really want it!

I tested Silver Efex Pro some years ago - and converted many images with growing enthusiasm.
And bought it very fast. For me it bings me more than my Photoshop CS 3. Less than Lightroom.

ZoneV wrote in post #14856830
I tested Silver Efex Pro some years ago - and converted many images with growing enthusiasm.
And bought it very fast. For me it bings me more than my Photoshop CS 3. Less than Lightroom.

I downloaded the trial and I am in love with it!

missjenniferrae wrote in post #14859080
I downloaded the trial and I am in love with it!

Have fun!

How is it any better than a simple manual B&W conversion through LR or similar?? I don't understand how it could be that different.... is it mainly good presets or somesuch?

EmyB wrote in post #14865169
How is it any better than a simple manual B&W conversion through LR or similar?? I don't understand how it could be that different.... is it mainly good presets or somesuch?

Because black and white is much more than just desaturating.

onona wrote in post #14865711
Because black and white is much more than just desaturating.

I really like who you can control so many different points of the photo, as well as controlling all the different colors independently!

Absolutely! Mono processing is all about the control!

onona wrote in post #14865711
Because black and white is much more than just desaturating.

I realise that. But in LR you can adjust the tone curves and the different colour channels HSL etc. So how is this different? I don't see how it gives more control?

EmyB wrote in post #14868214
I realise that. But in LR you can adjust the tone curves and the different colour channels HSL etc. So how is this different? I don't see how it gives more control?

I agree, I have been doing my own conversions in PS for a while. Tried the Silver Efex trial version. Didn't really see much of an advantage but it does have some good pre-sets.

EmyB wrote in post #14868214
I realise that. But in LR you can adjust the tone curves and the different colour channels HSL etc. So how is this different? I don't see how it gives more control?

Spare me the rolling eyes, there's was nothing impolite about my reply to you.

Silver Efex ultimately doesn't really provide you with the ability to do anything that can't be accomplished in Photoshop or Lightroom. But it does make the entire mono conversion process simpler by providing all the necessary tools in a single interface. I also find the U-point approach quicker than painting masks or fiddling with layer advanced blending. I know Photoshop like the back of my hand and it's generally my go-to software for anything image-based, but I use Silver Efex for all my mono photo stuff, because it's so much nicer to do all the work in a single UI, with all the tools right there. I also like their film stock emulation.

I think there are processing algorithms in Silver Efex that you would have a hard time duplicating in Photoshop. The structure slider is one example. Sure, it's a contrast control but it's not like any other contrast adjustment I've used. That is how I would describe the program; it does the same stuff but it does it differently.

Bob