Silver Effex Pro kaput?

I don't understand why Google bought Nik Software just to give it away for free? Who does that? What is the best alternative to Silver Effex Pro?

texshooter wrote in post #18409650
I don't understand why Google bought Nik Software just to give it away for free? Who does that? What is the best alternative to Silver Effex Pro?

Why do you need an alternative, it still works dosen't it?

texshooter wrote in post #18409650
I don't understand why Google bought Nik Software just to give it away for free? Who does that? What is the best alternative to Silver Effex Pro?

I think the reasoning is Google wanted to absorb the functionality into its other (I believe mobile) product lines and was never interested in supporting desktop integration. Typical silicon valley drama: Acquire Code, Layoff Humans.

If free is the right price for you, Rawtherapee 5.2 has several tools which can convert an image to monochrome. Then there is Gimp, Gmic, darktable, other free open source software which also have b&w conversion.

So what.
Get over it and find something else.

Silver Efex Pro (and the rest if the collection) still works for me. No need to panic and find anything else just yet.

Benitoite wrote in post #18409668
I think the reasoning is Google wanted to absorb the functionality.

As I have always said, Google is the Borg. They trash anything they want and leave a path of destruction behind them. And they could care less what people think.

"You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile"

Translation:

"You have a favorite app? Tough. We'll take it over, squeeze it dry, they crap it out like unwanted waste. Deal with it."

Seriously, if you want a replacement, probably Topaz's product. ON1 is pushing their BW solution (to NIK's destruction) hard using known personalities like Matt K. However, ON1's BW solution (like just about everything else they offer), sucks. Topaz's BW conversion diddy offers lots of options, but can be a good alternative to Silver Efex.

texshooter wrote in post #18409650
I don't understand why Google bought Nik Software just to give it away for free? Who does that? What is the best alternative to Silver Effex Pro?

You are complaining about getting the Nik collection for free?

It's free, download and use for as long as you can, the collection is a great tool for the toolshed.

In under 10 years, Google and Amazon will own just about everything you do online, from shopping to searching to cloud services to cloud storage, and will be integrated in your home. Might as well acclimate. There won't be a Yahoo, Bing will be some niche player, Firefox will be gone...

There's still a Yahoo?

Yep, I had to Google it to be sure

Hen3Ry wrote in post #18409807
There's still a Yahoo?

Crikey!!! I'm still using Encyclopaedia Britannica - the hard-back version.

So why not bash NIK for selling out?

If you're on a Mac, I would suggest MacPhun. I really like their plugins.

john crossley wrote in post #18409891
Crikey!!! I'm still using Encyclopaedia Britannica - the hard-back version.

Look up Google. It says "How to Internetting"

Would love a full set of the books. But I probably need help, you know the sort of thing, "Hi my name is Alan, I am Bibliophile!" I'm constantly figthing a battle with my daughter since I refuse to dispose of any book, since reading them only once is usually not enough. I would generally rather read the book than watch a movie. I just don't have the room for them.

Alan