Silver Efex Pro

Really on the fence with this software ($150) as LRC is doing pretty well for me. Have always been a fan of B&W so will Nik give me a $150 worth goodness over Lightroom. Opinions appreciated.

2cruise wrote in post #19511261
Really on the fence with this software ($150) as LRC is doing pretty well for me. Have always been a fan of B&W so will Nik give me a $150 worth goodness over Lightroom. Opinions appreciated.

I'm using an old free version of Silver Efex and it works fine. I don't know what sort of enhancements there have been since Nik was purchased by someone (DXO?), but maybe start with the free version and see if that works. That free version was still out there last year at least. Silver Efex does give me some looks I wouldn't come up with myself for certain pictures, some of the time I can just do a conversion with regular software that works as well as Silver Efex would have.

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve with whatever black and white conversion tool you are using, or plan to use. However, if you are interested in emulating black and white film photographs, you may want to give True Grain a look:

https://grubbasoftware​.com

It is $89 and it does one thing, and one thing only - convert your color images to black and white film emulations, via film emulation modules that you download (they are all included in the purchase price, you just download the ones you want).

Here is the list/sample of emulations:

https://grubbasoftware​.com/filmlibrary.html

Take a look at the website - unlike most black and white conversion tools, this application gives you control over the spectral response, including using color filtration, dynamic range, and grain characteristics of the conversion. The emulations are presets of these parameters, and the grain is pulled from scans of each film's grain. You have extensive control over these filmic characteristics.

There are no masking tools, no AI, just black and white film goodness.

It may be more what you are looking for than an app with hundreds of sliders and filters that get overwhelming.

Enjoy!

Kirk

PS - In contrast, SilverEfex is more of an image editor that emphasizes black and white conversion - The current version includes the latest implementation of DxO's U-Point masking technology, permitting you to selectively apply your effects, etc. It can get overwhelming if all you want is to emulate black and white film. DxO also makes a film emulation application, called DxO Film Pack, but that is also packed with a lot of sliders and controls that may be too much for what you are looking for. Again, take a look at True Grain - in my opinion, it produces the best conversions in an intuitive, film-centric manner, without all of the other bells and whistles.

Thanks, I am trying the free trial of Nik and I like it and will buy. I also had the free version back in the day and it has improved a bunch.

patrick j wrote in post #19513612
I'm using an old free version of Silver Efex and it works fine. I don't know what sort of enhancements there have been since Nik was purchased by someone (DXO?), but maybe start with the free version and see if that works. That free version was still out there last year at least. Silver Efex does give me some looks I wouldn't come up with myself for certain pictures, some of the time I can just do a conversion with regular software that works as well as Silver Efex would have.

kirkt wrote in post #19513617
I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve with whatever black and white conversion tool you are using, or plan to use. However, if you are interested in emulating black and white film photographs, you may want to give True Grain a look:

https://grubbasoftware​.com

It is $89 and it does one thing, and one thing only - convert your color images to black and white film emulations, via film emulation modules that you download (they are all included in the purchase price, you jus download the ones you want).

Here is the list/sample of emulations:

https://grubbasoftware​.com/filmlibrary.html

Take a look at the website - unlike most black and white conversion tools, this application gives you control over the spectral response, including using color filtration, dynamic range, and grain characteristics of the conversion. The emulations are presets of these parameters, and the grain is palled from scans of each film's grain. You have extensive control over these filmic characteristics.

There are no masking tools, no AI, just black and white film goodness.

It may be more what you are looking for than an app with hundreds of sliders and filters that get overwhelming.

Enjoy!

Kirk

PS - In contrast, SilverEfex is more of an image editor that emphasizes black and white conversion - The current version includes the latest implementation of DxO's U-Point masking technology, permitting you to selectively apply your effects, etc. It can get overwhelming if all you want is to emulate black and white film. DxO also makes a film emulation application, called DxO Film Pack, but that is also packed with a lot of sliders and controls that may be too much for what you are looking for. Again, take a look at True Grain - in my opinion, it produces the best conversions in an intuitive, film-centric manner, without all of the other bells and whistles.

kirkt wrote in post #19513617
I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve with whatever black and white conversion tool you are using, or plan to use. However, if you are interested in emulating black and white film photographs, you may want to give True Grain a look:

https://grubbasoftware​.com

It is $89 and it does one thing, and one thing only - convert your color images to black and white film emulations, via film emulation modules that you download (they are all included in the purchase price, you jus download the ones you want).

Here is the list/sample of emulations:

https://grubbasoftware​.com/filmlibrary.html

Take a look at the website - unlike most black and white conversion tools, this application gives you control over the spectral response, including using color filtration, dynamic range, and grain characteristics of the conversion. The emulations are presets of these parameters, and the grain is palled from scans of each film's grain. You have extensive control over these filmic characteristics.

There are no masking tools, no AI, just black and white film goodness.

It may be more what you are looking for than an app with hundreds of sliders and filters that get overwhelming.

Enjoy!

Kirk

PS - In contrast, SilverEfex is more of an image editor that emphasizes black and white conversion - The current version includes the latest implementation of DxO's U-Point masking technology, permitting you to selectively apply your effects, etc. It can get overwhelming if all you want is to emulate black and white film. DxO also makes a film emulation application, called DxO Film Pack, but that is also packed with a lot of sliders and controls that may be too much for what you are looking for. Again, take a look at True Grain - in my opinion, it produces the best conversions in an intuitive, film-centric manner, without all of the other bells and whistles.

Silver Efex Pro can produce some really nice stuff. I was on the fence too but I like messing around with it myself. I found a few videos that you might like. It helped me add a little punch to my B&W edits.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=dVNBOGzO29o

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=trlXHfJRpWI

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=QiEDE_GKcLA

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=fM64UsSsdj0

A couple of images I processed with DxO's Nik Silver Efex Pro