Any views on Luminar v Nik Filters?

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I've been using the free version of Nik Filters for a few years and have been thinking about buying the new version as it seems to have more options in the control points but I came across Luminar and wondered how the two compare. I could download these and give them a go but I'd still appreciate any input from people who've used newer versions of either. If they're compatible I'd be using these with CS5.

So, any users care to share their views of either?
 
I won't touch either anymore. Both companies have dubious practices when it comes to updates.

Skylum released Luminar 4, got everybody to buy it then ditched it for AI claiming that this was new software so no upgrade path. they also removed layers and charged everybody full price to switch. Now they are releasing Neo which also has no upgrade path and essentially they are just charging again to put layers back.

Dxo do at least charge an upgrade fee for Nik but the updates are pathetic. I think they have released 2 or 3 updates since they took over but there is no new functionality. All they have done is made it work with newer OS's, added a few presets and updated the user interface of not all but just one of the plugins. At the rate they are going it will be another 6 updates before the entire suite has an up to date user interface alone let alone support for M1 Macs or the latest version of PS.
 
Oh dear :D

I don't use Nik Filters a lot but for some pictures it does make processing a bit quicker for me as although most (and maybe all) can be done in CS5 Nik is much quicker and easier.

As I've used the free version of Nik for a few years and as these two seem relatively cheap (I paid £600 for CS5) I don't think the lack of an upgrade path will be a biggie for me and a few years use might be enough.

And as for companies being annoying... I did swear I'd never give Adobe another penny and I might not, the point being I think many of them are as bad as each other.

PS.
One thing that annoys me with Nik Filters is that I can't batch process pictures. Do newer versions allow batch processing? I'd like to be able to apply some basic changes to batches and then process individually as required.
 
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woof woof said:
PS.
One thing that annoys me with Nik Filters is that I can't batch process pictures. Do newer versions allow batch processing? I'd like to be able to apply some basic changes to batches and then process individually as required.
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No, it does nothing that your free version doesn't already do.
 
ecoleman said:
No, it does nothing that your free version doesn't already do.
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I think it has more actions in the control points. With the free version you can of course create control points for each thing you want to change but having one control point which enables multiple things to be changed could be an advantage as with the free version I need to select each thing to change in turn rather than doing it all with the one control point. I'll have to think about it but for the price I think it could be worth it.
 
woof woof said:
I think it has more actions in the control points.
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Not that I'm aware of, although I may be mistaken. I don't use it that much anymore. I stopped at their second update.

Actually, I think with v4 they added some new stuff to control points for Vviveza and if I'm not mistaken that is the app that they updated the UI.
People weren't very happy that they started with Viveza as most people use Nik for Color Effex and rarely use Viveza and most of that stuff can be done in a Raw editor these days.

The sharpener and noise reductions plugins are also a but pointless these days with much better software available now.
 
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ecoleman said:
Not that I'm aware of, although I may be mistaken. I don't use it that much anymore. I stopped at their second update.
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If you Google Nik Filters and click on the link you'll see a picture with a control point and multiple things to adjust. With the free version I have I only get two actions, opacity and the size of the circle for each effect, so if applying several filters/effects I have to add each in turn and apply the effect with its own control point. This may achieve the same end result but it's a longer process as each has to be added and adjusted individually. Looking at that picture on the site I assume this is easier and quicker with later versions with multiple actions possible on the same control point.
 
woof woof said:
If you Google Nik Filters and click on the link you'll see a picture with a control point and multiple things to adjust. With the free version I have I only get two actions, opacity and the size of the circle for each effect, so if applying several filters/effects I have to add each in turn and apply the effect with its own control point. This may achieve the same end result but it's a longer process as each has to be added and adjusted individually. Looking at that picture on the site I assume this is easier and quicker with later versions.
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It depends on the plugin you're using.

With Viveza you can drop a control point and then adjust things like brightness, contrast, saturation, structure, shadows etc but with Color Effex you only get size and opacity as you are simply controlling the size and opacity of the filter you applied.

I'm sure that is the way it's always been but I may be mistaken. I certainly have controls points in Viveza on my version 2.
 
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Id say try it and consider it as a one off purchase and use it as is - any future updates should be considered a bonus. Also look online for voucher codes, I saw one today for 60% off.
 
ecoleman said:
It depends on the plugin you're using.

With Viveza you can drop a control point and then adjust things like brightness, contrast, saturation, structure, shadows etc but with Color Effex you only get size and opacity as you are simply controlling the size and opacity of the filter you applied.

I'm sure that is the way it's always been but I may be mistaken. I certainly have controls points in Viveza on my version 2.
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As above I'm using the free Nik Filters and CS5.

I'm just looking for something with a few more tool and / or easier to use or maybe even an improvement. Looking at Luminar on youtube it seems to offer a lot more than the free Nik Filters I have.
 
JohnN said:
Id say try it and consider it as a one off purchase and use it as is - any future updates should be considered a bonus. Also look online for voucher codes, I saw one today for 60% off.
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Yes that's pretty much it as both of these are relatively cheap at easily under £100 so if I were to get a few years out of it that'd be fine.
 
I use Nik quite a lot.
My workflow is to convert my image's colour profile to a Linear profile created specifically for the the camera the image was taken with then hit the Auto button in Lightroom.
After a few small tweaks if needed, I then open in Nik and use the Pro Contrast filter and any other filter that I feel would be of benefit to the image.
I like that I can brush in the adjustments to specific areas instead of altering the whole image.
 
Thanks all.

After reading and looking at some more reviews on Luminar and Nik I've decided to look into some other packages. I then may buy something or just keep plugging away as I am now with CS5 and the free version of Nik.
 
I bought Luminar AI (at a massive discount, always codes knocking around) knowing full well it was a one-year thing and that it would be replaced by "new" software towards the end of the year. For £20 I have no complaints, it runs great on my MacBook Air M1 and I like experimenting with different things for random shots I take, I find I can output something I'm much happier with than Lightroom (I've developed my own presets for weddings and motorsport, but they are not great for other stuff!)

For quick single edits I prefer it to Lightroom, but it'll never replace LR for my wedding and event work (it's too slow, for a start).

As mentioned, as long as you go in knowing it'll be replaced, it's pretty decent for what it is (and usually cheap).
 
ukaskew said:
I bought Luminar AI (at a massive discount, always codes knocking around) knowing full well it was a one-year thing and that it would be replaced by "new" software towards the end of the year. For £20 I have no complaints, it runs great on my MacBook Air M1 and I like experimenting with different things for random shots I take, I find I can output something I'm much happier with than Lightroom (I've developed my own presets for weddings and motorsport, but they are not great for other stuff!)

For quick single edits I prefer it to Lightroom, but it'll never replace LR for my wedding and event work (it's too slow, for a start).

As mentioned, as long as you go in knowing it'll be replaced, it's pretty decent for what it is (and usually cheap).
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Damn you've tempted me again :D
 
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