Nik's PS plug-ins have got a lot to answer for.

[Les McLean]

I thought things couldn't get any worse after seeing so many good landscape shots ruined by HDR processing, but now we have Nik's (and similar) plug-ins absolutely ruining good people shots, particularly the ubiquitous 'Glamour Glow' effect, resulting in plastic/waxy doll like faces, or the 'tonal enhancer' giving everyone grainy features resulting in 10 years added to the subjects age regardless.

So please, please, if you must use these tools, try a light touch, instead of the heavy handed big bang approach seen so often.

Nothing against the tools as such, I'm sure most of us use them, it's the application that bugs me, in the glossy mags, it's never obvious that these effects have been used, and if they have it's very subtle, and just as recognised landscape photographers avoid HDR processing, most known people photographers similarly avoid plug-ins like this, and aim for a more natural retouching.

 

[swanseamale47]

I must admit I havent tried the glamour glow, I did try niks answer to hdr but had so much trouble getting it to work at all I gave up with it and went to to photomatix.

 

[Mahoneyd187]

It's not the tools, it's the uneducated way in which they are used/abused.

HDR should die I hate it, regardless.

Retouching has always been around even in film days BUT, it's never been as noticable as it is now. I don't blame photoshop, I blame the availability of low cost, high quality digital capture.

It is a phase, and will die...hopefully

 

[lensflair]

Like anything the NIK plugins can be overdone. I really like their colour effex pro software, I never use the glamour glow but pro contrast, darken/lighten centre etc are real time savers and can be used sparingly in photoshop. There's some horrid pre sets in there but lots if very useful stuff too. Ive tried viveza and although I don't use it, its actually pretty good, again used in moderation. And silver effex pro is a great piece if black and white conversion software.

You can use Lightroom to do some pretty horrible things to images, its not software that kills photos its people

 

[jacob12_1993]

It's not the tools, it's the uneducated way in which they are used/abused.

I think this hits the nail on the head, the photo below is a real good photo and shows off just what the tools can do when used rightly, even glamour glow

http://1x.com/tutorials/23851/the-autumn-has-come

Jake

 

[Les McLean]

It's not the tools, it's the uneducated way in which they are used/abused.

Couldn't agree more

HDR should die I hate it, regardless.

It's OK I think, it's well past it's sell by date

Retouching has always been around even in film days BUT, it's never been as noticable as it is now. I don't blame photoshop, I blame the availability of low cost, high quality digital capture.

It is a phase, and will die...hopefully

I think this hits the nail on the head, the photo below is a real good photo and shows off just what the tools can do when used rightly, even glamour glow

http://1x.com/tutorials/23851/the-autumn-has-come

Jake

That's a lovely image, and it does highlight how the tools can be used creatively, plus she has used a light touch with them.

And the only reason you know that these plug-ins have been used on that image because the photographer explains her processing methods.

Thanks for showcasing that image, it's exceptionally beautiful.

 

[BarryDawsib]

Says in the manual for all these various plug ins to create a layer and alter the opacity.
Dont think people read that part! it can soften the effect to a point where it looks natural and complimentary (like the link shown) but like has been said, slap bang wallop ruined.