Silver Efex Pro

milster

milster

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Gary
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What's so good about it? I've seen pretty much universal praise for it but why is it so good? Is it just ease of use?

Had a quick play with the trial and came up with this which I quite like, not sure I'd have managed that in lightroom very easily


Black and White Bottle by the milster, on Flickr
 
What did you do in SEP to produce the image? Is that as far as you want to take it? It just looks like a grey scale conversion which if thats all you do (or very similar) in LR then it's like using a sledge hammer to knock in a nail. I don't think the image you have choosen would really show off the ability of the Nik software, try a different subject like a landscape or architecture. it's very good for street photgraphy too.

Edit,

Just had a look at you Flickr stream, the church looks pretty good, but perhaps a bit flat, try playing around with the tonal contrast this helps make it pop a bit more.
 
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I've been playing with the free trial for a couple of weeks now.

It seems to me it allows you to really focus on getting tones right and bring out depth, light and shade to make an image really look as it should be perceived, as opposed to just a straight conversion.

And, this can all be done with ease, even when used by a numpty like me.

I hope that makes sense.
 
I find I get a nicer tonal range with it, and for me a closer to "old fashioned" black and white, yes you can get results with other methods but se makes it easier IMHO.
 
I find Silver Efex Pro 2 a great tool to help me explore different ways of producing black and white images for my prints.

However, don't expect it to just do everything for you. After conversion, you may need to make further adjustments before and after sharpening for printing.

Great B/W prints start before you take the photo and include the whole process right up to the print coming out of your printer (oh, and framing/mounting is important too). I like having a tool like Silver Efex pro 2 it works for me when I need it ..but you really need to explore....:cool:
 
For me, it is a great tool that makes the conversion to B&W much better/easier than just desaturating in LR or similar. I like the texture and depth that it can add, coupled with local adjustments but I am still learning how to use it effectively.

It takes time to learn how to use it's capabilities and as James has said, if the photo isn't ever destined to be a good B&W shot then Silver Efex Pro will never make it good! It'll only bring out what is already there.
 
Mr G said:
I find Silver Efex Pro 2 a great tool to help me explore different ways of producing black and white images for my prints.

However, don't expect it to just do everything for you. After conversion, you may need to make further adjustments before and after sharpening for printing.

Great B/W prints start before you take the photo and include the whole process right up to the print coming out of your printer (oh, and framing/mounting is important too). I like having a tool like Silver Efex pro 2 it works for me when I need it ..but you really need to explore....:cool:
Click to expand...

I agree with james on the points he has made here, Silver Efex pro 2 is a great tool which enables me to get my B/W images just the way I want them but you need to start thinking in B/W before you ever press the shutter button, it helps me that I only ever shot in B/W for the first twenty years or so of starting this hobby but I think you'll find it works whatever your experience .
Regards Bob
 
Most Nik stuff can be installed on 2 machines, not 3.
 
I like using Silver Efex too, I tend to prefer b&w images to colour right now.
 
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