Nik collection

[Horoscope Fish]

Doesn't work. I tried re-installing and it tells me to close PS, even tho it isn't open, so it seems there is something in the way PS 2015 works that prevents it installing.

I suspect you're using a Mac, then? Because that's the usual fix for PC users...

The problem itself stems from the fact that the "Plugins" folder for CC 2015 is in a different location than it was for CC 2014. What you may need to do is install the NIK "Plugins" folder in the correct location for CC 2015, manually.

To see the what and how, watch this short vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNMn9U7TKs

The video shows you how to move what where based on using a PC, and I can't really tell you how to do this on a Mac (assuming you are in fact on a Mac) but hopefully you can noodle that out on your end.
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[Vixen]

Nope.....PC running Windows 7 and everything I've read on the net says the same thing...needs an upgrade by Google as it just won't run in PS 2015, but I'll look into what you are saying and try that. Hopefully you are right and it will work for me again. Thanks for the vid link


OK....you are the man!! That was too easy.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

OK....you are the man!! That was too easy.

LOL... Glad you're up and running. I knew this solution, or something close to it, *had* to be the fix you needed because I'm running NIK on CC 2015 myself. And life without NIK is just no bueno.
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[canuck257]

OK Guys, I bought it and installed it and started playing. I like it, when it works!!!

In LR 6.2, every time I try to use HDR Effects Pro 2 I get a crash warning saying that the plugin did not load. HDR does open and allows me to manipulate the picture but will not save the end result back to LR. I've tried re-installing but no joy. Any suggestions?

In Photoshop Elements 14 I cannot find where to open HDR Pro 2. Youtube shows how to open it in PS but that does not work in PSE. Ideas please?

 

[Horoscope Fish]

OK Guys, I bought it and installed it and started playing. I like it, when it works!!!

In LR 6.2, every time I try to use HDR Effects Pro 2 I get a crash warning saying that the plugin did not load. HDR does open and allows me to manipulate the picture but will not save the end result back to LR. I've tried re-installing but no joy. Any suggestions?

In Photoshop Elements 14 I cannot find where to open HDR Pro 2. Youtube shows how to open it in PS but that does not work in PSE. Ideas please?

HDR Efex Pro 2 is not compatible with Photoshop Elements because PSE doesn't support 32-bit images. For that matter I don't think it supports 16-bit images... Anyway, that's the issue there I think.

Not sure why it's bombing out in LR v6.2, though... Could be a video-card driver issue; are you drivers up to date?
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[canuck257]

HDR Efex Pro 2 is not compatible with Photoshop Elements because PSE doesn't support 32-bit images. For that matter I don't think it supports 16-bit images... Anyway, that's the issue there I think.

Not sure why it's bombing out in LR v6.2, though... Could be a video-card driver issue; are you drivers up to date?
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Thank you Paul. I guess I won't be using it in PSE but that's no big deal. I use PSE less and less in favor of LR. You are correct in assuming that the LR problem stems from a driver issue. I deselected the GPU use in HDR and that solved the issue so there was a conflict with that driver. I updated the driver and all is well.

Much as I hate to admit it, you guyse were right when you said that the NIK Collection is AWESOME:encouragement:

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Thank you Paul. I guess I won't be using it in PSE but that's no big deal. I use PSE less and less in favor of LR. You are correct in assuming that the LR problem stems from a driver issue. I deselected the GPU use in HDR and that solved the issue so there was a conflict with that driver. I updated the driver and all is well.

Awesome sauce... Glad to hear you're up and running with NIK. Looks like I'm two-for-two today!

And yeah, once you get the hang of using Control Points, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.
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[Prefrosh01]

I currently have Photoshop Elements 14 and after reading all the rave reviews on here I was thinking about adding this to it. I do not have Lightroom so would this be worth adding to Elements?

I just switched my camera to start shooting RAW and am about to dip my toes in the water of Post Processing.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

I currently have Photoshop Elements 14 and after reading all the rave reviews on here I was thinking about adding this to it. I do not have Lightroom so would this be worth adding to Elements?

I just switched my camera to start shooting RAW and am about to dip my toes in the water of Post Processing.

Well I'm going to say yes, and no to this...

Yes, because NIK Tools is simply amazing to work with.

No, because you're going to lose some degree of functionality because Elements simply doesn't have the horsepower to match what you're considering throwing at it. First off, Elements will not be able to use HDR Efex Pro, at all. Nada. Zero functionality. This is because PS Elements can not process 32-bit files (required for HDR processing in NIK). Further, Elements won't even handle the 12-bit, or 14-bit, RAW files your D7000 will produce without reducing them to 8-bit files, much like a JPG, because 8-bit is the highest bit-rate Elements will support.

Now some people will want to argue it's not worth working with RAW files in 16-bit mode but I beg to differ (see, The Benefits Of Working With 16-Bit Images In Photoshop). The whole point of shooting RAW, to my way of thinking, is to be able to leverage as much information as I can and, simply put, you won't be able to do that with Elements. It's a good place to start getting your feet wet with working with RAW files and doing post-processing, but I thought you should be aware of the limitations you face as long as you stick to PS Elements, so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.
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[Prefrosh01]

Thanks Paul!

I have been using an older version of Elements (9 or 10 I think) just to touch up photos, etc.

Amazon emailed me a promo code for 50% off the latest release (making it $50), so I ordered it, but have not opened or installed it yet. Now I am really starting to think I should send it back and either get the standalone LR or just do the CC.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Thanks Paul!

I have been using an older version of Elements (9 or 10 I think) just to touch up photos, etc.

Amazon emailed me a promo code for 1/2 half the latest release, so I ordered it, but have not opened or installed it yet. Now I am really starting to think I should send it back and either get the standalone LR or just do the CC.

I'd say it all depends on how deeply involved you intend to get with this. Elements is fine for simple edits, but it's "consumer grade" software (not that there's anything wrong with that).

If you do decide to go the Creative Cloud route, you'll have access to both Photoshop and Lightroom. Try one, try the other, try them both. The list of reasons *why* most of us end up in either Camp Lr, Camp Ps, is too long to list, but that's what we do. And having access to NIK Tools is a pretty compelling reason all by itself to enroll in one camp, or the other. Elements, and this is just my opinion, makes a somewhat less compelling arguement.
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[Prefrosh01]

That is where I am struggling...how deep do I want to go with this. Part of me says just make the jump and get the CC and start the learning process, as it would be nice to have access to both LR and PS. The other part of me (right now) says I most likely will just be making simple edits and maybe just buy the standalone version of Lightroom.

Lightroom alone is $145 - $150 and I have $50 into Elements...total investment $200.
CC for one year would be $120.

I have about one week left where I can still return the Elements disc. I know I am the only one who can ultimately make this decision, but do really appreciate the advice and suggestions that everyone has provided on the forum to help give me some direction.

Thanks in advance!