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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Photograph Resources, Tips, Tutorials => Topic started by: Gadget on Tuesday 26 July 16 12:38 BST (UK)
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This might be of interest for those who like to experiment with images:
https://www.google.com/nikcollection/
They're free now but were around £100 last year.
I think that they're superb - well worth the price ;D :D ;D
Gadget
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I have used Nik Software for quite a few years, it amazing that it is all free now. :)
Sarah
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I have used Nik Software for quite a few years, it amazing that it is all free now. :)
Sarah
I bought mine a while ago but I have now got the free versions on 3 other machines ;D Not sure why Google decided to give it away.
I've just been sorting out my Topaz collection now that I've updated PS CC to the the 2015.5 version. It has to be re-downloaded and installed to a different folder!
Gadget
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Thanks so much for that gadget ! It works great with my adobe photoshop elements 9 ! I'm like a kid in a candy store :) , Tommy
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Good aren't they, Tommy. Silver Efex can keep me playing for hours ;D
Also, Vivaza is great for just adjusting specific areas of an image.
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Good aren't they, Tommy. Silver Efex can keep me playing for hours ;D
Also, Vivaza is great for just adjusting specific areas of an image.
I'll be using it a lot, that's for sure. It's the first time I've found a plugin that works with PSE9 too. I told Carol about it, she has PSE9 also. Thanks again. , Tommy :)
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Spelling mistake - I meant Viveza :)
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Will this program be usable for an amateur(such as I ) ?
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Does Nik work 'on its own' or does it need to be run through a program like Adobe elements (as a plug in)?
Thanks....
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Will this program be usable for an amateur(such as I ) ?
Does Nik work 'on its own' or does it need to be run through a program like Adobe elements (as a plug in)?
CW- You'll have to have appropriate image manipulation software as Nik is a plugin rather than standalone. Click on the link on my first post and scroll to the bottom to see if your software is compatible.
Carolli - it depends on your definition of amateur. You will definitely need to know how to use basic image manipulation techniques.
Gadget
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Gadget, I have an image program "Fastone Image Viewer" on which I can alter colours, sharpen, blur etc.
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I don't think the Nik plugins will work with Fastone, Carol.
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OK Gadget, I see, it is a plug-in not a program. Thanks anyway
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Thank you Gadget, I do have Adobe Elements 14, which I only use for very basic things, so I think I will be able to download and try out. I have also found a couple of videos on YouTube, which may help!
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One of the things I found difficult is reducing 'vertical stripes' in old photos. I assume they're scanner reflections of the paper grain. Sometimes the stripes are much worse in one of the channels (usually blue) so for B&W photos, find the channels with the least noise is a good idea. For colour photos, we need all channels. My usually good (Topaz) noise removal plugin has little or no effect on stripes. Fast Fourier Analysis (FFT) plugins are often recommended for reducing patterns but I've not had much luck with FFT on stripes (yet).
There are other plugins (like 'NeatImage' $40 - $50) which may be useful. But I found that one of the free Nik noise removal filters (Dfine2) did a pretty good job on stripes. You can play with the number of pixels in the filter to get the best balance between 'noise removal' and 'keeping the details'.
The Dfine2 filter reduced stripes (and other noise) but other details too. So after applying the filter, you need to restore the fine details. I use a history brush to 'paint in' the fine (unfiltered) details like facial features, sharp edges, texture of hair, flowers, dresses, collars etc.
Mike
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ACT NOW BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP!!
I read Gadget’s thread last year and put it on my mental to-do list to look further into it. Just got around to that and find that in late October the Nik Collection was sold by Google to DxO.
The upside is that the Nik Collection will no longer be an “orphan” and will have ongoing development by that company.
The downside is that the company is working toward releasing a new version in the middle of this year and, reading between the lines, the new version won’t be free.
So I would suggest anyone even vaguely interested should consider downloading the free version asap. (Even the free one now comes with strings attached. They are using it as a marketing opportunity - can’t blame them I guess - by requiring your email address to be put on their “list” before you get the download. You can unsubscribe.)
The old download button from Google’s site now redirects you to this DxO page:
https://nikcollection.dxo.com (https://nikcollection.dxo.com)
Peter
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You have to register with the new site. Then they send you a link to the old Nik download. I had to do it yesterday for my new laptop.
I also saved the original .exe file from another computer :)