DxO has recently unveiled Nik Collection 8, the latest version of its editing plugin suite. Highlights include even deeper (and non-destructive) integration with Adobe Photoshop, a redesigned workflow with Silver Efex, and a new plugin access panel.
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Nik Collection 8: the plugin suite continues its journey
After a version 7 with fairly modest updates, Nik Collection 8 is meant to bring a creative resurgence. The new slogan “live in color, dream in black and white” is one of its most telling signs. We also notice a subtly redesigned logo along with more legible plugin icons. Otherwise, the list of plugins remains unchanged, including:
- Color Efex, for color correction and creative filters
- Silver Efex, for black and white image processing
- Analog Efex, for film-style rendering
- Viveza, for precise color adjustments
- HDR Efex, for HDR image processing
- Dfine, for noise reduction
- Sharpener (and PreSharpener), to enhance detail and sharpness
These plugins can be used independently; however, the French publisher emphasizes their integration into Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, or DxO PhotoLab.
New interface in Photoshop
Since version 3, the Nik Collection plugins appeared in Photoshop as a “floating” bar called the Selective Tool. A handy solution—except when it blocked part of the image or Photoshop interface.
Nik Collection 8 addresses this by introducing a new panel that integrates into Photoshop’s native sidebar. You can access your favorite plugins and recent edits more quickly, streamlining your workflow.
Importing masks from Photoshop
One of the biggest updates in Nik Collection 8 concerns masking options. The concept? Create one or more masks around different image elements in Photoshop—using AI tools, for instance—and import them directly into a Nik Collection plugin. This offers a faster and more precise way to target elements for editing.
Moreover, masks and local adjustments can be “sent” between plugins, making it easier to continue edits across different modules—without losing flexibility.
Sending layers to Photoshop
Until now, quick export from a DxO plugin was possible in JPEG or TIFF. Nik Collection 8 now adds another option: you can export your edits as layers to Photoshop in a non-destructive way.
“These layers are created as soon as you click Apply and return to Photoshop,” the publisher notes.
Nik Silver Efex: a mini revolution?
Silver Efex, the black and white plugin, likely undergoes the most change. It now offers a streamlined interface, with filters grouped on the left and adjustments on the right.
Additionally, the plugin allows you to display the original color image—even while editing in black and white. This helps you see which original colors are being affected by your adjustments.
DxO also introduces new color masks, new filter renderings, and some preset optimizations. When applying a preset, only relevant filters are activated to avoid cluttering the interface.
Last but not least, the ClearView and Selective Tone filters can now be applied locally—not to the entire image.
Nik Collection 8: pricing and availability
Nik Collection 8 by DxO is available now on the publisher’s website. It costs €159 for a new license, or €89 to upgrade from version 6 or 7. No subscription required.
A 30-day free trial is available on the DxO website.
The software is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 and macOS 14 (Sonoma). It integrates with DxO PhotoLab (from version 7), Photoshop (2024+), Photoshop Elements (2024+), Lightroom Classic (2024+), and Affinity Photo (from version 1.8). If you don’t use these programs, the plugins also function as standalone apps.
Our first impressions of Nik Collection 8
With Nik Collection 8, DxO’s mission remains unchanged: to help photographers more easily (and more quickly) achieve the results they envision. This version brings several highly relevant new features.
We especially appreciate being able to access masks created in Photoshop directly in the various plugins—and vice versa, sending edits to Photoshop as layers. Likewise, the improvements to Nik Silver Efex should make it more enjoyable to use—great news for fans of monochrome photography.
