Five Nik Software workflow scenario’s are being compared here. Color Efex Pro 4 (CEP4) is used as an example of Nik Software in these scenario’s, but any other Nik Software plug-in would do equally well. It’s being used in combination with Lightroom (LR4), Photoshop (PS) and Capture NX2 (CNX2). So the 5 scenario’s are:
- Lightroom 4 + Color Efex Pro 4
- Photoshop + Color Efex Pro 4 (with and without Smart Objects)
- Lightroom 4 + Photoshop + Color Efex Pro 4
- Capture NX 2 + Color Efex Pro 3
- Capture NX 2 + Color Efex Pro 4
What are the steps you have to take to import and modify an image? What is the impact on the image file(s)? What are the pro’s and con’s? Scenario’s 4 and 5 are only applicable if you’re using Nikon RAW images (.NEF). So, let’s have a look…
| Lightroom 4 + Color Efex Pro 4 | |
|---|---|
| Import | Import your RAW image(s) using LR4's Import button (found in the Library module). This will transfer the RAW image(s) from your camera to the designated folder on your computer. LR4 offers many options to specify how and where you want the files to be stored. |
| Basic adjustments | LR4 will do the RAW conversion for you automatically. There's no separate Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) screen. Optionally you can do your basic adjustments in LR4. Things like cropping, spot removal, colour/contrast/brightness adjustments, etc. can all be perfectly done in LR4. It keeps track of all the adjustments you've applied in a so-called "sidecar" file. It's a small seperate file with the original filename, but with a .XMP extension. The next time you open the .NEF image in LR4 (or any other Adobe product) again, it will notice the .XMP file and apply the changes automatically. |
| Activate CEP4 | In LR4 go to /Photo/Edit In/Color Efex Pro 4. Since we're working with a proprietary RAW format (.NEF) here, before CEP4 starts you will be asked to "Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments". Other options are grayed out. It will create a copy of the image (with LR4 adjustments, if any) in a format LR4 and CEP4 can handle. Most of the time this is .TIF. |
| Modifications in CEP4 | Once you're in CEP4, apply all the filters you want and make as many adjustments as you like. Until you're satisfied and happy with the result. |
| Save changes in CEP4 | When done, press the Save button CEP4. Modified image will be stored as a .TIF file. It will have the original filename with a "-Edit" suffix and a .TIF extension. |
| Pro's | The big benefit of using LR4 to import images is that separate thumbnails of those images are stored in LR4’s catalogue. This allows you to easily browse your entire image collection. It also enables you to specify keywords for each photo which allows you to find exactly those images you’re looking for. Another advantage is that the changes you’ve made in LR4 to the original .NEF file, are kept in a separate "sidecar" file. When you re-open the original .NEF file in LR4 again, you’ll see what your changes were and, if needed, you can re-adjust them. |
| Con's | Besides the LR4 catalogue which contains thumbnails of all your images, you also have 3 images (.NEF, .XMP, .TIF) that you have to synchronize. Develop a naming convention to keep track of the different files and also decide in which folders you store them. Another disadvantage is that you cannot keep track of your modifications in CEP4. After you have saved your changes in the .TIF file and you re-open the file later because you want to adjust some of the changes, you’ll notice that your original changes are not stored in the .TIF file. The end result is saved, but all the separate changes you've made are no longer visible. |
| Photoshop + Color Efex Pro 4 (without using PS' Smart Objects) | |
|---|---|
| Import | Import image from camera to computer with PS. You can do this either through /File/Import/WIA Support or through /File/Browse in Bridge (and in Bridge /File/Get Photos from Camera). Whatever you prefer to import your images. PS' import options are very basic. Bridge offers much more options, eg. keywords, similar to LR4. Result is that the .NEF files are written to disk. |
| Basic adjustments in ACR | After importing and before opening the .NEF RAW image in PS, Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) is started first automatically to do the RAW conversion. It allows you to make basic adjustments to white balance, exposure, colour, contrast, brightness, etc. If you want, you can store these adjustments in a sidecar file. In ACR's Basic menu, select "Export Settings to XMP". When done, press the "Open Image" button to open it in PS. |
| Optional modification in PS | Optionally, further modifications can be made in PS. Replacing specific pieces of the photo is an area where PS really shines. In many cases this is not needed however. It really doesn't matter much if the image is changed in PS or not. Let's continue with the next step and start CEP4. |
| Activate CEP4 | In PS, go to /Filter/Nik Software/Color Efex Pro 4. |
| Modifications in CEP4 | Once you're in CEP4, apply all the filters you want and make as many adjustments as you like. Until you're satisfied and happy with the result. |
| End CEP4 and go back to PS | When done in CEP4, you'll notice there is no Save button as there is when CEP4 is being used in combination with LR4. Instead you see 2 buttons: Cancel and OK. The first one will ignore all CEP4 image adjustments you have made and takes you back to PS. The latter (OK) will also take you back to PS, but will preserve your CEP4 image adjustments. So depending on whether you're pleased with the CEP4 result and want to keep it or not, you press Cancel or OK. |
| Save file in PS | In PS go to /File/Save as to save the file. You can save it in various formats. .JPG and .TIF are most common. |
| Pro's | Although not as user friendly as LR4 perhaps, PS’ Bridge component gives similar benefits when it comes to browsing and searching your photo catalogue. Just as in LR4, changes you make to your original image file (= .NEF) can be stored in a sidecar file (= .XMP) so that you can very easily adjust changes you’ve applied earlier. Sidecar files make the work that you do on the original RAW images non-destructive, as far as PS is concerned. Another unique feature of the PS and CEP4 combination is the Brush option in CEP4. You don’t have this with LR4 + CEP4. It’s a button in CEP4 that takes you back to PS and allows you to selectively apply a certain CEP4 effect to your photo using PS’ brush tool. One of the disadvantages of using CEP4 in combination with LR4 was you could not record your changes in CEP4. In combination with PS, you can. Read the next section to understand how this works. |
| Con's | You have at least 3 files(.NEF, .XMP, .TIF) to manage and to synchronize. More changes easily lead to more .TIF files to manage, because you don’t want to overwrite the original each time. This requires a strict file naming convention and also good storage management. Sidecar files may make ACR and PS non-desctructive, this does not apply to the image adjustments you make in CEP4. These adjustments are not stored anywhere and changes to the files, once saved, are irreversable. This makes CEP4, in this scenario at least, therefore destructive. |
| Photoshop + Color Efex Pro 4 (with the use of PS' Smart Objects) | |
|---|---|
| Import | Import image from camera to computer with PS. You can do this either through /File/Import/WIA Support or through /File/Browse in Bridge (and in Bridge /File/Get Photos from Camera). Whatever you prefer to import your images. PS' import options are very basic. Bridge offers much more options, eg. keywords, similar to LR4. Result is that the .NEF files are written to disk. |
| Basic adjustments in ACR | After importing and before opening the .NEF RAW image in PS, Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) is started first automatically to do the RAW conversion. It allows you to make basic adjustments to white balance, exposure, colour, contrast, brightness, etc. If you want, you can store these adjustments in a sidecar file. In ACR's Basic menu, select "Export Settings to XMP". When done, press the "Open Image" button to open it in PS. |
| Convert layer to Smart Object | After the RAW conversion is done by ACR, as in the previous step, and the image is opened in PS, it has 1 layer. Normally this is called "Background". Now we are going to turn image into a Smart Object by going to "/Layer/Smart Objects/Convert to Smart Object". You'll notice a small icon to be inserted in the right-hand bottom corner of the layer image. The name of the layer now has changed into "Layer 0". |
| Optional modification in PS | Optionally, you can still make modifications in PS to the image if you so desire. Let's continue with the next step and start CEP4. |
| Activate CEP4 | In PS, go to /Filter/Nik Software/Color Efex Pro 4. |
| Modifications in CEP4 | Once you're in CEP4, apply all the filters you want and make as many adjustments as you like. Until you're satisfied and happy with the result. |
| End CEP4 and go back to PS | When done in CEP4, you'll notice that the "Brush" button that was there in the previous scenario, has disappeared. A selective brush is not possible when using Smart Objects. Press the OK button if you want to preserve your CEP4 image adjustments and go back to PS. Otherwise press "Cancel". |
| Smart Filters sub-layer in PS | Back in PS, you'll probably notice that "Layer 0" now all of a sudden contains 2 sub-layers: "Smart Filters" and "Color Efex Pro 4". The latter contains all CEP4 adjustments. So if you want to re-edit the image in CEP4 again, just double click on layer "Color Efex Pro 4" and it will take you back to CEP4 and will show you all previous adjustments on the right-hand side. This way it's no longer necessary to start from scratch with CEP4 as it was in the previous scenario when you want to re-edit. |
| Save file in PS | In PS go to "/File/Save as" to save the file. You can save it in various formats. Select a format that supports layers to be stored. This leaves .PSD and .TIF as possible candidates. .TIF is most common. |
| Pro's | The advantage is pretty obvious. PS' Smart Objects feature allows you to record and keep track of your CEP4 adjustments. The use of sidecar files and Smart Objects makes this scenario fully non-destructive. |
| Con's | You have at least 3 files(.NEF, .XMP, .TIF) to manage and to synchronize. More changes easily lead to more .TIF files to manage, because you don’t want to overwrite the original image. This requires a strict file naming convention and also good storage management. File size of .TIF files using Smart Objects becomes really huge. More than 100MB is really no exception. Working with Smart Objects disables CEP4’s Brush feature. |
| Lightroom 4 + Photoshop + Color Efex Pro 4 | |
|---|---|
| Import | Import your RAW image(s) using LR4's Import button (found in the Library module). This will transfer the RAW image(s) from your camera to the designated folder on your computer. LR4 offers many options to specify how and where you want the files to be stored. |
| Optional basic adjustments in LR4 | If so desired, basic photographic adjustments can be applied in LR4. These modifications are recorded in LR4 and can also be stored in a sidecar/.XMP file. |
| Open as Smart Object | The concept of Smart Objects is foreign to LR4, but it can open the (adjusted) image as a Smart Object in PS. To do so, go to "/Photo/Edit In/Open as Smart Object in Photoshop". This will activate PS where the image will be opened. |
| Optional modification in PS | In PS notice that the layer (with the image name) icon indicates it's a Smart Object. Additional adjustments to the image can be made here in PS. For instance, things that are hard or impossible to do in LR4, eg. graphical manipulation, can be done here. Next start CEP4. |
| Activate CEP4 | In PS, go to /Filter/Nik Software/Color Efex Pro 4. |
| Modifications in CEP4 | Once you're in CEP4, apply all the filters you want and make as many adjustments as you like. Until you're satisfied and happy with the result. |
| End CEP4 and go back to PS | When done in CEP4 and about to go back to PS, you'll see only the 2 buttons: "Cancel" and "OK". Since we're working with Smart Objects, the "Brush" option is not possible and hence the button has been removed. Press the OK button if you want to preserve your CEP4 image adjustments and go back to PS. |
| Smart Filters sub-layer in PS | Back in PS, you'll notice the 2 sub-layers: "Smart Filters" and "Color Efex Pro 4" that we also saw in the previous scenario. The latter contains all CEP4 adjustments. So if you want to re-edit the image in CEP4 again, just double click on layer "Color Efex Pro 4" and it will take you back to CEP4 and will show you all previous adjustments on the right-hand side. |
| Save file in PS | In PS go to "/File/Save as" to save the file. You can save it in various formats. Select a format that supports layers to be stored. This leaves .PSD and .TIF as possible candidates. .TIF is most common. |
| Pro's | Probably the best of both worlds: easy import and browsing/searching capabilities of LR4 with adjustments being preserved, while at the same time CEP4 changes are being recorded by using Smart Filters. |
| Con's | You have at least 3 files(.NEF, .XMP, .TIF) to manage and to synchronize. More changes easily lead to more .TIF files to manage, because you don’t want to overwrite the original image. This requires a strict file naming convention and also good storage management. Another possible issue to keep in mind that you have 3 software programs (LR4, PS, CEP4) active at once. Make sure your computer memory capacity is capable of handling this. The combination might require to install more memory in your system. File size of .TIF files using Smart Objects becomes really huge. More than 100MB is really no exception. Working with Smart Objects disables CEP4’s Brush feature. |
For the scenario below CNX 2.3.0, CEP 3.004 and a Windows 64-bit operating system were used.
| Capture NX 2 + Color Efex Pro 3 | |
|---|---|
| Import | Images are imported from the camera by a program called "Nikon Transfer". It can be activated from CNX2 by going to "/File/Launch Nikon Transfer". It provides similar importing features as LR4 does. When all images are transferred, "Nikon Transfer" can be closed ("/File/Exit") which puts you back in CNX2. |
| Open .NEF file in CNX2 | Use the "Folders" frame in CNX2 to navigate to the location where the images are stored. Open the "Browser" frame to see the images in the selected folder. Double click on the image you want to open. CNX2 will do to RAW conversion for you automatically. |
| Adjustments in CNX2 & CEP3 | CEP3 is fully integrated with CNX2. No need to activate it separately. This also means that all adjustmens, being standard CNX2 adjustments (eg. "Levels & Curves") or CEP3 adjustments (eg. "Pro Contrast"), can be fully mixed. They appear on CNX2's right-hand side in the "Adjust" frame. To select one of the CEP3 filters in CNX2 simply go to "/Filter/Color Efex Pro 3.0: Stylizing" for 21 filters or "/Filter/Color Efex Pro 3.0: Traditional" for another set of 31 filters you can apply. You can apply as much CEP3 filters as you like and hussle them with your other CNX2 adjustments. They will all neatly show up in CNX2's "Adjust" frame. |
| Save your work in CNX2 | When done, save your work in CNX2 by going to "/File/Save". All changes are stored in the original .NEF file while the original settings are being preserved. You can even give each set of adjustments its own version name, eg. "Black & White", with the corresponding B&W conversion adjustments. All in the same .NEF file. |
| Pro's | By far the simplest workflow of all. Just one single program (CNX2) and one single .NEF file to contain all CNX2 and CEP3 adjustments! Even with the possibility to keep different versions of adjustments separated in this single .NEF file. This allows you to go back to this file and re-edit the adjustments you made earlier or add a totally new version of adjustments. It just doesn’t get any easier than this... As of CNX 2.3 and CEP 3.004 64-bit operating systems are fully supported. CNX2 also offers the best RAW conversion available (although LR4's RAW conversion is more than adequate these days and comparable). |
| Con's | This type of integration only works with CEP3. Not with CEP4 or any of the other Nik Software products. CEP3 is end of life. It’s not available for download anymore on Nik’s (now Google's) website. Many of the CEP4 filters have more parameters and are therefore more powerful than their equivalents in CEP3. The concept of filter presets that was introduced in CEP4 is not available in CEP3. The future of CNX2 is unclear. Apparently, the CNX2 software was not part of Google's acquisition of Nik Software, so it's not clear who holds the intellectual property rights to this software right now. Nikon is silent about upcoming releases, if any. |
| Capture NX 2 + Color Efex Pro 4 | |
|---|---|
| Import | Images are imported from the camera by a program called "Nikon Transfer". It can be launched from CNX2 by going to "/File/Launch Nikon Transfer". It provides similar importing features as LR4 does. When all images are transferred, "Nikon Transfer" can be closed ("/File/Exit") which puts you back in CNX2. |
| Open .NEF file in CNX2 | Use the "Folders" frame in CNX2 to navigate to the location where the images are stored. Open the "Browser" frame to see the images in the selected folder. Double click on the image you want to open. CNX2 will do to RAW conversion for you automatically. |
| Basic editing in CNX2 | The basic photo editing can be done in CNX2. Things like cropping, spot removal, brightness/contrast/colour adjustments, white balance correction, etc. is no problem in CNX2. All changes to the .NEF file are recorded and displayed in the "Adjust" frame on the right-hand side. |
| Activate CEP4 | CEP4 is not integrated in CNX2 as CEP3 is (described in previous workflow). Instead, CNX2 allows you to use 1 (and this means only 1) external editor. Go to "/File/Open With ..." to launch the external editor. In this case we'll use CEP4, but it can be any Nik Software product. Or any other editor for that matter. You need to specify (only once) which editor is going to be used. Do this by going to "/Edit/Preferences/General". Specify the path to CEP4 where it says "Open With Application:". |
| Do photo editing in CEP4 | Once you're in CEP4, apply all the filters you want and make as many adjustments as you like. Until you're satisfied and happy with the result. There are 2 buttons to end your CEP4 session: "Cancel" and "Save". Both put you back in CNX2. The first button will ignore the changes, the second one ("Save") will preserve your changes and stores them in a .TIF file. |
| Save your work in CNX2 | Back in CNX2, save your CNX2 adjustments by going to "/File/Save" (or Ctrl-S). All the changes you've made in CNX2 (not the ones in CEP4) are stored in the original .NEF file while the original settings are being preserved. You can even give each set of adjustments its own version name, eg. "Black & White", with the corresponding B&W conversion adjustments. All in the same .NEF file. |
| Pro's | All your CNX2 adjustments are stored in one single .NEF file. You can even specify multiple versions of your different set of changes. Basic editing in CNX2 can be done using Nik’s U-Point technology. RAW conversion done in CNX2 which probably is the best for .NEF format. Working with CEP4 gives you the benefit of improved filters and filter presets. |
| Con's | CEP4 changes are not stored in the .NEF file. CEP4 will automatically create a .TIF file when the image is saved. This requires a strict file management policy. No “real” integration between CNX2 and CEP4, like there is with CEP3. As a result, the CEP4 modifications to the image are not recorded anywhere. When you want to re-edit an image, you have to start all the way from scratch again. |
Overall conclusion:
So, after this extensive research, can we say which workflow is best? I’m afraid it’s not as easy as that. It depends to a large extent to what you expect from a workflow. What is crucial to you, what is important to you and what would be nice to have for you? And what do your computer hardware and wallet allow you to do?
RAW conversion is essential. The used products may have as many features as you like, but that’s all irrelevant if the image you have to work with loses quality during the conversion process. In the above scenario’s CNX2, LR4 and ACR will convert the RAW image for you. Based on personal experience in the past (with Lightroom 2) CNX2 delivered noticeably better results, but today I could not detect any significant better performance. It’s safe to say, all 3 perform equally well when it comes to RAW conversion.
For me personally, being able to work in a non-destructive fashion is crucial. This means that scenario’s CNX2+CEP3, LR4+PS+CEP4 and PS+CEP4 are the only valid options. Since LR4 allows me to import my images, browse them in a catalogue and do my basic editing all from 1 product, makes me remove the PS+CEP4 combination from my list. That leaves me with the CNX2+CEP3 and LR4+PS+CEP4 workflow scenario’s.
From these two, from a feature/function perspective, the latter definitely has my preference. Once you have worked with CEP4, you’re hooked. Going back to CEP3 is not an option anymore, I’m afraid. The huge .TIF file sizes is something I have to take for granted, I guess.
This makes the simplest and most straightforward workflow scenario, CNX2+CEP3, my runner-up. It works well at the moment, but the question is for how long. CEP3 is obsolete and lacks the filter improvements of CEP4. The future of CNX2 is hazy, to say the least.
All of this to say that, if only whatever company (apparently not Google) would pick-up the CNX2 product and make it work with the Nik Software (Google) suite of products like CEP3 currently does, it would absolutely be a killer app. 100% non-destructive, excellent RAW conversion and the easiest workflow of all. If only…
Dear Reinier,
I am a happy user of Capture NX2, in combo with Color Efex Pro 3. Recently Google has sent me a download for the whole Nik Collection free of charge, which I was/am very happy with.
I have never got used to Lightroom in general, however, with the LR5 Beta release T gave myself another opportunity to try, especially since I have the Nik Collection which is easier to use with LR. Meanwhile I have downloaded the Lightroom 5 newly released as a trial, and find out I have not been touching Capture NX2 lately at all. I should say that I am quite impressed with LR5, especially the way it renders sharpness and noise reduction, recovery of dynamic range. Seems to me that the noise reduction in Lightroom works better than in Capture NX2, again seems (haven’t really pixel peep yet). I like the noise reduction so much, I have barely used Dfine (as well as Nik Sharpner). Just really impressed.
I do like the u-point technology of Capture NX2 much better, as well as the ability to use very selective tools to do some editing or recovery (like a pencil for lightening up the eyes in portraits for example) and found this “newly” added selective function in LR5 not as smooth and capable for some reason.
Most likely I will be ending up purchasing the full LR5 version and will make use of Capture NX2 for the detailed stuff.
Regards,
Erol
Hi Erol,
I agree with you. LR also lets you work with CEP4, where CNX2 only allows CEP3. A benefit CNX2 still has, in my opinion, is the fact that you can do all your editing in one single .NEF file. With LR you have at least: the original .NEF image, a TIF file for editing, a sidecar file to keep track of the changes. In many cases you will have multiple TIF’s and JPG’s (for printing purposes). So, when it comes to file management CNX2 is still king.
Haven’t tried LR5 yet, but from what I read in the press, it has some interesting features compared to LR4. In practice I do the majority of my editing with LR4/PS and one of the Nik Software products and use CNX2 only for special situations. More or less the same as you do.
Regards,
Reinier.
Hello I participated in the weanibr and enjoyed it very much. Lots of great info, and it was so helpful to actually see the various procedures on screen.This is a follow-up question. I’m still confused about sharpening via Aperture’s RAW fine tuning brick vs. the Nik RAW pre-sharpening plug-in. Do they conflict with each other; should I choose one or the other, but not both? In the past I’ve added edge sharpening via Aperture’s RAW fine tuning brick. But now that I have acquired the Nik plug-in, I’m unclear as to the smartest workflow. Thanks for any thoughts on this.