To download a 60-day free trial (Mac and PC versions) of Capture NX 2, visit NX 2 can be purchased from retailers, or you can buy a license to fully activate the trial version online at MSRP is $109.95 to upgrade from Version 1, or $179.95 for the full version.įor more information, contact Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Rd.These 2 are very different, I use both because there are features within NX2 that are not available in non Nikon programs, Such as " Picture Control " profiles etc etc, Plus the ability to read on-camera settings from NEF files. The program does support a pressure-sensitive input device.
Practically all the work was done with a mouse, although the few times I tried a Wacom tablet and pen, there was no problem. I used Capture NX 2 on an Intel iMac that has 2GB RAM. For more information, visit Technical Notes
If you haven’t tried Color Efex Pro before but plan to use NX 2, this is one effective way to expand your horizons and take your NEF, TIFF, and JPEG images to the next level. What you don’t get is the magnifying loupe-not a major loss. Along with the blending options, you also get the benefit of NX 2’s new selection control points, so you can selectively apply effects to only parts of an image. However, this new version adds a histogram associated with the protect shadow/highlights sliders, along with an analysis of the detail in each. Now all those neat color and toning effects are simply grouped under “stylizing” and “traditional” filters (a distinction that I still find somewhat artificial).
Nik Software released a version of their Color Efex Pro 3.0 plug-in for the new Capture NX 2, for Mac or Windows ($179.95/Complete Edition with 52 filters $99.95/Select Edition with 35 filters-also available as an upgrade or as a trial download). Capture NX 2 has, without question, become a positive driving force in my image editing these days.Ĭolor Efex Pro 3.0 Plug-In For Capture NX 2 Still, not only did it allow me to take my pictures down roads where I never dreamed possible, it had that new car smell that made me want to go out and drive it. So, is Capture NX 2 a muscle car? Not just yet. Additional tools (not shown) can also be found on the toolbar. To the left of that is the new Auto-Retouch Brush tool, which needs some retooling.
The first five icons in this NX 2 toolbar represent the original control points, whereas the one far right is the very useful new selection control point, with the choice of applying an effect (+) or protecting an image area from it (-). Of course NX 2 was never meant to be another Photoshop, so you’ll still need the granddaddy of image-editing software to do complex layering and photo compositing and to apply sophisticated processes such as Merge to HDR, not to mention using a plethora of effects. Distortion control only goes so far, and when it comes to non-Nikon files, vignetting correction is not available. Noticeably lacking are dodging and burning in, cloning, and text tools. Also, other tools, such as sharpening and blur, are provided in limited forms. The new retouching tool is good, but it needs to be developed further, more like the Healing Brush in Photoshop. There are some issues, though-after working extensively with a file, it may start to drag and complex files take minutes to open. NX 2 is a really great complement to working with NEF and other file formats. And maybe even a magic wand selection tool. I’d also like a magnetic lasso for enhanced selection control of some effects. In addition, I’d like to be able to individually define the shape of each control point-rectangular, oval, irregular-rather than be restricted to a circle. It would be much easier if selection control points could be manipulated with the aid of the same branching tree structure and sliders similar to those used with color control points. I do, however, have some suggestions for improvement. I found NX 2 so inviting that I couldn’t stop working with it, applying it not only to NEF files generated by my Nikon D300, but also to TIFF files previously converted in Adobe Camera Raw from Canon raw files captured with various Canon EOS SLRs. There were many more, as shown in the edit list. You can see my use of the new selection control points identifying where I needed to apply the black and white conversion or protect areas from it.
Here we see an interim version of one shot that I later toned in NX 2, after converting to black and white. The greatest asset is the edit list on the right, where you can track practically every step of your editing, and undo or redo changes at will and in any order. The Capture NX 2 interface is very user-friendly and largely intuitive.