It isn’t often that I get all fired up about software. However, the announcement that Nik Software’s newest Lightroom and Photoshop plug-in, HDR Efex Pro, will be available for public consumption in October has me as giddy as a girl in a prom dress.
I’ve experimented with HDR in the past using what most consider the current industry standard software – HDRSoft’s Photomatix. Frankly, I wasn’t terribly impressed. Now, that isn’t to say that stunning images can’t be created using Photomatix, or for that matter, any other HDR software. To the contrary, just read Royce Howland’s guest post on my blog last week, “Why I Love HDR - Part 1“. Then pay a visit to his galleries to see some of the most amazing HDR landscape photography I’ve ever seen. Clearly, Royce has mastered Photomatix.
After failing at HDR I went back to using filters to tame dynamic range. Then I tried my hand at manual exposure blends. While I love the control and final result of blending images by hand, I don’t love staring at a computer monitor for hours on end doing the tedious work required of the technique. So, I’ve gone back to using filters. Again.
Now, in walks Nik Software and their badass new HDR Efex Pro plug-in. Okay, fine – I’m being a little sensationalistic. I can’t really call it badass yet because I’m not one of the chosen few who was given a pre-release copy to run through the wringer. But, if it’s even half as good as their other plug-ins it will in fact be badass. Nik Software knows how to make software for people like me, who would much rather be outdoors photographing than sitting at a desk. I have complete faith that HDR Efex Pro will allow me to create stunning, natural looking images in less time than blending by hand. Naturally, you’ll all be the first to hear my initial impressions once I’ve had some time to spend under the hood with it.
Nik is currently taking pre-orders on HDR Efex Pro, slated for release in October. Anyone who purchases the Nik Complete Collection after July 25, 2010 will receive HDR Efex Pro free upon release. And, if you don’t feel like paying full price for any of the Nik plug-ins, you can always use coupon code “BEDGE” at checkout to receive a 15% discount on your order from the Nik Store.
Until October, tick-tock…
Are you excited to try out Nik Software HDR Efex Pro? What HDR software are you using now? Let us know in the comments section!
3 Responses to “Nik Software HDR Efex Pro Launching in October”
Eric Leslie says:
I am in the same boat with you. I would rather be out shooting and I have tried several times to get results from Photomatix and others. I’m also a fan of anything that keeps me working Lightroom. I don’t like moving between apps. I can’t wait to see how this works.
Royce Howland says:
Photomatix has remained my workhorse, but I’m always very interested to see each new tool come out, carrying HDR further into the mainstream. I’m particularly interested in HDR Efex because Nik is a strong & established player, and I respect the talents of the development crew. I will get my hands on HDR Efex for sure and see how or if it can augment my work…
Bret Edge says:
Eric: One of the things about HDR Efex Pro I’m most excited about is the ability to take multiple RAW exposures in Lightroom, open HDR Efex Pro, combine the images and do all the work w/i the plug-in, then kick out a finished product that lives in my LR catalog. This will make life sooooo much easier for me.
Royce: I’ll be keenly interested to hear your opinion of HDR Efex Pro. I can’t think of anyone more qualified to offer thoughts on how it compares to Photomatix and other HDR software you’ve used. Come on, October…