Nik Software, PS Elements and Macs

[Rob MacKillop]

I'll admit it, I'm a bit ****** off. Only Nik Colour and Silver Effex work with Elements 10 on the iMac - Dfine, Viveza, Sharpner and HDR Efex don't register at all. I wish they had made this more clear. Thankfully I can use them through Lightroom or on my PC, but the combination of Elements and Nik Complete Collection was something I had grown to feel comfortable with on a PC.

 

[Pete Askew]

Hi Rob, they are supposed to be. It would be worth sending Nik an email I would think.

Nik Software, Inc. | Support

I tend to run SilverFX and Color FX from PS and the others from LR DFine and Viveza before PS, then SilverFX and Color FX in PS (as I like to use then as layers and control the blend) and then Output Sharpener from LR. They work with PS and it looks like they should work with Elements as well. HDR Efex doesn't.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I've sent an email to their European support contact. Will report back when they reply. On my PC laptop they all work with Elements except (as expected) HDR. Not so, from today's experience, with the iMac.

 

[Pete Askew]

Apart from this, how's the transition going?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, it's very exciting to have it - beautiful and fast. I do find the files structure difficult to fully understand. I couldn't see how to save a Pages file - drove me crazy. So I closed it down, and THEN it asked me to save it. And no Print icon there either. I took a guess at Cmd P, and it worked. So, a few niggles here and there. Much of it is familiar from the iPad, but some odd things there too.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

From the Nik website:
================
Are Nik Software products compatible with Photoshop Elements?

Apart from HDR Efex Pro, all Nik Software products are fully compatible with Photoshop Elements version 8 through 10 running in both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems.
================

So it should work. I'm thinking the new Mountain Lion upgrade might have caused a problem. They will work it out somehow.

 

[Pete Askew]

I wonder if this might be part of the reason (although you say it works with LR).

Nik Software, Inc. | Support

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Actually, I don't have LR installed on the iMac yet, so I don't know if that is the case. No problem with it on the PC. I expect to hear back from Nik tomorrow. We shall see.

 

[Pete Askew]

In that case it might well be worth checking that setting. I would also install LR before installing the Nik filters so they are associated with programme otherwise you'll need to install them again.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Will do...if Rhona ever gets off the iMac!

 

[Pete Askew]

They do have their downsides!!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

All's well that ends well. Nik himself got in touch this morning (well, I'm pretending it was him) and gave me links to the upgrades. My fault was in using the CD Rom which came with the box set. The latest downloads have Mountain Lion covered. Still not possible to use HDR in Elements, but no loss there as I am not a fan of the style.

Happy bunny!

 

[Pete Askew]

Excellent. Nik's a very helpful chap isn't he. I'm impressed that they sometimes even phone rather than email you!

Have you installed LR?

Did you do anything about Intego?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

No, I haven't installed LR. I have a system which works for me, and I've never really clicked with LR - not sure why. But i'm perfectly happy with Elements 10 and Nik Collection.

Intego? Jog my memory...

- - - Updated - - -

Oh yes, the security suite. Must get it!

- - - Updated - - -

Which one? VirusBarrier X6?

 

[Pete Askew]

Yes. If you don't have a firewall in your router it might be worth getting the full suite though. Antispam is good if you are (or plan to) use Mail on the mac.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Glad that all worked out ok

Just downloaded Viveza yesterday with a 15% coupon code - excellent!

Gives me the same control points in color images, as I've become used to in B&W with Silver FX