Q: Why aren't NIK Plug Ins working  (the are listed in grey letters in Edit In pulldown menu)

Then I inserted the NIK Collection (google) into this folder: Library>Application Support>Aperture>Plug Ins>Edit.

You may need to run the installer instead of just placing the Google folder there. If I am not mistaken, there are licensing files that are installed by the installer. At least that is true on my machine.

Can you launch one of the plug-ins via Launch Pad? Each of them should launch successfully as a stand-alone app if the install is correct.

Have you run the installer?

Click the package, to mount the disk image and open the installer:

That will install the stand-alone apps in your Applications folder and the plug-ins for Aperture and Photoshop.

Then you should be able to launch the plug-ins. If you experience crashes, look at this link:  https://support.google.com/nikcollection/answer/3002572?hl=en&ref_topic=3001470

Then I inserted the NIK Collection (google) into this folder: Library>Application Support>Aperture>Plug Ins>Edit.

Just got home and checked my computer.

The Google folder is in the Plug-Ins folder (not in the Edit folder which in my case is for BorderFX), so you might try moving it out of Edit to the Plug-Ins folder you list above.

FWIW, there is a 'licfile.txt' file (which is actually empty) in the following location on my machine: '~/Library/Application Support/NikLicenseFiles' folder. I used the official Google installer Léonie is showing above.

daikambu65 wrote:

 

Corky, I just tried the path you suggested. I moved the files up one level from LIbrary>Application Assistants>Aperture>Plug Ins>Edit to the Plug Ins folder. It worked.

 

I can now start the NIK plugins either from the pull-down meny under photo in the Menu Bar, or by right-clicking my mouse.

 

A slight change of subject. I've got the 200-page book, Exploring Aperture. Also have the downloaded .pdf  file of the same book. How is it that, on the Apple Support webpage, they have a .pdf book for Aperture 3.4 that is 800-pages? Did anyone else notice that?

Good to hear you got it working.

The 'Exploring Aperture' is the book that came with Aperture 3 in the retail box (in downloadable form). It goes along with the Sample library that was on the install disc and was designed to walk new users through the basics of the program.

The 800+ page PDF is the actual user's manual which describes all aspects of Aperture 3.4 in detail (although there may be some omissions here and there due to updates since 3.4). I read the original version of the user's manual when it was Aperture 3.0 and it is very informative (especially if you like that kind of reading - which I do).

If you do read through and understand the user's manual PDF, then you will know the program well. You can use the Exploring Aperture book but there will be references to the sample library which you won't have unless you have the retail install disc.

Note - there are books you can buy, but none of them really cover Aperture 3.4.x (a couple were updated for Aperture 3.3, but some significant changes were made that - IMHO - don't make buying those books of more value than just reading the user's manual). It took me about a week of reading each evening to complete it.

I'll just use the small booklet that came with the program. And practice on the sample files included on the program disk.

That should do it. The booklet covers all the bases anyway and Apple programs are designed to use and learn anyway!

Have fun.

daikambu65 wrote:

 

This is stretching the topic a bit, but I already know how to Edit Metadata (color curve) to render scanned B&W negatives so you can print a positive image. Pretty easy stuff.

 

But, how does a person handle the orange mask if he wants to print a scanned color negative? Possible or not?

This one is beyond my knowledge, sorry.

Léonie may have a good answer to this one. I have only seen one reference to an involved method for removing the orange mask from a scanned color negative at the link below. It is for using Photoshop 5 though:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/499854

Good luck.

But, how does a person handle the orange mask if he wants to print a scanned color negative? Possible or not?

That is best done by the software that comes with your scanner. Your scanner should be able to take care of that in the scan settings and when saving the file.