NIK Collection

Check with the author

here is a user generated list of Applications which include extensions - Photo Editing Extensions for Photos for Mac

LN

Hi John. I just completed the same exercise with the free Nik download, and it doesn't look promising. It states it is compatible with Photoshop, LightRoom, Photoshop Elements, and Aperture. (No mention of Photos). It doesn't show as being compatible with El Capitan (only to 10.10), while it does install without an issue, it doesn't seem to work. I attempted the HDR plug-in, and it stayed at the "importing images" screen, with no movement of the progress bar.

Various forums I checked seem to indicate that Google has pretty much abandon further development.

According to Google, no, follow the link :

https://support.google.com/nikcollection/answer/6063688?hl=en

(Though this was written for OS X Yosmite)

I've tried the NIK plugins with Photoshop Elements and Photos via the External Editors For Photos app and they work as expected. Just remember to flatten the image before saving so you stay with the jpeg format so Photos can use the resulting edit.

Flatten means when you create layers with the editor they must be "flattened" so the file can be saved as a jpeg. If not flattened PSE will want to save it as a .psd file and that must be saved to the desktop and imported as a new file.

Hello Old Toad, thanks for sharing that is very interesting.

However after installing the Nik plug-ins they don't show up in the External editors for photos extension. (All other photo-editing capable apps do).

Do you have any clue ? I already opened up the plug-ins directly, moved them out of the folder they were installed in to the "root" level of the program folder. Rebooted the Mac, but they don't show up (I am running 10.11.4).

Thanks

Ben

They only show up in Photoshop CS4 or later or Photoshop Elements 9 or later. You access those two apps via the extensions in the library and then access those plugins via the Filter menu in PSE.

Thanks,

I had hoped they would show up directly. As I have neither of the two app's you mention and Aperture doesn't show up in the external editors extensions, this is a no go for me.

Thanks for sharing

Ben

I've been using the NIK plug-ins for about a month now with Photos and External Editor. In order for the NIK apps to work you must first perform an editing action from Photos on the original file (however minor), once that it done all of the NIK options then show up in the list of those enumerated by External Editor. I shoot RAW exclusively and discovered this by accident when I thought the plug-ins didn't work either (when I had not "predited" the file). Try this and see if it works for you. I suspect the initial editing process opens up some type of side car file that enables further editing that is then recognized by Photos/External Editor combo. I usually use the DXO app first, followed by whatever additional editing I might want to do using any of the NIK apps (or others, too).

Thanks a lot, that did it.

In my previous action I just fired up the plug-in but didn't edit a photo. After editing with all the plug-in's they all show up in "External Editors for Photos".

Great !

Txs

Ben

Before I even get to that stage, I'm confused as to where to download Nik. I'm offered Aperture (old), Photoshop or Lightbox - but do not want to link to any of these. suggestions,.

OR, if I link to Photshop, can I then perform the connections to Photos that you described?

Please, Apple and Google, sort this out!!

Just call the plug-ins once from Photoshop. Then they will appear in Photos as well.

But you need to purchase and install "External Editors for Photos" from the App Store. It is not expensive and will allow you to use many external editors directly from Photos. Now I am seeing this, when I open the "External Editor for Photos" extension from the Edit panel in Photos:

I prefer the External Editors extension to the old way we had to access the external editors and plug-ins in iPhoto and Aperture., where we had to change the preferences to switch between external editor. Now it is much quicker.

Thank you, Leonie. But why do both Apple and Google make it SO difficult?!

Now to having fun editing my photographs.