Nik Software Releases New HDR Efex Pro™ Software

Lisa - Here is the announcement of Nik's HDR software release that Eric spoke of last night at our NHCC meeting..... Gary  
Nik Software ships HDR Efex Pro


Monday, 11 October 2010 15:39 GMT < Previous Next >

HDR Efex Pro, Nik Software's previously-announced HDR processing plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Apple Aperture is now available for Mac and PC.

Press Release:

Nik Software Releases New HDR Efex Pro™ Software

San Diego, CA – October 11, 2010 – Nik Software (www.niksoftware.com) today began shipping HDR Efex Pro, a completely new High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging solution designed to help professional and amateur photographers quickly and easily achieve a full spectrum of HDR enhancements. HDR Efex Pro overcomes limitations in other software products with a revolutionary all-in-one approach and multiple tone mapping algorithms that enable realistic and artistic results to be created start-to-finish within a single tool. Introductory videos, free trial versions, and live online training can be found at www.niksoftware.com/hdrefexpro

“Our HDR Efex Pro beta group had over 500 photography industry professionals and HDR enthusiasts and the feedback from this group has been both comprehensive and incredibly positive,” said Michael J. Slater, President and CEO of Nik Software. “We have incorporated much of their feedback and I am confident that this product will advance HDR imaging.”

HDR Efex Pro brings innovative and best-in-class technologies to HDR photography. HDR Efex Pro enables a wide variety of options, including single-click visual style presets, as well as global adjustments such as exposure, contrast, structure to fine detail contrast, and a new HDR Method option. This feature makes use of four tone-mapping algorithms, which enable virtually unlimited HDR “looks” that can be adapted to a particular HDR style of photography.

Nik Software’s proprietary U Point® technology is also incorporated into HDR Efex Pro, providing precise selective fine-tuning of images without the need for complicated selections or layer masks. Photographers can precisely control selective adjustments with a single mouse-click providing the ability to quickly create amazing results. Finishing adjustments, such as vignette controls and levels & curves, make it possible to easily accomplish a range of enhancements within HDR Efex Pro.

HDR Efex Pro also enables photographers to create popular and dramatic HDR images from a single exposure. This feature allows photographers to reprocess a single image in which an exposure series was not previously shot or for subject matter that does not lend itself to multiple exposures.

Key Features

•Intuitive interface, with easy to understand photographic terminology and the actual processed results always displayed

•U Point powered selective tools for fast, precise enhancements of contrast, shadow, structure, saturation adjustments, and more

•Multiple proprietary tone mapping algorithms enabling a wide range of HDR styles

•Visual presets that produce amazing results in a single-click

•Ability to create the HDR look from a single exposure

•Advanced technology for automatic image alignment and reduction of subject motion artifacts known as “ghosts”

•All-in-one 32-bit color workflow enabling the creation of professional HDR images

Pricing and Availability

HDR Efex Pro is available now for electronic and boxed delivery directly from Nik Software (www.niksoftware.com), through specialty camera retailers, and through online and national resellers. A complete list of Nik Software resellers may be found at www.niksoftware.com/resellers.

The suggested U.S. retail price of HDR Efex Pro is $159.95. The software is available as a free update to those who purchased the Nik Software Complete Collection within North America after July 25, 2010. Complete Collection owners who purchased prior to July 25, 2010 may add HDR Efex Pro to their Complete Collection for just $99.95 by calling Customer Service at 888-284-4085

HDR Efex Pro installs as a 64-bit plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 (Windows only) and CS5 (Windows and Macintosh), and as a 32-bit and 64-bit plug-in for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.3 or later (Windows and Macintosh) or Apple® Aperture™ 2.1 or later (Macintosh). For more information about HDR Efex Pro, including a detailed product video and image gallery, please visit www.niksoftware.com/hdrefexpro.