When it comes to black and white post production Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Photoshop are all great tools but are over-shadowed by the brilliant Silver Efex Pro by Nik Software. I have been using version one of the plugin alongside Lightroom for a number of months and I haven’t been able to better the power, depth and tone in any other editor.
Nik Software recently released version 2 of Silver Efex Pro and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. Silver Efex is available for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Apple Aperture. I am using Adobe Lightroom but in reality the host application is irrelevant as it really only serves as a way of loading the original photograph in Silver Efex 2 and storing the resulting black and white image.
When dealing with Lightroom plugins I always recommend uninstalling previous versions before upgrading. To uninstall Silver Efex 1 it is a matter of running the initial installer file and selecting the uninstall option. Once you have successfully uninstalled version 1 you can comfortable run the Silver Efex 2 installer.
First Impressions
My first impressions of Silver Efex Pro 2 is that is appears considerably faster than version 1 running on my Mac Mini. I shoot in RAW and I found Silver Efex 2 was not only quicker to load but also to process render previews down to the fact this version uses the computers GPU.
The next improvement I noticed, although having no bearing on image processing making life much easier. Version 2 brings support for Apple’s Magic Mouse so you are able to quickly scroll through the various presets on offer with the flick of a finger. This feature is available in Nik Software’s HDR plugin and really missed the feature in Silver Efex 1.
To put the plugin to the test I have decided to load a photo of Belfast City Centre and see what I was able to create with even minimal adjustments. The starting point is a somewhat bland photo of Belfast, here is the raw image unprocessed.
Moving from Lightroom to Silver Efex Pro definitely appeared to offer a quicker load time. Silver Efex 2 comes with 38 factory presets which offer a great starting point for your black and white workflow.
Moving between the presets is definitely considerably quicker. In version 1 I watched each change being applied and the image being re-rendered in boxes across the photograph. In version 2 the change is applied instantly with rendered previews appearing in a split second even on a Mac Mini.
I tend to get carried away in post production, a quick click on the “compare” button (top tool bar) shows you how much the edited image has been processed compared to the original.
For the photo of Belfast I have applied the “Full Contrast and Structure” Preset to give a slightly vintage feel.
This is where the fun begins, Silver Efex 2 offers complete control over the image. I have added two separate control points and adjust the brightness and contrast. One control point to reduce a very bright area in the sky (I was using a ND9 filer) and the other to brighten up a dark door area at the bottom of the image.
Mimicing the workflow I used with version 1 I then selected the film look. Scrolling your mouse over the various film options results in an instant render in the preview window.
Adjusting Curves
Silver Efex 2 doesn’t lock you down to a set of presets, you also have complete control over grain, colour sensitivity, levels and curves. I have made a slight adjustment to the curve to enhance the black. Click anywhere on the curve to add a new control reference.
Toning
Like the presets and film options the toning effect also offers a live render preview and the choice is remarkable. From neutrals all the way through to ambrotype you have total control over the output of your image. It is wise to keep clicking the compare window to see just how powerful even the slightest adjustment can be in Silver Efex Pro.
As well as toning you can add vignetting, burn edges and picture borders. I am not a massive fan of picture framing although there is a massive range of options available.
Once happy with the process clicking “Save” saves a copy of the black and white image in Lightroom stacked with the original.
I have gone town a little in the processing to demonstrate the power of the plugin. As you can see I have taken a rather bland street scene and transformed it into a rather dramatic black and white photograph.
As you can see with just a few adjustments there is a massive difference compared to the original image yet retaining all the fine detail.
What’s new in Version 2?
If you already own version 1 of Silver Efex you might be asking yourself if it is worth the upgrade? Well as someone who was very happy with version 1 I highly recommend investing in version 2 the performance boost alone is enough to upgrade never mind the stunning additional toolsets. The plugin is snappier thanks to the fact it now uses the GPU to render the previews and process the final image. Here is a list of the main changes in this version.
Multi-Threaded, 64-bit, GPU Processing
Silver Efex Pro 2 takes full advantage of the latest system hardware chipsets and acceleration found in advanced displays, saving you time and effort with lightning fast, efficient processing.
Intuitive History Browser
The new History Browser enables you to explore all of the features in Silver Efex Pro 2 and easily compare edits, with the freedom to try different looks, undo adjustments at any time, and compare different edited history states of your image.
Structure and Fine Structure
If typical contrast adjustments enhance lights and darks uniformly throughout the image, our innovative Structure control introduced in the first version of Silver Efex Pro works more precisely “between” the edges to enhance images, making it possible to bring out the texture and detail of objects. Going further still, the new Fine Structure control brings out even more visible detail in the smallest structures, details, and textures of an image without creating an over-sharpened look.
Soft Contrast
Conventional contrast darkens and lightens details in a very straightforward yet unsophisticated manner, often producing images that are harsher than intended. Soft Contrast, however, adds contrast to an image by applying contrast to different areas of the image in a dynamic way. By intelligently adapting contrast to image details, Soft Contrast achieves a softer mood or feeling in the photograph.
Dynamic Brightness
Intelligently adjust brightness in your images using the new Dynamic Brightness control. This unique new tool adapts the brightness effect to existing tonalities in an image, creating spectacular results.
Natural Image Borders
Silver Efex Pro 2 contains an entirely new set of intelligent algorithms that incorporate organic elements to create unique, natural, and random image borders. This is a modern interpretation on classic darkroom borders and offers virtually infinite possibilities.
Specially Developed Algorithms
Achieve incredible results faster than ever with never-before-seen advancements in black and white controls such as Dynamic Brightness, Fine Structure, Soft Contrast, Amplify Whites, Amplify Blacks, and our legendary Grain Engine.
Amplify Blacks and Whites
Accentuate blacks and whites in your image for greater impact by increasing the presence of highlights and shadows adaptively throughout the image. Unique contrast effects are easily achieved without blocking up darker areas of an image or blowing out lighter ones.
Selective Color
Selective color toning has long been a favorite technique of fine art and portrait photographers. The new selective color tool enables you to quickly and easily add color elements back into your photograph utilizing U Point technology to precisely select objects without creating complicated selections or layer masks.
Conclusion
For the amateur photographer the price of Silver Efex 2 might be a bit of a put off but if you are even slightly serious about black and white digital photography then it really is an essential investment. Silver Efex 2 goes beyond desaturated or mono presets it is the complete black and white darkroom experience. As well as a range of excellent presets you have full control over the workflow and have the option to create and save your own presets to speed up later edits. I can’t recommend it enough.
Silver Efex is a professional level image processor with a simple and intuitive user interface. Aperture and Lightroom only go so far, Silver Efex 2 goes the full distance.
after going through the trial period i was hooked on this software, saving up for the full version now!
Great tip here. I am happy to see that there is another photographer using Mac Mini for serious work, as I always considered my Mini of more of a toy that can run PS and Lightroom…great tutorial…