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Overhauled Photoshop plug-in offers distinctive and easy-to-apply photographic filter effects.
When PDN's Software Watch columnist Theano Nikitas mentioned in the January issue that the Color Efex Pro program from Nik had undergone a makeover, she definitely wasn't kidding! In fact, this filter plug-in's interface has been so radically transformed from version 2.0 to 3.0, that it almost seems like a different piece of software altogether, which is a very good thing.
Like a lot of users, I found the look and feel of the previous program to be dated, clunky, and, in some cases.just plain unattractive. Consequently, I stopped using Color Efex Pro 2.0 after just a couple of tries. Now that I've had a chance to play with the more intuitive and user-friendly version 3.0 of this program, I realize I was seriously missing out. Behind the unwieldy interface and frustratingly small preview screen in the previous version lies a very fun and helpful plug-in for giving your images a range of interesting photographic looks. But along with the extreme makeover, Color Efex Pro 3.0 has added a bevy of cool new filters and one very powerful new tool.
FACE LIFT
Though I haven't seen any recent numbers on how many Adobe Lightroom users are out there right now, that digital asset management program's interface has clearly influenced a lot of imaging software designers. While Color Efex Pro 3.0 is the latest application to mimic the tasteful gray and black look of Lightroom, it shares more with that program than just superficial style. Along with being more pleasing to the eye, Color Efex Pro 3.0 has increased its usability with a...