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nik Sharpener Pro!
By: Nik Multimedia THE ULTIMATE IN ACCURACY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL!
nik Sharpener Pro offers professionals the most comprehensive set of features for image sharpening. nik Sharpener Pro provides consistency and ease when sharpening images for virtually and output device. Color and detail protection processes maintain optimal image quality while Autoscan options allow or quick and efficient sharpening.
Requirements:Adobe Photoshop 4.0 or later, Corel PHOTO-Paint 8.0 or later. |
There are certain effects that simply require the use of a plug-in. No matter how well equipped an application may be, there are those circumstances that arise where a little extra help is needed.
For those new to photo editing, plug-ins are applications that depend upon a host application in order to work. In essence they form something of a symbiotic relationship with their dependent applications. What differentiates plug-ins from standalone applications is that they cannot exist without a parent application. Plug-ins by themselves cannot run. They need a larger application in which to function. Sometimes, though I have seen this become rare, they are infrequently called “helper applications.”
For professionals, plug-ins are common place. However, they are certainly not restricted to professionals. There are many features that they allow that those outside of the high end ranks can enjoy and use. For Adobe Photoshop users, plug-ins are something of a fact of life. Entire industries have arisen to provide extra features for Photoshop. The good news is that other applications aside from Photoshop can take advantage of plug-in features. Many applications make a selling point of addressing Photoshop plug-in compatibility.
While the marketplace is filled with plug-ins for photo editing applications, one of the most subtle, and arguably the most important, is one offered by nik multimedia Incorporated. Aptly titled “Nik Sharpener Pro!” this application is devoted strictly to the task of sharpening images in either Photoshop or applications able to accept Photoshop plug-ins, which now includes about all of the major photo editing applications.
What Sharpener Pro does is sharpen images. While most applications have this feature built in, employing it properly is an entirely different matter that most applications cannot handle well without a great deal of expertise on the part of the user. Being able to sharpen images without distorting them is deceptively complex. What makes it truly problematic is that you may not be able to discern an accurately sharpened image until it is printed. In many situations it is difficult to visually discover if an image has been properly sharpened. The complexity involved is actually surprising.
To help make short work of this, Nik Sharpener Pro handles the tedious details. Complex computations are processed for you requiring little intervention on the part of the end user.
The Nik Pro interface is a model of simplicity. Simply select the type of image you wish to process, pick what you intend to do with it, such as print to a laser printer, ink jet, offset or Internet, and the program flies up ready to optimize the image for you.
It is literally that simple. In certain cases you may wish to tweak settings for certain images. Even here, Nik actually automates the process for you. It also offers file information at the bottom of the screen informing you of any issues regarding the sharpening process.
The added advantage of Sharpener Pro! is that it sharpens images without distorting their color. In many sharpening applications there can be a distortion of color. Nik Sharpener Pro manages to make images crisper without altering colors, which is an essential in order to optimize an image properly.
Often, the differences created by Nik are subtle, but not unnoticeable. After using the program for a few days, I realized to a large extent that simply sharpening an image makes a world of difference. The resulting processed images were amazingly clear. Nik’s sharpener removes just one more obstacle between the ideal you have mentally of a scene and the actual digital image.
What Sharpener does, it does well. However it is not a “what you see is what you get” application. Although it has a preview screen, the real powerful options are sometimes, but not always, seen best after an image has been printed. So do keep that in mind when viewing the resulting image in the preview window. Again, this depends on the image you are working with and where you intend to take it after processing.
Also, Nik Sharpener is not a fix it all for flawed pictures. For badly damaged images, there are other more effective work arounds. This application cannot make a basically flawed picture better on its own. In concert with other programs, tasks and applications, one can consider Nik Sharpener Pro part of a larger toolset able to make the most of any image, but not the only way to do so.
Nik Sharpener Pro! is one of those plug-ins that performs a much needed function that is often overlooked, or completely ignored, with the exception being the pros. For professionals Nik Sharperner may already be an established fact of life. Of all of the plug-ins I have seen, this is one of a handful that can be listed under the must own category.
Again, power users will want to own and keep track of this application. For serious enthusiasts that want pictures with a more professional look, this is one plug-in to seriously consider before purchasing others. Even the occasional digital photographer will find much here to admire.
The only downside is that Nik Sharpener is not an inexpensive program. One of the sad rules of computing is that digital imaging software is rarely cheap. While there are bargains, if you want power, it often comes at a steep price. In the case of Sharpener Pro there is a more cost effective version for home users. Plus, Sharpener can work in other applications aside from Photoshop. So do visit their site for details and do take a look at what this excellent application can do for you and your images. Also note, it does run on the Mac OS X.
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