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Photo Artists: What filters do you use?

Discussion

5 replies
Posted by Barbara Graham on April 3, 2011 at 6:29 PM
or, can anyone convince me that I should use Nik (the color filters)? I did the trial and just couldn't find anything I liked, so quite obviously I'm missing something. If you use Nik, which filters do you use the most?

I use Topaz filters, and I'm very used to them and like them a lot, but I don't want to be restricted to just those.
Posted by Barb Pflaum on April 3, 2011 at 8:57 PM
I mostly use Topaz filters. I like them the best of any filters I've tried. Fractalius is a fun filter. You can create some very interesting effects with it. I got a free copy of Photo Essentials 3 for subscribing to a Photoshop Elements website. I use it once in a while. I tried the color Nik filters that you refer to and liked a few of them, but I didn't like it enough to buy it. It wasn't very useful for the type of effects I like to create.

I'd like to try some new filters, so I'll be looking at this thread again to see what other people are using.
Posted by Luke Ormand on April 3, 2011 at 9:01 PM
If you do go with Nik, I believe you can get a discount by going through Mike Moat's (NPN member) site.
Posted by John Mumaw on April 3, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Try the free 'Dreamy Photo' plug-in from the folks at AutoFX.
There are also plenty of free plug-in filters available at The Plug-In Site.
Posted by David W. Kelly on April 5, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Barbara I use a lot of the filters in Nik Color Efex Pro Collection. Off the top of my head I really like tonal contrast, glamour glow, darken lighten center, pro contrast and the vignette blur filter just to name a few. I think these filters are a big asset to my photography tool kit.
Posted by Barbara Sammons on April 8, 2011 at 8:03 AM
Barbara, like David, I also use the filters in the Nik Software Collection, mainly from Color Efex Pro but I also like using Silver Efex Pro 2 to enhance my images in Black and White. I have used Topaz Adjust on a few of my images, mainly the Spicify preset, especially on my images of classic cars as it really softens the look. These filters may not be for everyone's liking, but I find that I can show my creative side and its been a great tool for me as well. I'm working on a series of old cars and trucks that have been left out to rust and I find that these tools bring out their character, especially when I can soften them down. Mother Nature has given us her beauty, I give you her beauty back with inspired soul.