How do I access help the help for HDR Efex Pro or Silver Efex Pro 2?

A full interactive help system is available for HDR Efex Pro, including installation, access, setup instructions, as well as video lessons and access to
downloading the Quick Start Guide directly from within the interface. Click on the Help button located in the bottom-left of the interface to access the
online help or click the links below:

Silver Efex Pro 2

HDR Efex Pro

What graphic adapters are recommended in order to use the Silver Efex Pro 2 GPU support?

We recommend to use a mid-range or better graphic adapter with 512 MB (or more) dedicated Video RAM. On Windows systems an OpenGL 3.0 or later compatible graphic adapter is recommended. We also recommend to use a graphic adapter with a Nvidia© or AMD (former ATI™) chipset.

How to optimize the Silver Efex Pro 2 performance?

In the Silver Efex Pro 2 settings - GPU support, check for the GPU support settings. Change the setting here – changes will apply at the next launch of Silver Efex Pro 2.

What is the difference between Color Efex Pro 3.0 Black and White filters and Silver Efex Pro 2?

Color Efex Pro 3.0 offers three variations of black and white conversions while Silver Efex Pro 2 offers nearly a limitless number of conversion possibilities.
Silver Efex Pro 2 offers similar filter controls found in the Color Efex Pro 3.0 B/W Conversion filter, but utilizes new advanced algorithms for enhanced quality.
The many tools that Silver Efex Pro 2 provides such as over 30 presets styles, 18 emulated film types, multiple toning options, a revolutionary grain engine, natural
image borders, vignettes and so much more make this a complete black and white conversion tool. Silver Efex Pro 2 also utilizes U Point® technology to selectively
control the tonality, contrast and structure of your images. To learn more about Silver Efex Pro 2, click here.

Why should I use Silver Efex Pro 2 when I can use Photoshop’s Black and White adjustment tool?

While the Photoshop Black and White adjustment tool can convert an image to black and white, Silver Efex Pro 2 was designed to create a natural, photographic
result matching or exceeding a traditional silver-halide print.

Silver Efex Pro 2 uses proprietary algorithms specially designed to create the highest quality black and white conversions from color digital images and produces
images virtually free of artifacts. Silver Efex Pro 2 also offers unique tools such as U Point technology, to selectively control tonality and contrast without complex
selections or masks, a powerful state-of-the-art grain engine, tinting and toning tools, as well as global dodging and burning tools. Silver Efex Pro 2 provides a
complete darkroom-quality black and white solution in an easy-to-use package.

With which types of files does Silver Efex Pro 2 work?

Silver Efex Pro 2 works with 8- and 16-bit images; RGB, CMYK and LAB color spaces. Silver Efex Pro 2 will not work with images in the Grayscale mode.

When using Silver Efex Pro 2 as an external editor for Lightroom, Silver Efex Pro 2 can support JPEG and TIFF files*.

*Silver Efex Pro 2 only supports TIFF files in 8 or 16-bit with no compression or LZW compression.

Can I use Silver Efex Pro 2 in a batch process?

Yes, Silver Efex Pro 2 can be used in a batch process using Photoshop Actions:

1. Simply create a new action in Photoshop’s Actions palette and then access Silver Efex Pro 2 via the Filter pull-down menu (Filters> Nik Software> Silver Efex Pro 2).
2. Make the adjustments for your image in Silver Efex Pro 2 and click OK.
3. After the image is processed, stop the action.
4. You can then use that action to batch process multiple images at once.

We also recommend duplicating your layer as part of your action, as Silver Efex Pro 2 cannot automatically duplicate layers when applied as a batch process.

Note: The Nik Selective Tool is not recordable with actions; please use the Filter menu instead.

How can I back up or share the styles that I created within Silver Efex Pro 2’s Style Browser?

Styles can be backed up in one of two ways. You can either export individual styles that you created by hovering over the style that you created and
clicking on the Export button found in the top-right corner of the style and saving to your desktop or other backup location, or you can copy all of the
presets that you created from their default location to your desktop or other backup location by following these steps:

For Windows XP:

1. Click on the Start button and then select Run
2. Type in shell:local appdata
3. Open the Nik Software and then the Silver Efex Pro 2 folder
4. The presets will be stored within the UserPresets folder. Either copy this entire folder or open this folder and copy the desired presets from this folder to your desktop

For Windows Vista and Windows 7:

1. Click the Start button and type %localappdata%
2. Open the Nik Software and then the Silver Efex Pro 2 folder
3. The presets will be stored within the UserPresets folder. Either copy this entire folder or open this folder and copy the desired presets from this folder to your desktop

For Macintosh OS X:

1. In the Finder, click on the Go menu and then select Home
2. Open the Library folder, followed by the Preferences folder, followed by the Nik Software  folder and then finally by the Silver Efex Pro 2 folder
3. The presets will be stored within the UserPresets folder. Either copy this entire folder or open this folder and copy the desired presets from this folder to your desktop

How do I download additional custom styles?

Over 30 additional custom styles are available to download for free, along with instructions on how to import them into your copy of Silver Efex Pro 2, by clicking here.

How do I add my Silver Efex Pro 1.0 presets to Silver Efex Pro 2?

Unfortunately, Silver Efex Pro 1 presets are not compatible with Silver Efex Pro 2. However, all of the download presets offered in Silver Efex Pro 1 have been re-created as new Silver Efex Pro 2 presets and are available for free download on the Presets page.

How do I manually add Silver Efex Pro 2 for Lightroom as an external editor in Lightroom 2?

Silver Efex Pro 2 can also be manually added as an external editor providing easy access to edit your photos in Silver Efex Pro 2. Follow the steps below to manually
add Silver Efex Pro 2 as an external editor.

1. Open the Preferences in Lightroom.
2. Click the External Editing tab.
3. In the Additional External Editor section select a desired File Format, Color Space, Bit Depth, Resolution, and Compression.
   Note: Silver Efex Pro2 is only compatible with TIFF files (8 or 16-bit, with no compression or LZW compression).
4. Click on Choose to select an application. Navigate to the location of Silver Efex Pro 2.
1. On Windows, the default installation location for Silver Efex Pro 2 will be:
1. C:\Program Files\Nik Software\Silver Efex Pro 2 for Lightroom
2. On Macintosh, the default installation location for Silver Efex Pro 2 will be:
1. Macintosh HD : Applications : Nik Software : Silver Efex Pro 2 for Lightroom
5. Select the Silver Efex Pro 2 file and click Choose.
6. Under the Preset drop-down menu, select Save Current Settings as New Preset… and name the preset.

With which host applications is Silver Efex Pro 2 compatible?

Click here to see the system requirements.

With which versions of the Windows operating system is Silver Efex Pro 2 compatible?

Click here to see the system requirements.

What are the System Requirements for Silver Efex Pro 2

Click here to see the system requirements.

Is Silver Efex Pro 2 compatible with Corel PaintShop Pro Photo, Corel Painter, or other image editing applications?

Silver Efex Pro 2 has not been tested in conjunction with Corel PaintShop Pro, Corel Painter, or image editing applications other than Adobe Photoshop,
Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and Aperture. We do not currently recommend using Silver Efex Pro 2 with any other application not listed in our system
compatibility page.

How do I enter my product key for Silver Efex Pro 2?

Silver Efex Pro 2 product keys are 25 numbers long. When entering the key into Silver Efex Pro 2 for activation place five numbers in the first box followed by four
numbers for each of the remaining five boxes.

Tip: If the product key was sent by email, you can copy and paste the key directly into the activation boxes. (Windows/Mac: Ctrl+C/Cmd+C to copy, Ctrl+V/Cmd+V to paste).

How do I remove Silver Efex Pro 1.0?

The easiest way to remove Silver Efex Pro 1.0 is to do the following:

For Windows: Click Start > All Programs > Silver Efex Pro > Uninstall Silver Efex Pro.

For Mac: Insert the installation disc or run the Silver Efex Pro 1.0 DMG file, an option will appear to allow you to uninstall Silver Efex Pro 1.0

What are the retail and upgrade prices of Silver Efex Pro 2?

To purchase Silver Efex Pro 2, please click here.

If I currently own Silver Efex Pro 1.0, how do I upgrade to Silver Efex Pro 2?

Silver Efex Pro 1.0 owners can upgrade to Silver Efex Pro 2 at a reduced price.
for an upgrade of Silver Efex Pro 2, please click here.

What is new in Silver Efex Pro 2?

To see a full list of new features in Silver Efex Pro 2, click here.

Is Silver Efex Pro 2 compatible with 32-bit host applications? 64-bit compatible?

Yes, Silver Efex Pro 2 is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit compatible applications.

Can I selectively colorize black and white images?

Yes, Silver Efex Pro 2 has a new feature that enables selective globalization. The selective color slider is labeled SC inside of the Control Point and can be accessed by placing a U Point powered Control Point on an object in the image and moving the "Selective Color" slider to the right.

Is color management important with Silver Efex Pro 2?

Yes. Silver Efex Pro 2 works with all color management systems and will not affect your current color management system or its settings.

Are there any training videos or lessons available for Silver Efex Pro 2?

Yes, there are many training videos and lessons available here, as well as over a dozen free live training sessions per week online.

What are the keyboard shortcuts in Silver Efex Pro 2?

To see a list of keyboard shortcuts for Silver Efex Pro 2 click here.

Is it possible to undo and redo adjustments in Silver Efex Pro 2?

Yes, Undo and Redo functionality are both available as new features. To undo a step, press Control/Command + Z, and to redo a step, press Control/Command + Y.
In addition, the new History Browser makes it possible to see the edits made in chronological order.

Is Silver Efex Pro 2 Smart Filter compatible?

Yes, Silver Efex Pro 2 is Smart Filter compatible. To use Silver Efex Pro 2 as a Smart Filter, please perform the following steps:

1. Open your image in Photoshop CS3 or later.
2. Select the layer that you would like to apply Silver Efex Pro 2 to.
3. Access the Filter menu, and select the option Convert for Smart Filters.
4. Access the Filter menu again, roll over Nik Software, and select Silver Efex Pro 2.

When using Silver Efex Pro 2 as a Smart Filter, you can go back and edit the effect applied to the image as long as that file is saved as a PSD or TIFF file with the
layers retained.

How do I access Silver Efex Pro 2 inside Lightroom?

After installing Silver Efex Pro 2, it can be accessed within Lightroom under the Photo > Edit In… menu. Follow the steps below to access Silver Efex Pro 2.

1. Highlight the image(s) that you wish to enhance with Silver Efex Pro 2.
2. Click the Photo menu.
3. Roll over the Edit In sub-menu. A popup menu appears.
4. Select Silver Efex Pro 2 from the popup.
5. After selecting Silver Efex Pro 2, select whether to Edit Original, Edit a Copy, or Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments.
   
   Note: If Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments is selected, the Copy File Options must be determined as well. Select the File Format, Color Space, Bit Depth, Resolution and Compression* for the new file to be edited in Silver Efex Pro 2.
   
   *Silver Efex Pro 2 is only compatible with TIFF and JPEG files (8 or 16- bit with no compression or LZW compression).
6. Click Edit and the Silver Efex Pro 2 interface appears, displaying the image(s) specified in Step 1 above.

How do I access Silver Efex Pro 2 inside of Aperture?

To use Silver Efex Pro 2 on an image in Aperture, follow the steps below:

1. Highlight the image that you wish to enhance with Silver Efex Pro 2.
2. Click the Images menu.
3. Roll over the Edit With sub-menu. A popup menu appears.
4. Select Silver Efex Pro 2 from the popup.
5. The Silver Efex Pro 2 interface will open with the image selected.<

How do I preserve my layers and or my CMYK color space when using Silver Efex Pro 2 in Aperture?

To preserve any information created in an external editor such as layers or a non-RGB color space, please use "Edit a Copy With" and then select Silver Efex Pro 2.
To access "Edit a Copy With" simply hold down the option key on your keyboard and then access the Images menu and select "Edit a Copy With". This will create a
new version of the previous version that was already altered in an external editor.

How do I access Silver Efex Pro 2 inside of Photoshop?

Silver Efex Pro 2 can be accessed within Photoshop in two ways, either by using the Filters menu or using the Nik Selective Tool.

To access via the Filters menu, open an image, click on the Filters menu, and choose the Nik Software menu. Silver Efex Pro 2 will be listed in that hierarchical menu.

To access via the Nik Selective Tool, you must first open the tool using the File> Automate> Nik Selective Tool menu item. Once the Selective Tool is visible, simply open
an image and click the Silver Efex Pro 2 button.

How is the Brush feature used in Silver Efex Pro 2?

Part of the Nik Selective Tool, the Brush feature of Silver Efex Pro 2 (and all of the Nik Software filters) enables Photoshop users to apply their black and white
enhancements into their image using Photoshop's built-in Brush tool. To use this feature, please follow the steps below:

1. Launch Photoshop, make sure the Nik Selective Tool is visible, and open an image.
2. Choose Silver Efex Pro 2 from the Filters menu and convert your color image to a black and white image.
3. When finished, click on the Brush button. A new Layer called "Silver Efex Pro 2" will have been created and you will now be able to paint on your black and white conversion and enhancements using Photoshop's Brush tool. Additionally, if you have a Wacom pressure-sensitive pen tablet, you may also use that for even finer control of application.

I made RAW edits using Aperture on a version and went into Silver Efex Pro 2, and now I can't see the RAW edits?

Silver Efex Pro 2 in Aperture cannot show the preview of RAW adjustments made to a non-master version. The Image Preview in Silver Efex Pro 2 will reflect any
changes made other than the RAW adjustments, and when you finish enhancing the image in Silver Efex Pro 2, the enhancement will be applied and then the
RAW adjustments will be re-applied allowing you to fine tune those RAW adjustments if you choose.

On how many computers am I allowed to install Silver Efex Pro 2?

Under the license agreement you are allowed to install and activate Silver Efex Pro 2 on up to two computers for your own personal use.

How long do I have before I am required to activate Silver Efex Pro 2?

From the first time Silver Efex Pro 2 is installed (either as a demo or as the full version) you will have 15 days before you must activate Silver Efex Pro 2. If the demo
has already expired, you will be required to activate Silver Efex Pro 2 the next time it is used.

How do I activate Silver Efex Pro 2 over the Internet?

After installing Silver Efex Pro 2, you will be presented with an option to activate online. In order to activate Silver Efex Pro 2 online, type in your name and product key
in space provide. After doing so, click the ‘Activate’ button to activate Silver Efex Pro 2 and complete the activation process.

Do I need to be connected to the Internet in order to activate Silver Efex Pro 2?

No, while an Internet connection simplifies the activation process, it is not a requirement. Activation can also be done over the phone.

When you run Silver Efex Pro 2 for the first time, you will have an option to activate online or by phone. If you would like to activate Silver Efex Pro 2 by phone, click on the "Activate by Phone" section and enter in your name and product key

The customer service representative will ask for your Installation ID that is displayed and your product key. The customer service representative will then give you an
activation code to be typed in. After typing in the activation code, click the 'Activate' button to finish the process. Silver Efex Pro 2 will then be activated.

I have a new computer, how do I deactivate Silver Efex Pro 2 so I can activate it on the new computer?

Under the license agreement, you are allowed to install Silver Efex Pro 2 on up to two computers at any one time for your own personal use. In order to transfer one of your activations to a new computer, you will need to first deactivate Silver Efex Pro 2 onto on the older computer first. In order to deactivate Silver Efex Pro 2, simply uninstall it
on the older machine, and then install and activate it on the new computer. See below for the instructions on how to uninstall.

How do I uninstall Silver Efex Pro 2?

For Macintosh users:

1. Insert the CD or mount the your original downloaded DMG file.
2. Run the uninstaller application.

For Windows users:

1. Click Start > Control Panel >Unistall a Programs > Silver Efex Pro.