Google added a brand new Analog Efex Pro module to the Nik Collection pretty much without telling anyone! The Nik Collection is now owned and distributed by DxO.
Analog Efex Pro is, as the name suggests, designed to replicated the ‘analog’ look of old films, cameras and darkroom processes. So I’m going to start with this casual outdoor portrait to see just what Analog Efex Pro can do.
The new Analog Efex Pro plug-in covers the same sort of territory, but offers more in-depth controls and follows the same interface design as the existing Google Nik Collection plug-ins. It’s a desktop tool rather than a web app, and you can use it as a plug-in with Photoshop, Elements, Lightroom and Aperture.
01 Choose your camera
This is the first step. You open this drop-down menu to choose one of four types of camera – I’ve chosen Classic Camera. When you choose the camera type, you can browse through a list of presets in the panel below. This one is called ‘Classic camera 2’, and I like it already.
02 Bokeh control
This is the Wet Plate 2 preset from the Wet Plate camera type. Each of these presets uses a collection of camera controls in the right sidebar (not shown here), and this preset includes a ‘Bokeh’ (edge blur effect). This uses adjustment gadgets like those you see in Snapseed – you can see the Bokeh gadget in this screenshot.
03 Toy Camera
This is the Toy Camera 1 preset from the Toy Camera section. What I really like about this is the realistic-looking edge blur – it’s just like the effect you get from a cheap lens.