NX2

This release by Nikon for their digital Image workflow software known as Nikon capture has been anticipated for a while. There is a lot of expectations on my part and perhaps the larger user community for some features… What are we looking for? basically a product that is not so buggy that goes into crash mode, especially when using Snow Leopard 10.6. I can’t tell you the amount of crashes that I’ve seen going up to Snow Leopard. Even with a full fresh install, it was never robust. The perplexing thing was that it did work on Leopard 10.5.8, so I kept a partition on my HDD with Leopard and used NX2 there, not a convient work flow.

The system requirements (pulled from Nikon site) are:

I know that a lot of pro-users seem to be bailing on NX2, Hogan and Chambers both have expressed and published information not recommending the product ( I think Lloyd has resorted to calling the product CraptureNX2 because of all the crashes) and Thom had a blog recommending not using it as a primary convertor in your workflow.

I am breaking with those thoughts and here are my reasons.

1. Nikon Raw File conversion is propieritary and everyone elses RAW conversions are best attempts at reverse engineering.  I want Nikon’s Raw file converted by Nikon not Adobe,CaptureOne,BibblePro,Lightroom,Aperture
2. It’s an easy process to reset your in-camera DLSR sharpen settings back to 0.  I choose to use DLSR in camera sharpening, so I can see a sharpened Image in my D3sLCD, then later deselect the sharpening that was brought into into NX2, and later apply sharpening when and where I want it.  I had forgotten about this workflow and Lloyd and Dr. Jason P. Odell book helped me get it right. (FYI Jason is having special workshops in the Connecticut in September)
3. I happen to really like NIK plugins for NX2, you can quickly set one up, then another, then another, then another, and they immediately become part of your action layer type list. You just can’t be as productive in PS5 using NIK Color Effect Pro, each selection requires the plugin to open, create a layer, then close, then you start again, this opening and closing and creating seperate layers takes to much time, almost 5 times longer  and it is not as interactive, and it’s a drag to the  creative process.   I may use NIK color effect pro maybe one or two final adjustments in PS5, but that’s it.  I always start out in NX2 and I’m flying….
4. Capture NX2 was designed by the folks at NIK who created the  global and selective features  control called U-points.  You can work much faster in NX2 than in PS5. Again Nik has a plugin called Viverza for PS5 but it has the same time limitations as Color Effect Pro, create layer, open plugin, make selection, close plugin, work on PS layer.
5. No other software will allow you to set Black point/white point/grey point easier. And if you’re the creative type, Moose teaches a great tip on using the white point to paint with. I think he has posted it up on his site, I know for a fact what this trick is and how he has used it on some super Images he created while in Camdem, Maine during a Maine Media workshop. I’ve incorporated the ‘tip’ in a lot of my work..it is simple, and extremely effective.
6. The alignment feature in Nikon capture NX2 is quicker as is the spot removal tool.  For those quick hits, I’ll defer to NX2, anything strange or larger than a dust spot then I relay on the PS5 tools.
7. I like having two separate files for my digital darkroom Images.  I know that I’ve worked my RAW NEF in NX2, by saving it with a designation cc before the .NEF extentions.  I’ll always have my original RAW adjustements squirreled away.
8. When I go out to PS with my NX2 raw file, the format goes to tiff, and although the same color space is used in both apps (pro-photo) and I always open in ACR, there tends to be some very slight nuance using the Adobe Raw convertor vs NIkon. I can look at the two separately to see how to tweak Adobe back into shape.

So given the above, I am hopefull that this new release address the robustness issues and after giving it a whirl, I’ll update this posting with results and conclusions.

The link for downloading the Sw is currently UK Nikon, and I’d like to thank the folks over at Nikon Rumor for getting this new release information out !

Update: 08/24/10-pm

1. Download from UK site no problems okay
2. Loaded on Mac Pro 2.66 Quad-Core Intel Xeon on Solid State drive running Snow Leopard 10.6.4 w/all current software updates.
3. Nikon NX2 V2.2.5 starts up ok.
4. PlugIn for NIK Capture Efex Pro 3.0 do not display correctly.**(see below)
5. Google for community help, nothing
6. Head over to Nikon Rumors Blog others who have done install report same problem. Thanks Alvix and Ralph D
7. Fix is to download and reinstall Nik Capture Efex Pro 3.0
8. Everything okay to start testing V225

NIkon has announced an update for their ViewNX Software….. Yay…and now it works with the August 2009 Snow Leopard release… Better late than never, but the Nikon folks did not have their core imaging software compatible with SL powered MACs for about six months. What a way to disenfranchise your install base and then not let anyone know what their release timetable was, for this situation, I’ll  have to agree with Thom Hogan about Nikon’s battle with their marketing malfeasance…

This was one piece of Sw that had limited use in my workflow, but was totally junked by SL. There are a lot of  photo viewers options out there, but still it may have a place in your third tier goto apps.

NikonRSS

Now available over at the Nikon site,is the LOOOOONG awaited update to NX2 for Snow Leopard compatibility. Baaack in September when SL was released, the only critical software  that was not compatible with SL and in my work flow was NX2 and View NX. And I really lost quite a bit of hard DD work as I tried work around after work around. I finally had to reinstall SL and so I was not a happy camper with NX2.  And I’m not going to be an early adopter on this release either. I’m going to wait a bit, check it out on a partitioned drive with SL on it, then if all works out… then it will be time to totally upgrade to Snow Leopard again…sigh

This NIK plugin has a silent upgrade announced via subscriber email. Not really sure what it fixed as I didn’t notice any difference.  However, Version 2 this is a very nice plug in and does a lot of the work NX2 does inside of PS4 along with Color Efex Pro.  So you have your choice, use NX2 or use the 2 NIK plug ins….or I’m sure there are many other useful solutions…(it sb mentioned that Viveza2 plugin also is used in Lightroom)

Truth be known,

• The Nikon release is just a mess, lots of complaints out there, and a lot of Mac SL users left NX2 for Lightroom… SL came out in September ! and nothing from NIKON for ~ six months..shame on them.
• And the folks at NIK, the version 1 of  Viveza was featureless crap, which should have been free until the real stuff came out…..but nooo they charged way too much for release 1 and then more $$ for the version 2 upgrade, ….
• I keep track of and own and buy and am involved in over a couple hundred  apps and software and both of these guys get a flat-out “F” for release management and customer management and support of their customer base…..
• maybe they can get their act together now that this release is behind them….let’s hope so