Using Photoshop and Nik Color Efex 4

Published May 27, 2012 | By Mike Criss

Improving photos is getting easier in the digital darkroom. I can enhance an okay photo in about 30 seconds using Photoshop CS6 and NIK Color Efex Pro 4.
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wpid5059 MG 5474 Using Photoshop and Nik Color Efex 4

Before Photoshop and NIK Color Efex 4

wpid5057 MG 5474 Edit Using Photoshop and Nik Color Efex 4

After Photoshop and NIK Color Efex 4

After exporting photo from Lightroom to Photoshop I click on NIK Color Efex Detail Extractor button. This applies the effect to the entire photo, something I do not want.

: NIK Color Efex 4

I click on ‘brush’ in Detail Extractor and it creates a mask automatically in Photoshop. I just paint in the effect where I want. In this case, I wanted a bit more light on the cute dachshund.