

Honestly, the biggest asset of this plugin also happens to be its biggest downside: there are so many options! In fact, at first AEP can feel quite overwhelming if you're unsure of exactly what effect you're looking to achieve or what a particular camera style looks like.įor some people, it might be hard to know where to start and end, but that's why we have presets, right? As you become more familiar with AEP, I'm sure you'll find yourself gravitating toward your own favorite combinations. The Camera Kit will be the go-to place when you want to apply effects a la carte or to build a unique look of your own. We also have the additional option of using the all-inclusive Camera Kit that houses the entire bag of camera effects without any presets. Each camera type comes with several presets that use a host of different effects stacked together to simulate a desired look. The Camera Selector allows you to pick from four different camera types that simulate styles of photography created by using a Classic Camera, Wet Plate technique, a Toy Camera, or a Vintage Camera.


I do think that AEP provides a unique set of editing tools, so I'd like to share my thoughts with you about how AEP is different from the other plugins in the Nik suite, how I process an image using AEP, and finally a few recommendations for you as an AEP user. There's no doubt that you can start and finish your image in AEP, but I find myself incorporating it into my workflow much like Color Efex Pro 4: I use certain effects to achieve a desired goal, but still doing most of my editing in Lightroom or Photoshop.

I don't think of AEP as a one-stop processing solution, but more in terms of another tool at my disposal. The best part is that if you currently own the Nik Collection, Analog Efex is free and might already be installed on your machine. If you love the vintage look of film, of a wet plate, or that distorted look that a Holga-type camera can provide, you'll enjoy creating digital images using Analog Efex Pro. Google has joined the ranks of plugin developers providing effects that embrace our analog past. Google's Nik Collection has a new addition to its suite of powerful, professional-grade plugins, and like its highly successful predecessors, Analog Efex Pro (AEP) will undoubtedly be known as the grandfather of nostalgic effects. Plug In with Nik: A Photographer's Guide to Creating Dynamic Images with Nik Software
