Google Makes Photography Tools Free

Google has lots of software under its belt, one of which was the mobile editing app Snapseed. They gained control of this back in 2012 when it acquired the German Developer Nik, creator of Snapseed and several other photography tools. In its latest move with the software, Google has made the photography tools it acquired free.

The photography tools are part of the Nik Collection, a grouping of desktop plug-ins aimed at helping photographers with their images. Below is a list of the tools which integrate with Lightroom, Aperture, and Photoshop:

• Analog Efex Pro
  • “Explore the look and feel of classic cameras, films, and lenses.”
• Color Efex Pro
  • “A comprehensive set of filters for color correction, retouching, and creative effects.”
• Silver Efe Pro
  • “Master the art of black-and-white photography with darkroom-inspired controls.”
• Viveza
  • “Selectively adjust the color and tonality of your images without complicated masks or selections.”
• HDR Efex Pro
  • “From natural to artistic, explore the full potential of HDR photography.”
• Sharpener Pro
  • “Bring out hidden details consistently with the professional’s choice for image sharpening.”
• Dfine
  • “Improve your images with noise reduction tailored to your camera.”

You can grab the collection from here for free, and if you purchased it (for the previous price of $149) this year you will automatically be rewarded. While the move suggests there will no future support for the tools, the fact that everyone can use them will surely only improve interest in the product and services the company provides.

Images courtesy of Ivan Slade and Saurabh Paranjape