Nik 7 Color Efex: A Must-Have Photography Plugin?

Color Efex is arguably the most popular plugin in DxO’s Nik Collection. It’s been a favorite among photographers for over a decade now, and that’s not without reason.

But just how good is it? Is it a must-have plugin for photographers? Can it still compete in what’s becoming a saturated market of photo editors?

That and more is what we will take a closer look at in this Nik 7 Color Efex review. Keep reading and find out whether or not it’s a good match for you.

What is Nik 7 Color Efex?

This might be the first time you hear of Nik 7 Color Efex so before we dive into the ins and outs, let’s take a step back and learn what exactly this tool is.

Color Efex, formally known as Color Efex Pro, is one of eight plugins found in DxO’s popular Nik Collection 7 (read our Nik Collection review here). The primary use is to easily apply creative touches to your photographs.

Unfortunately, you cannot buy just the Color Efex plugin. It can only be purchased as part of the collection (make sure to check out the 30-day free trial if you’re on the fence about getting it). Each of the plugins serves different purposes, but quite honestly, there are only two or three that most photographers will incorporate into their workflow.

Color Efex is one of them.

All eight tools can be used as standalone photo editors or as plugins for Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, or DxO PhotoLabs 7.

Nik 7 Color Efex is often viewed as a jack of all trades. Its number of filters can be overwhelming at first, but don’t let that scare you away. It’s not without reason that photographers have considered it an essential plugin for more than a decade.

What’s New in Color Efex 7?

If you already own a previous version of the Nik Collection, the big question is what the new Color Efex 7 features are, and is it worth the upgrade?

The biggest difference between Color Efex 6 and Color Efex 7 is the significant improvements in U-Point technology. You can now stretch and squash Control Points, giving you more flexibility when creating a mask. There’s also a new Polygonal Tool that helps create better selections, as well as a new Luminosity Mask function and a color picker that allows you to select the exact hue and tone you want to affect.

The HSL tool has also been updated, and Dynamic Filters can now be stacked in any order. Nik Viveza is now also available as a filter within Color Efex 7.

While not specific for Color Efex, a new plugin switcher makes it quick and easy to transition seamlessly between the Nik Collection plugins.

Finally, you’ll notice improved library management for filters and presets. You can now create, organize, and browse filters more easily than previously. This is a big improvement for those who use and create a lot of presets.     

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Nik 7 Color Efex Interface and User Experience

The Nik 7 Color Efex layout is built up of six sections:

1. The Menu Bar
2. The Upper Toolbar
3. The Image Display Area
4. The Left Panel
5. The Right Panel
6. The Lower Toolbar

I won’t go into the details and contents of each tab here (take a look at the user manual if you want that), but some things are good to know.

The left panel contains a list of all the filters. These filters consist of adjustment sliders, drop-down menus, or other options revealed in the right-side panel when selected (click on a filter to activate it).

When the filter is activated, you can use the sliders and other adjustment options in the right-side panel to apply the creative touches to your photograph. The adjustments are live, which means the image in the display area is updated immediately.

An adjustment isn’t “fixed” though. You can go back and change the values at any point during the workflow.

Pro Tip: When using Color Efex as a Photoshop plugin, check the “Convert to smart object” box. This allows you to re-open Color Efex and alter your applied adjustments.

The Best Color Efex Filters

As of writing this, Color Efex has a total of 61 filters. To be honest, it’s unlikely that you’ll use more than a handful of them. Exactly which ones depends on what you want to achieve in post-processing.

I find that some filters are more… experimental… than others. Let’s just say that there are filters for everyone.

For landscape photography, I find that there are particularly six filters that stand out. These mainly focus on tones and contrast but will make a significant difference to the photo when used correctly.

#1 Pro Contrast

The Pro Contrast filter is used, as the name indicates, to adjust the contrast in an image (though there’s also a slider for correcting color cast)

While the Correct Color Cast slider does a good job, it’s the Dynamic Contrast slider that’s most important.

Dynamic Contrast is an advanced slider that adjusts the contrast of each area according to the tone distribution. That means that it adjusts different parts of the photo with varying degrees.

As with any tool, this should be used with care. Generally speaking, you want to avoid using a percentage more than 40 or 50.

#2Tonal Contrast

Including two filters that target contrast might seem a little over the top, but both are exceptionally good. Used together, they can create outstanding results (which is one reason to hold back a little on the sliders).

The Tonal Contrast filter is the best contrast filter in Color Efex 7, and I’d argue that it has been since version one of the Nik Collection.

A common mistake amongst aspiring photographers is that contrast is only adjusted globally. This is rarely a good idea. In fact, most images benefit from local contrast adjustments, too. That’s exactly what the Tonal Contrast filter is used for. Here, you can individually adjust the contrast in the Highlights, Midtones, and Shadows.

Aim to use a 5 to 15 percent strength for each of the three contrast sliders. This can give the photo a nice ‘pop’.

#3 Detail Extractor

The Detail Extractor is a filter you should be very careful with. Not because it’s a bad filter, but because it’s very sensitive. Pulling the slider a little too far will make the image look… crunchy.

That being said, applied at a lower percentage, it’s a great tool for extracting detail and balancing light.

Pulling the slider to the right will extract details, brighten shadows, and darken highlights. The best range is between 5 and 20.

#4 Darken/Lighten Center

I’m generally not a fan of basic vignette tools such as the one found in Lightroom. They lack customization possibilities, making it difficult to create a vignette that suits a photo’s specific needs.

The Darken/Lighten Center is a much better method of applying a vignette. This filter gives you great control, as you can place the center, adjust the center and border luminosity, and change the center size. Combine this with Control Points (more on that soon), and you have everything you need to create the perfect vignette.

I find this to be a great filter to use towards the end of a workflow.

#5 Skylight Filter

Who doesn’t love a nice colorful sunrise or sunset? I think that’s part of what drags many of us outside with our cameras in hand.

The Skylight filter is perfect for these types of photos as it has a similar effect to a warming filter. The further you pull the slider to the right, the more warmth is applied.

This doesn’t work for every photo, and it should be applied with some caution, but it does a lot to enhance the atmosphere for the right image.

Using Presets in Nik 7 Color Efex

It’s no secret that most of us have our habits. This is true when processing our images, too. Even though every image is unique and should be treated individually, most of us follow the same steps and use the same tools during the editing workflow.

This is why many photographers use presets in Lightroom, Actions in Photoshop, or Looks in Luminar. It’s a great way to quickly apply a set of adjustments to your images (rather than spending time manually applying each one)

Color Efex (and the Nik Collection) also have a preset function. Just like in other software, presets allow you to apply a series of adjustments with one click. You can create your own presets or import others’ presets.

Adjustments in a preset aren’t locked, which is important to remember. After applying the preset, you have full access to all the filters it uses and can adjust the settings as needed. You can also turn off filters that might not work for that particular photo.

All the preset does is add filters to the right panel with the settings you saved it with.  

How to Create Presets in Color Efex

Creating a preset in Color Efex Pro is relatively straightforward. All you have to do is follow these simple steps:

1. Apply the filters and settings you want to include in the preset (for example, Pro Contrast, Detail Extractor, and Darken/Lighten Center)
2. Click the “Save Preset” button at the bottom of the right panel
3. Enter the desired name in the dialogue box. Make sure to give it a name that describes the look it gives or the effects it has.
4. Check “Save with Control Points” if you want the control points to be included in the preset.
5. Click “Save”

Your new preset can now be found in the Custom section in the left panel. The name can be changed by clicking on the text and writing in the new one. You can also click the star icon to save it as a favorite (which can be handy when you have many filters)

How to Import Presets in Color Efex

Purchasing presets for Lightroom is quite common and there is an abundance of providers (both photographers and companies) out there. This isn’t quite the case for Color Efex. A quick Google search shows that there’s not much on the market.

That being said, importing presets is still an option. It’s just as easy as creating them:

1. Locate the “Imported” section in the left panel
2. Click on the double arrow icon and select “Import Preset” in the pop-up menu
3. Navigate to the preset file in the new window that opens, select it and click “Open”

The imported preset(s) will now be visible in the Imported section. Again, you can change the name and save a preset as a favorite.

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Create Masks by Using Selective Adjustments in Nik 7 Color Efex

The Nik Collection plugins don’t use Layers and Masks like we are used to from Photoshop and other advanced post-processing tools. Instead, they use something called Control Points. Version 6 saw big upgrades to this function, and due to the additional masking tools, it’s now known as Selective Adjustments. In the latest version, it’s become even better.

In Nik 7 Color Efex, we find Control Points, Control Lines, Control Polygons, and a Luminance Mask. These are similar to masks in Photoshop or Lightroom and are used to apply or remove adjustments (filters) from specific areas in the image.

To find the Control Points you need to first open a filter. Now, within the filter tab in the right panel, you can find four icons. One for adding a Control Point, one for adding a Control Line, one for adding Control Polygon, and one for creating a Luminosity Mask. Option + clicking on either icon adds them as a neutral.

Regular Control Points/Lines are used to apply adjustments only to the selected areas while a Neutral Control Point/Line is used to remove adjustments from those areas.

How Control Points Work

I’m not going to lie. I found Control Points quite confusing in the beginning. I still prefer the way masks work in Photoshop or Affinity, but after a lot of trial and error, I’ve realized that they are more flexible (and intelligent) than what they first appear to be.

In Nik Color Efex Pro 5 they added an option to create selections based on Luminance and Chrominance. This was definitely a step in the right direction, making Control Points more powerful than they’ve ever been before. In version 7 we’ve seen further improvements and you’re now able to make quite accurate masks.

But how exactly do they work? How can you use them to create local adjustments? Let’s start with the basics:

1. Click on the icon to create a Control Point (the adjustment will be applied only to the selected area). Notice that the cursor changes its shape to a little circle when hovering over the image.
2. Click on the area of the image where you want the mask to be applied. A circle should now appear on the image. Only areas covered by the Control Point will be affected when making an adjustment. However, the Control Point analyzes the tones, texture, and color and will adjust its selection within the circle accordingly.
3. Use the slider within the circle to adjust its size and the affected range

You can always move the Control Point or Control Line after it’s been created. Simply click on its knob on the image and drag it to where you want. It’s also possible to create multiple Control Points (and duplicate the ones you already have)

In fact, the best results often come from using several of them. It’s not uncommon to use a dozen or more to create the perfect selection of one area.

I strongly recommend clicking the “Show/Hide selection for all Control Points” when working on your mask. This turns the image into a black and white preview where you can see exactly what areas are targeted (white areas are adjusted while black is left untouched)

Refining Control Points Using Color Selectivity

As I already mentioned, the Control Point looks at the tones, texture, and color of the exact spot you clicked at (the center of the Control Point) when making the selection. By turning on the selection preview, you can see how not all parts within the circle are affected equally.

Let’s say that you want to increase the saturation of a blue sky. You can make a Control Point that covers the entire sky, but then it also covers areas in the landscape that you don’t want to affect. That’s nothing to worry about. As long as the center of the Control Point is in the blue sky, the rest of the image should be unaffected.

In addition to this built-in feature, you have two more ways of refining the selection: the Luminance and Chrominance sliders found in the Color Selectivity section.

Luminance determines the range of brightness of the color. Increasing the amount refines the selection to target only areas of similar luminance to the selected color while lowering it broadens the range to include a wider range of brightness.

Chrominance determines the range of hues for a color. Increasing the amount refines the selection to target only areas with the exact same hue of the selected color while lowering it broadens the range to include a wider range of hues.

Combining these three tools, you can create extremely precise masks. It takes some practice (and often more than one control point) but it’s an important technique to learn if you want to create local adjustments.

How the Polygon Tool Works

The Polygon tool is a new addition to version 7. This tool allows you to create the exact shape that you need to select your subject. Similar to regular Control Points, adjustments will be confined to the area within the polygon, ensuring precise control over localized edits.

Here’s how to use the Polygon tool:

1. Apply a filter then click on the Polygon tool icon.
2. Click to set points around the area you wish to adjust. Each click adds a vertex, and lines connect these points to form the polygonal shape.
3. To finalize the selection, connect the last point to the first, closing the shape.
4. After creating the polygon, you can refine its position and shape by dragging the edges as needed.

Now, with your mask created, apply your desired adjustments.

How Luminosity Masks in Color Efex Work

Luminosity Masks are something I traditionally connect with Photoshop. However, in the later years, more and more photo editors have introduced it in various shapes and forms. Now, you’ll also find this option in the Nik Collection and Color Efex.

These masks are selections made based on the brightness of a pixel. You can use it to target the highlights, midtones, or shadows specifically.

Read More: An Introduction to Luminosity Masks

Luminosity Masks have, for a long time, been considered a fairly advanced method for selective post-processing. With the Nik Collection, it’s easier than ever before.

Follow the same steps to create the mask as with regular Control Points. The difference now, is that you’ll see some new buttons and sliders appear on the right side. Here you have buttons numbered 0 to 10, and a black-to-white tab beneath. You can use the numbers to target specific areas of the photos, where 0 is pure black, 5 is midtones, and 10 is pure whites.

Use the knobs in the tab beneath to make your selection broader or narrower, depending on how much of the photo you want to affect.

Luminosity Masks can be used for many things. One of my favorite adjustments that includes them, is when wanting to apply a cold color cast only to the shadows. In this case, you can use the Colorize filter, choose a dark blue color with a low opacity, then use a number between 0 and 2 for your Luminosity Mask. By doing this, the cold blue is only applied to the darkest parts of your photo.

Who is Nik 7 Color Efex for?

This is the million-dollar question. Or, in this case, the $159 question. Let’s get straight to the point instead of beating around the bush:

If you use Lightroom, Photoshop, PhotoLab, Luminar, Affinity Photo, or any other photo editor to process your images, the Nik Collection plugins will be a great addition to your toolbox. I.e., yes it’s the right choice for you.

If you don’t use any photo editors to process your images and just use the files as are straight out of the camera, you will not find the Nik collection to be of any use. I.e., no, it’s not the right choice for you.

Conclusion

Nik 7 Color Efex is the most popular plugin in the Nik Collection. It has been so for over a decade, and nothing indicates that it will change anytime soon.

I won’t sit here and say, “Color Efex will instantly transform average photos into world-class award winners.” That would be a lie. It will provide you with several customizable filters that will speed up your workflow and allow you to apply advanced adjustments easily.

There’s little doubt in my mind that most photographers who process their images will find this a helpful plugin. Perhaps more as a part of your Lightroom, Photoshop, or Affinity workflow than alone (though standalone users can develop good workflows by combining the other Nik Collection plugins)

I’ve used Color Efex for almost a decade and consider it an essential tool for post-processing. I’m convinced that you will, too.

Are you on the fence about whether or not Color Efex is for you? Take advantage of the Nik Collection’s free 30-day trial that gives full access to all the plugins. Have you already made up your mind? Get Color Efex 7 with our exclusive 15% discount: PAR_182592373_YBQ079D8WR98 (applied at checkout)