How to run Nik Collection as stand-alone apps.

bilzmale

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Perth, Western Australia
Name
Bill Shinnick
An article on Petapixel shows that even without LR or PS you can run the .exe files for each plugin. Note saving from within Nik overwrites the image so make a copy first and RAW files are not handled.

ARTICLE:

I assume most of us know that Google has transferred the Nik collection to DxO but the software bundle can still be downloaded free.

Nik at DxO:
 
This is sweet. I finally learned how to install and run Nik under Linux Ubuntu using WINE. It ran fine, and runs much faster than it did on my old laptop with Win7. Here's a photo I took recently with my X-T1, and run through Analog Efex Pro:

DSCF0460a.JPG
 
Barrie, I tried several different WINE builds, including 1.8, with no success - Nik just wouldn't install. Then I tried this guy's suggestions: How to Install Wine 1.8 Stable via New PPA in Ubuntu | UbuntuHandbook

I started at the line that says "Install latest Wine Dev release from the Official WineHQ PPA:" Just follow the commands in order, and WINE 3.0-rc2, a development build, was installed. I then ran winecfg and set the operating environment to Windows 7. Then you can right click on the Nik installer and select "Open With > Wine Windows Program Loader". The installation ran quickly and without error from there. The programs are installed in the folder home/user name/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Google/Nik Collection. In order to see the hidden .wine folder, make sure to select "view > show hidden files" from the menu. I went into each program's individual folder and made a link to the executable, then cut and paste that link to my desktop. Just right-click on the link and select "Open With > Wine Windows Program Loader". No more menu diving to run the programs!
 
If avoiding cost is the main objective, the Nik plugins can also be run from within IrfanView on Windows.

Martin, in my case avoiding the cost is not the main objective, avoiding companies like Microsoft is the main objective. Having said that I do run a machine with Windows 7 on which I use Photoshop CS6 and DxO Optics Photolab, however I do not use that machine to go on line except to update DxO every so often. I've long wanted to leave the clutches of Microsoft and am gradually moving that way despite the difficulties involved.

Barrie
 
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