I did few articles about Color Efex pro plugin before, but today, I will go through my most used filters from Color Efex pro, and will also try to explain why and when I use them. There are of course too many filters available in Color Efex pro, but I will stick to my most used here. There are also all the ones I have set in my favorite selection in Color Efex. So let’s go.

1. Pro Contrast

The most used filter by me, and probably by everyone who uses Color Efex. It can be used either to remove color cast from your photos (the first slider) or add more local contrast and detail into them (the third slider). It also allows for contrast corrections, but the doest not work for me that great most of the time.

I use it on most of my photos, as it gives them more pop, making them stand out more. One just can’t overdo it, especially on Dynamic contrast, as that becomes ugly quite quickly. Values around 30% work the best most of the time.

2. Detail Extractor

If you have a spot where you want to show more detail, or want to exaggerate the texture of an object, Detail Extractor is the filter for you. The best way is to use this effect on a duplicate layer, use more than you need, and then just add a layer mask and just brush in how much of the effect you need, and where you need it. Also don’t forged to add contrast (second slider) and also a bit of saturation (third slider). This is because detail extraction removes a lot of contrast and also partial the colors.

Again, it’s very easy to go overboard here, normally the default of 25% should be enough for most cases.

3. Brilliance/Warmth

This one is again used for multiple effects. One is to add more color to you photo, while doing it more subtly than just adding more saturation. Second is to change the overall warmth of the photo. It’s similar to white balance, but still quite different. It can be great especially for sunrise/sunset photos, where you want to get much more golden light from the sun.

4. Glamor Glow

While this is mostly for portrait photography, in landscape photos, glamor glow can be great when you apply it on clouds, especially white ones. It will make them look brighter and softer, exactly what you want from white fluffy clouds. I would suggest adding more saturation in this filter, as it defaults to -29% there and that can wash out the blue sky a bit.

5. Polarization

Same as a normal polarization filter you use on your lends, the polarization filter in Color Efex serves the same purpose. It darkens the sky and makes it a stronger blue color, and it removes overly bright areas by adding more color into them. Can be really helpful if you get a very dull photo and want to put more life into it.

6. Skylight Filter

This filter adds a lot of yellow light into your photos, so shifting mostly the white balance. It’s a bit like a simpler version of the Sunlight filter. It’s really great if you want to shift the colors more towards warm, and just changing the white balance doest not work for you.

7. Sunlight

Another great filter to use on sunrise/sunset photos. If you want to have your photos look like the scenery is filled with light. Together with Skylight and Briliance/Warmith, you can create a wonderful warm photo that just shines with light. And some of my most popular photos used this filter :)

And that’s all. I use few more, but very very rarely. These are really the ones I use the most.

A more simple photo for today. While I was taking photos in Paris, most of the trees were still green. But in some of the side streets, the Autumn color already taken over. And this is from one of those streets :)

This is mostly a single exposures, edited in Lightroom. I had to blend few bright spots from a second exposure in Photoshop.

Technique: Photoshop blend, Number of exposures: 2, Camera Model: Sony a7R + Metabones MkIII Adapter, Lens: Canon 24-70mm F2.8, Focal length: 16mm, Aperture: 9, Middle exposure time: 1/50s, ISO: 100, Tripod used: yes, Location: 48.856510, 2.286782

Few days ago I ordered a new Surface Pro 4, and while doing so, I had a thought. Can I install the programs I use (the whole list here) on multiple computers at once? Will I be able to use them without having to purchase a second copy? So I started searching, and here are my results. I’m also including links to the sources where I found the information, regarding the particular software.

PhotoMe, Caesium, Picasa, InfranView

These programs are free, so there is no limitation on how many computers they can be installed

Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge

As you can get these only as a subscription from Adobe Creative cloud, the same limitations are on all of them. A single license for Adobe software lets you install it on two computers at once. Actually, you can install it on as many as you want, but only two can be activated by Adobe at the same time. If you want to activate another one, you first have to deactivate one (source).

Oloneo Photoengine

The license allows for the program to be installed on two computers, as long as they are not used simultaneously (source).

Photomatix Pro

There is no limitation here, and for your own use, you can install Photomatix pro on all your computers. To be exact, on all computers, that you personally use (source).

Nik Collection

For the whole collection of Nik plugins, there are similar rules as by others. You are allowed to install them on up to two computers, and if you want to put them on another one, you first have to remove one of those installations (source).

Topaz Collection

Same as by Nik Collection, Topaz Collection can be installed on up to two computers at the same time (source). (update: since Nik collection is free now, you can install it as much as you want)

Macphun Creative Kit

The Macphun creative kit can be activated on up to 5 computers, of course Mac OS only (source).

Imagenomic Plugins

The trend continues here, with a purchase of an Imagenomic plugin, you will have the right to install it on two computers simultaneously (source).

AcdSee

This is a bit more complicated. From what I found, if you are on their subscription plan, you can use it on up to 5 computers. If you just bought it, you can use it only on one (and there should be versions that are for 2 somewhere). You can check out this discussion about this.

Autopano Software

All licenses bought from Kolor are meant as a single-station licenses, but Kolor tolerates the installation of their software on multiple computers, as long their are all for the same single user (source).

PTgui

A personal license here is valid for up to three installations, as long they are all used by the user it was licensed to. For multiple users, a different license is required (source).

TK actions & Raya Pro

These are not really software, but actions, and as such, there is no real limitation. Still, I would suggest you support the creators, and only use them on the computers you use.

JpegMini

For this one I have not yet been able to find any information, still looking into that.
 
Overall, almost all the software can be installed at least on two computers, as long as you are the one person that uses it. I presume it is mostly to accommodate people who use a desktop and a laptop together, so they can have it on both systems.

For the links and more info on all the programs, please visit the What software I use article.

Here is one more shot from yesterdays All Saints Day, and until next year, this is the last shot from a cemetery I will post. It does look interesting with all the different lights, but still a bit depressing over time.

This is a HDR from 4 exposures, created in Oloneo Photoengine, finished in Photoshop.

Technique: Oloneo Photoengine, Number of exposures: 4, Camera Model: Sony a7R + Metabones MkIII Adapter, Lens: Canon 16-35mm F2.8, Focal length: 16mm, Aperture: 4.5, Middle exposure time: 20s, ISO: 500, Tripod used: yes, Location: 48.164499, 17.159758

As traditionally, since today was the All Saints’ Day, I’m posting a new photo from the Martins Cementery in Bratislava. As you may know, most countries in Europe don’t celebrate Halloween, but we have the All Saints’ Day instead. The tradition is to go and light candles on graves. And if you go to a cemetery, there is usually one or two more central places with a cross or a statue, that is just covered with candles. And this is one of those.

This is a HDR from 7 exposures, created in Oloneo Photoengine, finished in Photoshop. I had to go with so many exposures, as it was already quite dark when I took the photos, and the statue was very brightly lit. You can even see, on some of the flowers next to it, that I got no detail in those, even with so many exposures.

Technique: Oloneo Photoengine, Number of exposures: 7, Camera Model: Sony a7R + Metabones MkIII Adapter, Lens: Canon 16-35mm F2.8, Focal length: 35mm, Aperture: 9, Middle exposure time: 1.6s, ISO: 250, Tripod used: yes, Location: 48.164499, 17.159758