Unable to install NIK efex plugins Affinity Photo

[FroggyKiwi]

Hi, I've had a very frustrating experience so far. I Have Nik Efex plugins install on my computer but I'm unable to make them work on Affinity Photo. I've followed all the tutorials online I could find with no luck.

I've reached to DxO but since I had the plugins before they bought them back they're not willing to help me.

Cheers

[R C-R]

Where did you install NIK? Did you create an additional folder during the install process & if so where is it?

[FroggyKiwi]

Hi there, I've created a folder in the application folder. And created a linked file in the default folder as well.

[R C-R]

6 hours ago, FroggyKiwi said:

Hi there, I've created a folder in the application folder. And created a linked file in the default folder as well.

Did you create the Nik Collection folder in the Applications folder before running the installer & during installation did you use the "+" button to tell the installer to use that folder?

Also, what exactly do you mean about creating a linked file? How did you populate that folder with the items shown in it?

[Old Bruce]

6 hours ago, R C-R said:

Also, what exactly do you mean about creating a linked file? How did you populate that folder with the items shown in it?

The folder is an alias, a symbolic link. The plug-ins are only in the folder in the Applications folder.

[R C-R]

11 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

The folder is an alias, a symbolic link. The plug-ins are only in the folder in the Applications folder.

On Macs, aliases & symbolic links are two different things, but that probably doesn't matter as much as that in the Applications folder there do not seem to be any plugins, just the apps.

[Old Bruce]

7 minutes ago, R C-R said:

... the Applications folder there do not seem to be any plugins, just the apps.

I was talking about the screen shot from FroggyKiwi. There is the folder Nik Collections

regarding Alias vs Symbolic Link, yes they are like fish vs fowl, or apples and oranges.

[R C-R]

32 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

I was talking about the screen shot from FroggyKiwi. There is the folder Nik Collections

But that folder does not appear to have any plugins in it, just the standalone apps.

[Old Bruce]

6 minutes ago, R C-R said:

But that folder does not appear to have any plugins in it, just the standalone apps.

Ah I see. We have been talking at cross purposes, driven by my ignorance. Sorry to have wasted your time.

[R C-R]

10 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

Ah I see. We have been talking at cross purposes, driven by my ignorance. Sorry to have wasted your time.

It is never a waste of time. Some things are just more obvious to one set of eyes than another. Besides, I am not 100% sure there are no plugins in that folder -- I only have the old free Google version on my iMac to go by. That installs the plugins in a subfolder named "Google" at the same folder level as the 9 apps, with each plugin & its configuration files in a separate subfolder with the same name as the apps.

In the OP's screenshot I don't see any indication of a similar folder structure so I wonder if the step to create that folder was missed during the install.

[firstdefence]

1. When installing the DXO Nik Collection, at the point the installer asks about compatible hosts, you have the option to create a folder using the '+' sign near the bottom left of the installer window.
2. Clicking on the '+' sign opens a window to look for a folder, at this point you can create a folder using Shift + Command + N, this will open a new folder dialogue where you can name the folder and place it in a location to suit you, I named it "NIK Collection - Affinity Custom Folder" and placed it in Applications so that it sits just below the Standalone Nik Collection install folder...
3. So, once you have named the folder and picked a location just click on Open and it will add an Adobe Photoshop Custom 1 entry to the compatible hosts list
4. Click Continue
5. Once the installer has finished go into Affinity Photo, Prefs : Plugins and point to the "NIK Collection - Affinity Custom Folder", make sure unknown plugins is checked and authorise global is clicked and you'll be good to go.

[FroggyKiwi]

Thanks guys for the replies.

I was assuming the standalones worked as plugins as well for some inexplicable reason. I've digged into my old computer and tried to retrieved the plugins as I don't have the installer anymore but after adding them to the plugins folder in Affinity I've got this result !

 

Thanks for your help

[FroggyKiwi]

Also, even though the plugins now appear in the in the effect panel they are now asking if I want to purchase or use demo. If I click onto Demo Affinity crashes.

[firstdefence]

This is where the plugins are located if you have Adobe Photoshop installed: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Plug-Ins/CC/DXO in each of the filters folder there will be a .plugin file and a .config file. Other than this I suggest you follow the method I added from DXO.

https://support.dxo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040284711-How-to-launch-Nik-Collection-2-5-by-DxO-plugins-from-Affinity-Photo-1-8-or-higher-

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, FroggyKiwi said:

Also, even though the plugins now appear in the in the effect panel they are now asking if I want to purchase or use demo. If I click onto Demo Affinity crashes.

Click on "Authorize Global" in the preferences.

[FroggyKiwi]

WOW thanks guys ! What a ride ! All plugins are know been recognized and don't crash Affinity when launched BUT some of the plugins have weird color result right in the plugin window with colors being posterized !!! So far I've seen this behavior with Viveza2 and Analog efex pro2. Any idea what might cause this ? Thanks

[firstdefence]

Are you using 32bit images because I believe only the HDR Efex Peo filter uses 32bit the rest are 16bit or less

[FroggyKiwi]

On 3/6/2020 at 5:27 AM, firstdefence said:

Are you using 32bit images because I believe only the HDR Efex Peo filter uses 32bit the rest are 16bit or less

No, all my images are 16bit or less, I thought it was image depth problem originally too, but it's not that.

[firstdefence]

Maybe upload one of the images you have this issue with and we'll see if we have it too.

[FroggyKiwi]

This is the one I've used to test all plugins.

_MG_6087.CR2

[firstdefence]

I'm not getting anything like posterised effects, Any chance of a screenshot of that effect?

[FroggyKiwi]

Here you go !

 

[FroggyKiwi]

On 3/7/2020 at 9:52 PM, firstdefence said:

I'm not getting anything like posterised effects, Any chance of a screenshot of that effect?

See above

[firstdefence]

Analog Efex Pro normally selects an "initial state" which is usually 'Classic Camera 1' because it's top of the presets list. but on your system it doesn't and there is not setting to tell it to do that. In the settings (the small SETTINGS... button) uncheck: Use GPU for image processing 

Close Analog eFex pro down, reopen Analog eFex pro and load the image, the image will take more time to open but does it render correctly?

[FroggyKiwi]

1 hour ago, firstdefence said:

Analog Efex Pro normally selects an "initial state" which is usually 'Classic Camera 1' because it's top of the presets list. but on your system it doesn't and there is not setting to tell it to do that. In the settings (the small SETTINGS... button) uncheck: Use GPU for image processing 

Close Analog eFex pro down, reopen Analog eFex pro and load the image, the image will take more time to open but does it render correctly?

didn't work, also if you noticed there's a discrepancy between the preset selected and the actual result !