NIK collection runs in demo mode

[naqoy]

Hi all,

I have problems in using the NIK collection plugins with Affinity Photo: They always run in demo mode and after 15 days, they can no longer be used, except as standalone applications. I have no other host application than Affinity Photo. Also I had no previous installation of an older version of NIK on my system. I downloaded version 1.2.11 a few weeks ago and installed it following to the video I found here. I created a folder /Applications/Photoshop plugins and added this in the host applications dialog of the NIK installer. In AP I added this folder as plugin folder, checked "allow unknown plugins" (or so, I have a German version running), and selected "authorise globally" using the root folder "/".

I tried to uninstall and reinstall the plugins several times but I still could start them only in demo mode - or not at all after the trial period had ended. So I created a test user on my Mac to figure out, where the information about the trial period is stored.

I found out that the period starts newly when I delete the content of the folder

~/Library/Containers/com.seriflabs.affinityphoto/Data/Library/Application Support/Software.

It is not enough to remove some of the contained files or folders; everything must be removed. After doing so, I can use the plugins again for 15 days. This is of course a bit annoying but a work-around.

 

Now my question: Does anybody know what this folder is for? What could be lost when deleting it?

If anyone has a better idea how to deal with this problem, I would be glad to read about. I know that many people can use the plugins without these silly license restrictions.

 

If this is helpful: I first experienced the problem with AP 1.4.3. In the meanwhile, I use 1.5.1. Operating system is MacOS 10.12.1. I use German localisation.

 

Many thanks!

[R C-R]

Probably of near zero help for you, but I do not have a

~/Library/Containers/com.seriflabs.affinityphoto/Data/Library/Application Support/Software folder in my user account (or anywhere else on my system).

 

That suggests that somehow there is some vestige of the old, non-free NIK files on your system, although I have no idea how that could be true since you say you never installed any of the demo versions.

 

Very puzzling!

[naqoy]

Seems to be a total mystery. Also your idea could not be the solution because I never had a non-free or demo version of NIK on my system. I just started with it a few weeks ago with exactly the current version. I fear that this problem could only be solved by some developer from Serif or Google. On the latter I don't dare to rely...

 

However your answer is help to me because it means that this ominous folder is not important and can be removed without any risk or unwanted side effect. I think for now, I can live with the necessity to click the "demo" button when calling a plugin and to remove the folder every 2 weeks. This will definitively not prevent me from using and loving AP.

 

Thanks for your help.