I’m pleased to announce the immediate availability of two new educational products from Luminescence of Nature Photography that will allow you to quickly master the art of black and white digital conversion using the Silver Efex Pro 2 plug-in from Nik Software.
The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro 2 (PDF, 199 pages)
The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro 2 is a 200-page PDF guide (eBook) that covers every tool, slider, and feature in Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro 2 plug-in. Here’s the manual that you’ll want to use to learn all the new features in Silver Efex Pro 2.0, including Dynamic Brightness, Soft Contrast, Fine Structure, and Selective Colorization. The book is delivered in electronic (PDF) format, and is readable on Macs, PCs, and iPads (to view on the iPad, you’ll need to transfer the PDF file from your computer using iTunes). I’ve also included a set of custom style presets that you can load into Silver Efex Pro 2:
- Antique Sepia
- Infrared Film
- Chunky IR Film
- Dramatic Landscape
- Subtle Landscape
- Portraits
- Portrait (selenium toning)
- Portrait (sepia toning)
- Solarization
- Surreal Solarization
Whether you are using Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop, or Capture NX2, this guide will cover everything you need to establish a powerful black and white editing workflow.
Mastering Silver Efex Pro 2.0 (QuickTime Video Set)
Because most of us photographers are visual learners, I’ve produced a set of training videos that serve as a companion to my book. These crisp, HD videos are captured directly from my computer as I demonstrate the workflow, interface, and editing techniques with Silver Efex Pro 2. With Mastering Silver Efex Pro 2.0, you get 144 minutes (2.4 hours) of detailed training that reinforce the concepts in The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro.
Topics Covered:
- Workflow & Interface
- Editing Tools
- Image Processing Techniques
- Advanced Techniques for Photoshop Users
Ordering information
The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro is available for download for $24.99
Mastering Silver Efex Pro 2.0 is available for download for $29.99
Special Offer: Save $10 when you order both products together in the Silver Efex Pro 2.0 Bundle. $44.99
©2011 Luminescence of Nature Press
Is “Mastering Silver Efex Pro 2.0” all encompassing or is it more of an add-on to “The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro” detailing the new features with the update?
It’s all-encompassing, but it also aligns with the examples in the eBook. It includes RAW processing, how to launch from Aperture, LR, Photoshop, and then covers explanations of all the tool sliders. Part 3 is real image processing examples for different effects, including landscapes, portraits, and antique photos. The last part covers working with Photoshop/Elements– Nik Selective tool, layer blending, and Smart Objects.
Jason,
I have your CNX2 conversion book and like it very much for that software. I have not yet purchased Silver Efex Pro. When I do, I will use it as a stand alone program since it is not a plugin for CNX2. In doing so, will I have to use the “save as tiff” intermediate step as you instruct in the HDR Efex Pro video, or can I use the nef file throughout the workflow. Thanks for our very informative instructions. Preston.
Preston-
You cannot use SEP2 directly within Capture NX2. What you can do is use SEP2 for Lightroom as your “Open With” application from CNX2. When you choose “Open With,” CNX2 will export a TIFF directly to SEP2 for Lightroom. You can edit and save that TIFF (as a copy of the original NEF) and then bring it back into CNX2 if you want for further processing.
For more, read here: http://www.luminescentphoto.com/blog/2010/10/10/using-nik-plug-ins-with-capture-nx-2/
I very much enjoyed the e-book and video tutorial about Silver Efex Pro 2.0. I had one quick question. You state that if you apply modest “capture sharpening” during the RAW conversion followed by conversion to B&W in Silver Efex Pro 2.0 including selection of a film type and global and localized brightness, contrast, and structure adjustments, no further sharpening should be applied. Does that mean that you do not apply further sharpening even prior to printing? Thank you.
You would apply “output” (print) sharpening as required.
-Jason
How different is this version from the original “The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro” and is there a price break to upgraders of the book?
Avi-
I wrote this guide from the ground up to cover SEP2. Obviously, there are some similarities between the products, but the new guide covers using the new tools and workflow options specific to SEP2.
If you subscribe to my newsletter at http://www.luminescentphoto.com, you should have received a coupon code in an email from me.
-Jason
Is it possible to have a look on the table of content (TOC) for this new ebook?
When you’ll write “The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro 3″, it would be interesting to discuss about 20 photos, using SEP 3 (The same as David duChemin’s did in his “Refining your vision in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom”)+ Could you add the possibility to download these pictures in Raw format ? Thank you.
This isn’t a critic, it is only a suggestion from a 67-year old retired teacher.