However, you can hide the panels at any time by clicking the buttons on the top corner(s). The default setting displays the canvas and the panels, that way you can see what you’re doing. By clicking the button on top that has a lightbulb in it, you can switch to black, white or grey. First of all, you can change the background color so that you can best appreciate the photo. Canvas is the area where you can see your image and the adjustments you’re making to it. *Note that Dfine, Viveza and Sharpener Pro only have the adjustment panel on the right. This window has a canvas area where you can see the image and one or two adjustment panels on the side. When you launch the desired filter, a window pops up. Therefore, I won’t go into much detail about this or any other particular filter. While I’m using Color Efex Pro to show you around, this tutorial is an introduction to the entire collection. However, keep in mind that this option is only active if you have already opened an image. If you don’t want the entire panel, but a specific filter you can go to Menu -> Filters -> Nik Collection and choose the one you want from the menu. If you close it and want to open it again without re-launching Photoshop, go to Menu -> File -> Automate -> Nik Collection Selective Tool. You can move it around your screen, minimize or close it without affecting Photoshop. This panel is independent of the Photoshop interface. When you launch Photoshop, the Nik Filter Panel launches too.
So, keep reading for a quick introductory guide to the Nik filter interface. When there are so many choices available, it’s difficult to choose or even figure out where to start.
Have you downloaded the NIK filter collection but now you don’t know how to use it? It’s great to have all these tools available, but they can be daunting to use for the first time.