The structure slider is cool too because it lets you change the look of a photo’s fine detail with just a mouse click. According to Nik Software, this is done in the photograph itself instead of laying a screen or filter over the photo, so it looks more authentic than other plug-ins.

You can also save and apply the same changes on multiple photos. This is great for processing a whole shoot or if you’re converting new photos for an old-time party or adding a unique look to an existing collection. Some features, like the Selective Tool and the Smart Filter Compatibility, only work with Adobe Photoshop. The ability to work on multiple photos is currently only available in the Apple Aperture version, but the software package includes all versions.

A Photographer’s First Look

I started with a full-color food shot I took with a Sony DSC-W50. You can see the existing structure and detail, the shadows, and textures of each item on the board.


First, I simply clicked on the Soft Sepia setting. It delivered a nice change and a traditional black and white look.


Next, I got adventurous and played with the contrast, brightness, and structure. You can see the grain of the board, the feeling of harsh light on the food and an almost washed-out texture to the photograph.

The Big Picture

Ultimately, if you edit your photos and want more flexibility or control when it comes to converting color photos into black and white shots, this software is great. Portraits and sports photos often look more dramatic in black and white and this software can create just the style you want. It goes far beyond the capabilities of other editing software.

Requirements:

• Mac OS 10.4 or later
• G4, G5, Intel® CoreSolo, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Xeon® processor (Universal Binary compatible)
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
• Photoshop CS2, CS3 or CS4, Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0, or Adobe Photoshop plug-in compatible application
• Apple® Aperture (version 2.1 or later)