Workaround for Nik Plugins on PSP X6

[jsj]

I've the Nik Collection of plugins and some of them didn't work on PSP X6.

Notably the Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

But I found a workaround to use them without any problem. I've made two scripts that execute the filters, send them the image being edited inside PSP X6 and, on return, they create a new layer with the result of the filters applied. Original layers left unttouched.

This scripts works with the latest version of the Nik Collection plugins. I've not tested them with previous versions.

In the attached ZIP:

(Version 2 Scripts here: http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php ... 92#p275433)

Nik_Plugins_Scripts.zip

Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Silver Efex Pro 2 scripts

(2.22 KiB) Downloaded 1292 times

there are two files: Nik_ColorEfexPro4.PspScript and Nik_SilverEfexPro2.PspScript.

Just copy them to: C:\Users\<Your_Windows_User>\Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\16.0\Scripts-Trusted

You must edit both scripts (with Notepad or similar text editor) and check the line that says:

Code: Select all

filtroExe = u'C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Color Efex Pro 4\\Color Efex Pro 4.exe'

Or

Code: Select all

filtroExe = u'C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Silver Efex Pro 2\\Silver Efex Pro 2.exe'

The path must point to the path where you have the Nik Collection installed. Those ones are the paths by default so it must work out-of-the-box.

On PSP X6 just execute those scripts. Both of them must appear on the "Script" Toolbar (View -> Toolbars -> Script)

PSP X6 Script Toolbar

There is only a flaw with these scripts and is when you exit the Nik Efex filter via "Cancel" a layer with a copy of the image being edited is also created. But is a minor flaw that I want to fix in future versions.

[Samoreen]

Thanks a lot for sharing this code. The scripts work flawlessly.

[Nklightart]

Wonderful JSJ, it works perfectly for me on 32-bit X6. Thanks a lot.
Now you must also find a workaround for the color shift issue observed in X6 also . I believe its better to rely on you (as X6 is publicly released without any fix even after many users pointing out the issue)

[jsj]

I'm happy seeing those scripts are usefull.

Nklightart about color shift issue I hope Corel fix it via a Service Pack because it's a core problem (I think).

[pwt]

jsj

This is excellent! The scripts work well. I was wondering if I could make a couple of changes if you could point me in the right direction.

1 I think it would be better if the script used the tif format for the temporary file to transfer to the plugin to avoid any loss of quality.

2 I would like to use the 64bit version and I can easily change the script to call the 64bit version of Nik. But this is pointless unless I transfer a 16bit tif file.

3 Is there any way to make the script work in X5?

Sorry for the questions but your scripts are a real breakthrough for those of us using the nik plugins.

[jsj]

Ok pwt I will check later when at home. Here I don't have PSP X6 installed.

But 1 is a matter of change some parameters in the command that saves the temporary file. 2 is trivial.

This code is the one that saves the temporary file:

Code: Select all

App.Do( Environment, 'FileSaveCopyAs', {
            'Encoding': {
                'JPG': {
                    'Variant': App.Constants.JpegFormat.Lossless, 
                    'CompressionFactor': 1, 
                    'ChromaSubSampling': App.Constants.ChromaSubSampling.YCC_1x1_1x1_1x1, 
                    'EXIF': True, 
                    'EmbedJPGICC': False
                    }
                }, 
            'FileName': ficheroTmp, 
            'FileFormat': App.Constants.FileFormat.JPG, 
            'FormatDesc': u'JPG JPEG ', 
            'WorkingMode': 0, 
            'GeneralSettings': {
                'ExecutionMode': App.Constants.ExecutionMode.Silent, 
                'AutoActionMode': App.Constants.AutoActionMode.Match, 
                'Version': ((16,0,0),1)
                }, 
            'DefaultProperties': []
            })

You can record a macro that saves your actual image to 16bit TIFF, save it and edit with a text editor to see which parameters exactly the command "FileSaveCopyAs" have.

About 3 I don't know. I only have PSP X4 and X6 but not X5. I guess that if you change the line 'Host Version' with 15.0 instead 16.0 it would work:

Code: Select all

def ScriptProperties():
    return {
        'Author': u'JSJ',
        'Copyright': u'Copyright (c) 2013 Login:',
        'Description': u'Procesa la imagen actual con Color Efex Pro 4 y devuelve el resultado en una nueva capa',
        'Host': u'PaintShop Pro',
        'Host Version': u'16.00'
        }

You can record and save a macro in PSP X5 and edit it to check this.

Anyway I will check myself all of these later.

[bobadger]

Scripts work great on my Win8 machine with both 32 and 64 PSP6...Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jsj]

Here is a new version of the scripts:

Nik_Plugins_Scripts_v2.zip

Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Silver Efex Pro 2 scripts (v2.0)

(2.58 KiB) Downloaded 1351 times

On this version I've added two options:

1.- Use the 32 bit or 64 bit version of Nik Color Efex Pro 4 or Nik Silver Efex Por 2 filters. Just uncomment the line that applies to your preferences and comment the other (by default uses 32 bit version for max compatibility):

Code: Select all

    # 32 bits
    filtroExe = u'C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Color Efex Pro 4\\Color Efex Pro 4.exe'
    # 64 bits
    #filtroExe = u'C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Nik Collection\\Color Efex Pro 4\\Color Efex Pro 4 (64-Bit)\\Color Efex Pro 4.exe'

2.- Option to save temporary image in JPEG or TIF, just change the following option (TIF with losseless compression by default); thanks @pwt for the indication:

Code: Select all

    formatoFichero = 'TIF'

If you want JPEG instead (faster save and load times but a minor loss of quality then put 'JPEG' instead of 'TIF')

[pwt]

Brilliant! This is ideal and works well with the 64bit version. Thank yu so much.

Philip

[Khuri]

Great work, thank you for those scripts. They work perfectly!

[OldRadioGuy]

Thanks, jsj.

Your scripts are much appreciated!

Bob

[steje44]

Perfect ! Works out of the box !

[monkey26]

thanks for the scripts!
Is it possible to make a script to execute the Knoll Light Factory 3.2 filter?
This filter use to work in x4, but not in x5 and x6! It just doesn't apply any flare on an image!

[jsj]

thanks for the scripts!
Is it possible to make a script to execute the Knoll Light Factory 3.2 filter?
This filter use to work in x4, but not in x5 and x6! It just doesn't apply any flare on an image!

Really can't answer that question because I don't have that plugin.

The short is: if Knoll Light Factory can be executed standalone, passing the image via command line arguments, then yes, it's possible to script.

[monkey26]

Unfortunatly, Knoll Light Factory isn't a standalone App, It's a photoshop plugin filter.
Thanks anyway...