Workaround for Nik Plugins on PSP X6

[JoeB]

Update! I was able to modify the scripts for the rest of the NIK programs and all of them WORK! I couldn't be happier! PHEW! All I did was change where is said Color Efex Pro 4 to Analog Efex Pro, so on and so forth for the rest of the programs. Even the HDR one works. I had the issue where viveza 2 worked, but the colors would show up desaturated, but with the script it works just fine. I want to say a HUGE thanx to jsj for the initial scripts!

Deanna

Thanks for the info about Viveza! That mod to the script works, and Vizeza works 100% without the limitation of having the correct colors only when zoomed to 33% as the other workaround I found in this thread did. Now if only there was a way to bind these scripts and add them as a button or something to the Plugins menu.

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

That's great news. Which is the correct script to use that now works with all Nik plugins in PSP X6 32-bits?

[JoeB]

That's great news. Which is the correct script to use that now works with all Nik plugins in PSP X6 32-bits?

The scripts that were posted are the ones to download, and default to being for 32-bit Paintshop Pro. One is for Color Efex and one for Silver Efex. To make one of them work for Viveza, just select one of them in the Scripts dropdown and then click the Edit button to edit it. Just replace the few instances of , for example, Color Efex Pro 4 (if that's the script you're editing) with Viveza 2. And make sure that the path in the script points to the actual path of the Viveza 2.exe file. Hope this helps.

I don't know if this script works for other Nik plugins except these three because I haven't tried any of the others.

As a matter of interest, the Viveza plugin does not open full screen on my monitor by default and doesn't have the little icons at top right to maximize it. However, you can toggle full screen on and off just using the f key on your keyboard.

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

Thanks. Finally I have a Viveza 2 script that doesn't desaturate colours.

Not sure if it makes a difference but I made a change to 'ChromaSubSampling': App.Constants.ChromaSubSampling.YCC_4x4_2x2_2x2 as this yields the largest file size.

Also I noticed that it takes slightly longer when compared to an earlier Viveza 2 version using this script, MAYBE because of the TIFF temp file? Is there a reason it cannot work exclusively in JPEG format, or am I not understanding how this works?

[JoeB]

Thanks. Finally I have a Viveza 2 script that doesn't desaturate colours.

Also I noticed that it takes slightly longer when compared to an earlier Viveza 2 version using this script, MAYBE because of the TIFF temp file? Is there a reason it cannot work exclusively in JPEG format, or am I not understanding how this works?

The script defaults to using the TIF format but, as you'll see by looking at the script, you can make it default to JPG. However, that's not a good idea, because saving the temp file as JPG means you're saving it in a lossy format, while saving it to TIFF keeps the resulting image that is returned to PSP as a lossless image. The script creator originally just had it set for jpg but a suggestion from another user was gratefully accepted by him and he revised it to allow (and default to) saving in the lossless TIFF format. Hope that helps.

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

OK. That makes perfect sense. A slight performance hit without compromising IQ.

[JoeB]

OK. That makes perfect sense. A slight performance hit without compromising IQ.

Exactly! And of course you should always make it a habit to save all editing in a lossless format, even the final product (I tend to use .pspimage to save layers, etc.). Only then save another copy in jpg if you need a jpg copy. For printing at a commercial print store like the drug store for family use I would actually save a lossless TIF, assuming they accept that format. Some might accept a flattened .psd image also. Of course, commercial offset printers prefer .psd with everything intact. .

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

For commercial work, I only work with 16-bit TIFFs after they're processed from RAW, and JPEGs are converted from the final TIFF files when clients ask for them. I have CS6 for work just because it pushes my machine to its limit, utilizing all CPU cores and GPU. I Nik plug-ins scream on CS6 and that's all I use CS6 for practically (still don't know much about Photoshop). Nik's floating panels work really well there

[Jan Shim]

Now I remember why I didn't proceed with the scripts from before even though they worked, I was and still am getting this repeatable error each time I close PSP. It would take about five seconds or so before the error appears. Not sure what to do about it.

[JoeB]

Now I remember why I didn't proceed with the scripts from before even though they worked, I was and still am getting this repeatable error each time I close PSP. It would take about five seconds or so before the error appears. Not sure what to do about it.

The attachment 2015-04-30_111103.jpg is no longer available

When I run the script in PSP X7 Ultimate SP2, on my WIN 8.1 64-bit machine but using the 32-bit X7 program, I do get an error message several seconds after closing the X7, but it's different from yours (see attached). In my case I just have to click the X on the error window to close it - a bit inconvenient but easy. I don't get the error closing X7 unless I run the scripts.

In your case you likely have to go through that whole routine of closing the program with windows looking for a solution, so that's more of an issue. I think I'll PM the script creator and see if he knows why, but as I'm kind of busy getting ready to go away for a few days perhaps you could do so and point him to the posts and images we have posted here showing the problem.

Also, what version of PSP are you using, and what operating system? That might explain the difference between what happens to the two of us.

EDIT: By the way, I don't get the error if I run Viveza 2 using the regular plugin with the original workaround (the one that caused Viveza to work but caused a color shift in the preview unless the preview was set to 33%). But considering that the error window that opens for me can be easily dismissed with no problems - and X7 closes properly - I prefer having the plugin work with proper color rendition at whatever zoom level I want. And it's not like I'll be using those scripts all the time, so only an occasional issue anyway for me.

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

PSP X6 on Windows 7 64-bit. I'll let you communicate with the script creator. These things tend to get messy when too many people get involved. I know very little or nothing about scripting and certainly no help when it comes to troubleshooting. I can fall back on an earlier version of Viveza 2 that works without the errors, difference being I need to keep view at 33% or full 100% for colours to be rendered correctly. I run it off a script that was recorded using macro.

[JoeB]

PSP X6 on Windows 7 64-bit. I'll let you communicate with the script creator. These things tend to get messy when too many people get involved. I know very little or nothing about scripting and certainly no help when it comes to troubleshooting. I can fall back on an earlier version of Viveza 2 that works without the errors, difference being I need to keep view at 33% or full 100% for colours to be rendered correctly. I run it off a script that was recorded using macro.

No problem. It may be a week or so because I'm going away for a week and busy getting ready. Not a major issue at this time, but will let you know if or when I do get a resolution.

By the way, please also post if you have the same error with the 2 Efex scripts, as that could be important to know for troubleshooting also.

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

Yes, I've encountered the same Error Signature since PSP X5 as posted earlier http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php ... 70#p285573

[JoeB]

I have PM'd JSJ about our issues. I'm away as of tomorrow for a week but will try to keep up with any replies if possible.

Regards,

JoeB

[Jan Shim]

Although I said I wouldn't contact JSJ directly, I did ... I was bothered (last night) by how close to perfection the script is except for the error flag. It's strange how you can continue to work on images all day long and there would be no errors, until you close the application. I wondered if the others are experiencing this too. Everyone's been quiet.