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No plugins for Photos app

anewman143

anewman143

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 18, 2008
146
23
Contacted Google/Nik about their collection - before Photos was released, they were appropriately ambiguous/tight-lipped on it.

So now that it's out, I emailed them again asking about whether the Nik collection of filters would be ported...here's what I got back:


Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunately at this time, Photos does not have the ability to host any third party plug-ins.

So, at least for now, Google thinks plug-ins are not an option for Photots.

BIG GIANT BOO on Apple. Hopefully the technology is there and that they just have to open it up to developers...fingers crossed. Just another reason for me to think about LR6...
 
Apple had stated at one point (I believe) that version 1 will not support extensions, but a future version will.

Imo, if you need tools like NIK in the first place, then Photos is not the right product for you anyways (just my $.02).
 
Well said. If you used Aperture or Lightroom, Photos is not an upgrade at all. From Aperture the two logical replacements are Lightroom and Capture One Pro. Of those two, only Lightroom does integrated round trips to plugins like Nik, Topaz, Helicon Focus, Photoshop, Pixelmator, or Perfect Photo Suite.
 
MCAsan said:
Well said. If you used Aperture or Lightroom, Photos is not an upgrade at all. From Aperture the two logical replacements are Lightroom and Capture One Pro. Of those two, only Lightroom does integrated round trips to plugins like Nik, Topaz, Helicon Focus, Photoshop, Pixelmator, or Perfect Photo Suite.
Click to expand...

This.

Anyone who needs a proper editing tool should be looking elsewhere. Photos might change in the future though.
 
MCAsan said:
Well said. If you used Aperture or Lightroom, Photos is not an upgrade at all. From Aperture the two logical replacements are Lightroom and Capture One Pro. Of those two, only Lightroom does integrated round trips to plugins like Nik, Topaz, Helicon Focus, Photoshop, Pixelmator, or Perfect Photo Suite.
Click to expand...


Capture One Pro v8.2 also roundtrips. I can only confirm this with the NIK suite as that's the only one I use but it works just fine and basically the same way as it did with Aperture. Capture NXD (from Nikon) will also roundtrip with NIK but even though it does a great job converting .NEF files it's too clunky for me to work with.

BTW, I emailed NIK (Google) about plugin support for Capture One Pro before I started using it and they sent me an email saying that they did not support it and didn't have plans to. But....it still works perfectly. On their website they only list compatibility with Photoshop, After Effects, Lightroom, and Aperture but I use the "edit with" function in Capture One and roundtrip to NIK (mostly SilverEFX) all the time and it works like a champ. Not sure why they don't add it to the compatibility list.
 
maflynn said:
Apple had stated at one point (I believe) that version 1 will not support extensions, but a future version will.

Imo, if you need tools like NIK in the first place, then Photos is not the right product for you anyways (just my $.02).
Click to expand...

A fair point indeed...but I enjoyed Aperture as much as a DAM as an editor. I own the Nik tools to use them, but I'm hardly a pro and don't use them on a daily basis. I like the Apple "ecosystem" so had hoped that Photos would allow me to use the Nik filters as needed...

But I had absolutely no illusions that photos would/could replace Aperture or LR or CP1
 
I just wish Photos was released with an optional Professional mode.
 
aerok said:
I just wish Photos was released with an optional Professional mode.
Click to expand...

I think with the EOL of Aperture, Apple has clearly communicated their disinterest in developing and supporting a "professional" product. Hopefully, they will make plug ins work in the future. In the meantime, the closest that you can get to a photos "pro mode" would likely be LR or CP1;)
 
anewman143 said:
A fair point indeed...but I enjoyed Aperture as much as a DAM as an editor.
Click to expand...
I agree completely, but the said thing is, photos quite deficient in its DAM capabilities. You can use Lightroom and still use your NIK plugins. Given the new architecture, Google will have to rewrite their NIK plugins to be compatible, something they may or may not be doing (I have no idea). Moving to a different application like LR, give you access to your plugins and superior DAM/editing without waiting/hoping.
 
maflynn said:
I agree completely, but the said thing is, photos quite deficient in its DAM capabilities. You can use Lightroom and still use your NIK plugins. Given the new architecture, Google will have to rewrite their NIK plugins to be compatible, something they may or may not be doing (I have no idea). Moving to a different application like LR, give you access to your plugins and superior DAM/editing without waiting/hoping.
Click to expand...

Indeed...don't know why I am so hesitant to go to LR...likely simply avoiding a new learning curve...photos, while basic, likely appeals simply because it is more "familiar"...perhaps it's time for me to put my big boy pants on and take the LR plunge! LR6 is due "any day" if the rumors are to be believed...so perhaps I'll wait for that...no point in learning LR5 with 6 so close

----------

And no sooner did I type my last response than this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5W7TIW/ref=nosim/macintouchcom-20

LR6 is available now
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
anewman143 said:
LR6 is available now
Click to expand...

Yup its out, I have it now, though I haven't had time to play with it.

Both Lightroom and Capture 1 offer trials, I recommend downloading both and seeing if either one fits your needs. There's a couple of very good threads in the forum about C1 and its RAW capability. I recommend you take a look at those as well.
 
maflynn said:
Yup its out, I have it now, though I haven't had time to play with it.

Both Lightroom and Capture 1 offer trials, I recommend downloading both and seeing if either one fits your needs. There's a couple of very good threads in the forum about C1 and its RAW capability. I recommend you take a look at those as well.
Click to expand...

Great advice there! What I need now is one of those LR or C1 for Aperture users books to coach me along...

I've use Adobe's Classroom in a Book guides before and found them very helpful as well
 
Why is anyone still talking about Photos as a serious photo app. For the near future it is NOT, and Apple might as well have called it.

Photos (Paid Hosting On Their Own System) :(

or just iPay4it

Sad that they gave up a nice app that was even profitable (Aperture) for a scheme to push their agenda to sell space on iCloud - and merge desktop photography with their mobile devices... I see no need to make my Mac Pro behave like my iPhone!
 
colorspace said:
Why is anyone still talking about Photos as a serious photo app. For the near future it is NOT, and Apple might as well have called it.

Photos (Paid Hosting On Their Own System) :(

or just iPay4it

Sad that they gave up a nice app that was even profitable (Aperture) for a scheme to push their agenda to sell space on iCloud - and merge desktop photography with their mobile devices... I see no need to make my Mac Pro behave like my iPhone!
Click to expand...

It is mind boggling to me that any serious photographer gives Photos the time of day...
 
Last edited:
Y'all need to stop trying to see Photos as an Aperture/Lightroom replacement. It isn't. It's a simple image editing tool designed to give everyday users some artistic control over their images. It's almost identical to the editing tools built directly into iOS. If you need a more heavy duty image processor, you're best looking into Lightroom or its rivals.

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jms969 said:
It is mind boggling to me that any serious photography gives Photos the time of day...
Click to expand...

I can't understand this either. People seem to be holding onto this idea of Photos being a professional image editor so tightly. Apple are clearly no longer interested in the professional market. It's not who they're building hardware or software for anymore (for the most part.) Anyone serious about photography will want to pick up Lightroom or something similar and forget about Photos other than for very basic touch ups. But if that's what'll suit you best then maybe you'll be okay. I use VSCOcam for a lot of my editing because I'm in love with their filters, VSCO has basic editing tools built in but they're still way more advanced than the ones in Photos.

Move on people! Aperture is dead and buried.
 
Has anyone at Apple ever actually said anything about adding support for pluggins to Photos? is there any reason other than hope to assume Photos will be in any way more "professional"?

IMO Apple should end this speculation by laying out their basic roadmap with this program so people can make an informed choice.
 
carlgo said:
Has anyone at Apple ever actually said anything about adding support for pluggins to Photos? is there any reason other than hope to assume Photos will be in any way more "professional"?

IMO Apple should end this speculation by laying out their basic roadmap with this program so people can make an informed choice.
Click to expand...

How is clarifying the Photos significant limitations in Apple's best interest? That would be shooting themselves in the foot.
 
carlgo said:
IMO Apple should end this speculation by laying out their basic roadmap with this program so people can make an informed choice.
Click to expand...

I think they've been very clear in laying out their roadmap and while the words "no longer for professionals" has been uttered, its clear that their direction does not include Hobbyists/prosumers/professionals.
 
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