Any Nikon Capture NX users out there? If so, do you have any Edit layers that emulate a Photoshop layer/action? Here's two:

* to enhance highlights such as eye catchlights in portraits, create a light->levels/curves edit layer, change the blend mode from normal to screen then using the +brush paint in the effect onto the highlights for a more pronounced catchlight. This is very similar to the PS action that I usually do for the same result.

* USM scale in Nikon Capture NX is 1/5th of the USM scale in PS. In other words a 100% sharpen amount in NC is similar to 500% in PS. BTW, USM in Nikon Capture NX is automatically done in the luminosity channel. You can also emulate local contrast adjustment via the USM edit.

Any other tips?

Alvin, I also use NX from time to time... However, I still prefer Photoshop over it if I want to get down and dirty in PP. :)

I agree Earl, There are some things that is just not possible with NX such as healing brushes and so on. I'm just hoping that there are tricks in NX that can save me time rather than doing it in PS.

But how is the speed of NX now? I gave it a try but I've given up since it is vey slow.

I agree Earl, There are some things that is just not possible with NX such as healing brushes and so on. I'm just hoping that there are tricks in NX that can save me time rather than doing it in PS.

mmmmmmm... Actually Alvin, the only thing I can see that NX or the old NC 4.4 is good in doing is that it can accurately decipher my D2X's WB settings and batch process it out as full res./bit. JPEGS... NC capture is actually better in a way from NX coz you still have a built in camera control component. In NX it's sold separately. :(

...... Now about speed... That's another thing... They're slow coz they try to RAM grab... NX and NC are both RAM hogs... So if you're system is below 2GB of RAM... ouch! And even if you can maximize up to 4GB with dual core processors... Since these programs have inadequate configurable memory management utilities... ouch again! :Grin:

I find NX ok in terms of speed. But I am running on a high end laptop with 2Gb of memory. Not as fast as PS or Bibble in terms of processing, but in terms of Workflow I find it quicker. I find the performance hit is generally on saving and conversions to jpg. One reason I think is because it recreates the NEF file whilst Bibble and other converters has sidecar files where changes are set.

Also, to speed up NX it's recommended not to use the Base adjustments for edits but to use edit layers for changes. The reasoning behind it is the Base adjustments uses the legacy engine from Nikon Capture 4.x (for backward compatibility) while the edit layers use the faster(?) NX engine instead. This made a big difference for me especially when using Dynamic Lighting, NR, and other intensive operations.

As for the Camera Control component, you're right Earl, Nikon software just like any software vendor seems to be milking it by separating it as a separately licensed piece. No prob for me though, as I don't shoot teethered nor do I upload custom curves.

Alvin, sana Nikon can integrate something into NX; like a configuration for a scratch disk preference... It might help in memory management. :)

Hey. I read about this Nikon Capture NX software from an article by Debbie Grossman in the July '06 issue of Popular Photography.

Would anyone know if it works on Intel Macs? Ms. Grossman didn't say if it did.

Hey. I read about this Nikon Capture NX software from an article by Debbie Grossman in the July '06 issue of Popular Photography.

Would anyone know if it works on Intel Macs? Ms. Grossman didn't say if it did.

Sundee, I see no reason why it shouldn't run on an Intel Mac. :Grin: