Integrate DXO Viewpoint 2 & Nikon Capture NX2

If you take many pictures of buildings like myself, we know the frustration of lens distortion and converging verticals, when we see the photo image, on our monitor for the first time. Three years ago DXO Image Science, a French company, introduced a stand alone module called, DXO Viewpoint 2. They are already very well known for their excellent DXO Optics Pro 11 program, which is a comprehensive photo editing package and is widely used by many professional photographers. It has an automated approach and built-in algorithm's, for many camera and lens combinations. Thus, making the manipulation of high quality photo images, quick and easy.

I was very impressed with DXO Optics Pro 11 when it was first introduced, because it works simply and incredibly well to correct for many different photo image distortions. I like to make processing as easy a possible, so have integrated the work flow, within Nikon Capture NX2. This is one of the programs I use, in addition to DXO Viewpoint 2 for processing Nikon Raw photo files, both NEF and NRW.

See the Nikon Capture NX2 user interface. To integrate DXO Viewpoint 2, first click on the "Edit" drop down menu and select "Preferences/General". See below :

When we click this, it will take you to the menu below. Next browse for the DXO Viewpoint 2 "Start" file and install it into the "Open With Application" box.  Then, browse and select the location you want the final processed file to go. Normally, we leave this in the same location as the original, because it does not overwrite the original and gives a new file designation within Nikon Capture NX2.

Now we come to use it. The photo image which is Horse Guards Parade, London has vertical distorted because a Nikon 12-24mm ultra wide angle zoom lens was used. I use these frequently, particularly on landscapes and love their characteristic ability to show space. Also, distortion can sometimes enhance a photo effect, but this is not generally the case with buildings.

Right let's get started. Click on the file "Open With" menu in Nikon Capture NX2; see below, you will be taken to the DXO Viewpoint 2 user interface. See the next image.

Okay, we are now in DXO Viewpoint 2. The problem with the photo image is converging verticals and this is remarkably simple to correct, by aligning the two "Blue Cursors" to the uprights and clicking the icon presented; when you move either cursor. There is also an option to show a grid, which helps the alignment. If you mouse over the image the original and edited are shown.

                                           
                                                                                
The next image shows the photo completely corrected by DXO Viewpoint 2, for export back to Nikon Capture NX2. In addition to correcting for parallel vertical lines, the program has many other functions, such as, horizontal parallel line correction and the combination of both. Also, the standard horizontal and vertical image correction and it's complete with crop control. There is a anamorphosis function included, but this is unlikely to be used by most still photographers. While using the program the original and the edited image can be viewed side by side, for comparison.

We are almost there. The next image shows the original and edited photo images side by side, in Nikon Capture NX2, where further manipulation can be done.

                                                                        

Finally, the fully corrected photo image and cropped to the aspect ratio required.

Nikon Capture NX2 is a very flexible and comprehensive editing package and I have just shown one external stand alone module, that can be integrated. But there are many others, including modules from the superb, Nik Collection, by Google.

DXO Viewpoint 2 is already integrated within DXO Optics Pro 11. Using it with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015: Although Viewpoint installs as a stand alone application, it will automatically create an integrated link, within Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 and will be available, in the "Filter" drop down menu.The photo editing workflow, is similar to that described above.

Website: www.davidjoycephotography.com


Nikon Capture NX2
Nikon D7200 Digital SLR Camera
Nikon 1 J5 Digital Camera
Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 & Lightroom 6
Cameras
Photo Accessories
DXO Optics Pro 11
DXO Viewpoint 2
B+W Filters


  
Download Manual & Brochure

Using Nikon Capture NX2 + Nik Color Efex Pro 3

Nikon Capture NX2, appears to have lost favour with many photographers recently, particularly with Adobe Lightroom 6, becoming available; but I would like to extol its virtue. It's designed to edit Nikon RAW photo image files, either NEF or NRW. The former being generated by Nikon Digital SLR cameras, like the Nikon D7200 and the later by top of the range Nikon cameras, like the
Nikon 1 J5 and P7700  In addition to processing RAW files, it can also be used to edit TIFF and JPG's. So images can be edited, from many other camera manufacturers.

The main advantage of the software, is apart from basic processing of a photo image, it can also improve fairly flat photo images into dynamic, vibrant and contrasty pictures. In addition, very advanced editing functions can be easily done with Nikon Capture NX2. See the photo image below, taken in the Autumn, at Stourhead Gardens, owned by +National Trust .

Although the colours of Autumn are beautiful in the original shot, taken early in the morning; the resulting image was not as pictured in the scene at the time, due to the slight haze and flat lighting.
The sky is natural, because I always use a graduated neutral density filter whenever working on landscapes. In many of my pictures I like to include the sun, so B+W, MRC (multi coated) high quality glass filters are used, These reduce the effects of flare.

Shown Below; the Nikon Capture NX2 + Nik Color Efex Pro 3, user interface : -

My workflow to produce the photo image is as follows : -

1. First, use the "Distortion Control" - this corrects lens distortion, particularly on zoom
    lenses.

2. Then adjust light, to "Auto Levels" - this is remarkably good to correct for everything
    including light balance. In many cases you don't need to do anything else, to the photo image.

3. Next, we use "Color Control Points" in parts of the picture that it's required - this is
    built into Nikon Capture NX2 and was developed by Nik Software (Now owned by Google) It's
    also available via Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 & Lightroom 6, using Nik Viveza 2. This allows you 
    to set a variable circular area, in which you can increase or decrease brightness, contrast,
    saturation, and primary colors. The Nik "U Point Control function" is a photographer's
    dream and if no other adjustment was available, I would want this!

4. If there are people or small objects that detract from the overall photo image, they are edit
    out with the "Auto Retouch Brush".

5. I rarely crop a photo image, because I used transparency film for many years and still try to
    take the final picture, in the camera. But if required, use the "Crop Control".

6. Finally, because I like photo images with punch, we use the Nik Color Efex Pro 3, "Tonal  
    Contrast Filter". This gives a slight HDR image effect and enhances fine detail.

I would like to address the reasons why it appears that Nikon Capture NX2 is losing favour, with many Nikon stalwarts. Most of the complaints are about speed and this is usually because it's used on a poor spec PC; although this is not so critical on a Mac. Despite what Nikon say and I might add, the other photo processing software suppliers; the minimum requirement in my experience is, an i5 or i7 processor (or equivalent) with at least 8Gb of RAM. I have tested all the other "favorites" and they all suffer from the same lack of speed, if used with a low spec PC. Also, run it as the 64 bit version.

There are ways to improve its speed performance, like keeping the cache regularly cleared. Also putting the cache file, on a separate drive, from the Nikon Capture NX2 program. This can be a USB hard drive, or a flash drive.

I made mention of the Nik Color Efex Pro 3 plug-ins. These are no longer supplied by Nik (Now owned by Google) or Nikon and were a special version to integrate with Nikon Capture NX2. They can still be downloaded free, from the Nikon USA in both PC and Mac versions.

Website: www.davidjoycephotography.com


Nikon Capture NX2
Nikon D7200 Digital SLR Camera
Nikon 1 J5 Digital Camera
Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 & Lightroom 6
Cameras
Photo Accessories
DXO Optics Pro 11
DXO Viewpoint 2
B+W Filters

 
  
Download Manual & Brochure