Software Review: Adobe Photoshop Plug-in Viveza From Nik Software

Viveza 1.0 is the newest product in Nik's growing collection of digital photographic filters and effects for Adobe Photoshop. It is a plug-in that uses U Point Technology to allow you to manage color and light in an image without having to spend a lot of time working with masks or selections. It is technology that Nikon users have had available to them in Capture NX; it was integrated into Nik's Color Efex 3.0, and now is a major part of Viveza 1.0.

System requirements for Viveza 1.0 are Windows 2000 or better, Mac OS 10.4.9, 10.5.2 or better, 256 MB RAM (512 MB Recommended), and Photoshop 7 through CS3, Photoshop Elements 2.0 through 6.0 on Windows, CS2-CS3 and Photoshop Elements 4 or greater on Mac, or any image editing software program that accepts Adobe Photoshop Plug-ins.

So what is U Point Technology? A patented innovation in photo image processing and editing, it uses color control points to isolate an entire image or an image area for enhancement very quickly. Instead of having to make a selection, mask it off, and then apply filters, levels, curve adjustments, or use color balance tools, you just drop a control point and it considers the relationship between color and light and makes the appropriate adjustments.

If you look at the image below, the main color point is located at the tip of the arrow. The length of the horizontal bar that stretches out from that point sets the radius of the affected area. You can see it in the image on the right - the radius goes from the gray point to about the top of the building (about where the C shows on the vertical bar). That designates the affected region. The white area is the selected objects; most affected, the black objects are the not selected objects; not affected on, and gray objects are partially affected.

The rest of the lettered dots control what changes will happen within that circle. They are, based on the first letter, brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, red, green, blue, and warmth. What is nice about the way that this works is areas can overlap, and you can counteract effects with multiple control points. In the image above on the right, even though the highlighting goes to the peak of the building, the dot on the right side of the image; the one on the sign, cancels out any affect that the active one may be showing.

Article Author: T. Michael Testi

T. Michael Testi is a writer and a photographer out of Edmond Oklahoma. You can see his photographic and art work at T Michael Imaging.

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