Will Silver Effex Pro work with Leica Monochrom files?

[Mike Rawcs]

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DXO have a Black Friday deal on, amongst other software, Nik Collection, which includes Silver Effex Pro. Has anyone any experience with Silver Effex Pro and files from Leica Monochrom files? I ask because, obviously, there is no need to convert from colour to black and white. Are there any issues I should be aware of?

Many thanks for any help, and apologies if this thread is in the wrong forum.

 

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[newtoleica]

I have used it for about a decade, and have used it in the past with MM1 files (currently M10-P).

It all works except the colour sensitivity profiling of different film types (obviously). You still get the tone curve an the luminance data though.

The best part of SE is the U-point technology, which is very similar to dodging/burning in a darkroom. This is essential for a good B&W image and far far more intuitive that messing with endless layers in PS (which I hate with a passion).

If you want a particular effect or to match some film stick images then the film emulations (tone curve and grain) are excellent as well.

I view it as an essential for serious B&W work as it gets away from that 'digital smoothness' that can be a bit strange with digital B&W.

[Luke_Miller]

Leica thinks so since it bundled Silver Effex Pro with the original Monochrom.

[Mike Rawcs]

15 minutes ago, Luke_Miller said:

Leica thinks so since it bundled Silver Effex Pro with the original Monochrom.

I didn't know that, Luke. Thank you.

[Mike Rawcs]

1 hour ago, newtoleica said:

The best part of SE is the U-point technology, which is very similar to dodging/burning in a darkroom. This is essential for a good B&W image and far far more intuitive that messing with endless layers in PS (which I hate with a passion).

 

Thanks for the detailed reply, Brendan. I have used SE in the (distant) past, but not with Monochrom files.

[250swb]

Just make sure you give them an RGB profile and not Greyscale.

[sometimesmaybe]

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7 hours ago, Mike Rawcs said:

DXO have a Black Friday deal on, amongst other software, Nik Collection, which includes Silver Effex Pro

have a look at DxO's FilmPack 7, the TMax 400 and TriX 400 renderings look really good to my eye

[hkgmatt]

I love using Silver Effex Pro on my MM1 files.

[Mike Rawcs]

4 hours ago, hkgmatt said:

I love using Silver Effex Pro on my MM1 files.

I am tempted but I wish that I could just purchase just SE. I don't need the rest of the Nik Collection.

[mgscheue]

8 hours ago, Mike Rawcs said:

I am tempted but I wish that I could just purchase just SE. I don't need the rest of the Nik Collection.

Me, too. Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t see much else that I can’t do in Lightroom. I ended up buying it, though. 

[LeicaS2]

When I had an M10M I was relieved to see that it worked perfectly well.. I use it for every B&W I make.