Nikon Capture NX 2

The coolest new features of the groundbreaking software.

By Debbie Grossman Posted June 17, 2008

When Nikon's Capture NX software came out in the summer of 2006, it was a boon to Nikon shooters who wanted to make selective edits to their pictures without the time and trouble of making Photoshop-esque masks and selections. The new version takes selective editing to a new level - allowing you to use NX's control points to do more than ever before.

Now, it's possible to use the control points to choose which areas you sharpen, reduce noise, add blur, and do just about anything else the program offers. The interface has been redesigned and is now customizable, and there's a smooth new retouch brush, as well.

Nikon shooters will get the most out of the software, because they can use NX 2's full functionality as a RAW converter. However, if you don't shoot Nikon but have lots of TIFFs and JPEGs, you can use this program, too. Starting in late June, anyone can try it free from www.nikonusa.com. It will cost $180 for the full version, and $110 for the upgrade.

Here are a few of the coolest new features:

Auto Retouch Brush

To get rid of blemishes or dust, wipe the area with the new Auto Retouch Brush. You can change its size according to what you want to get rid of.

Color Control Point

As before, add color control points to manipulate color, contrast, brightness, and saturation of the areas that need it. On the right, your changes appear as steps. Toggle them on and off or get rid of them all together. All of the edits are nondestructive.

Selection Control Points

With the new Selection Control Points, you can choose an effect, then pick the area where you want it to land. Here, I added sharpness to her eyes. To do it, I told the control point roughly the radius of the area I wanted to affect. The software's algorithms determined, based on the color of the spot where I placed the point, that I was going for her eyes. By choosing Show Overlay, I can check out the area that I'm affecting.

Adding and Removing Selection

By adding lots of control points, I used a slight Gaussian blur to smooth out her skin while protecting her features.

Here's what the mask looks like.