How do you keep Silver Efex-saved files in re-editable form?

Although my starting point is LR, I always launch Silver Efex (SFX) this way, via Photoshop as Smart Object (SO). The flexibility is a big advantage.

Starting from LR, just open an image in Photoshop and convert the Background layer to a smart object (via the right click). If you want to edit the image in Photoshop before going to SFX, eg adding adjustment layers or cloning, you can select multiple layers and convert them into a single smart object.

Still in PS, launch SFX, do whatever you want, and save. Whereas normally you would expect SFX to add a pixel layer, running SFX on the smart object applies its edits as a “smart filter” – a sub item in the Layers panel that you can hide or show, even mask. To change the SFX edits, you just double click the smart filter and SFX launches again with all your control points and other settings available. Fundamentally, that’s it.

The method was slightly fancier in the paragraph you quoted. Instead of just opening in PS, from LR you use Edit > Open as Smart Object in Photoshop. The advantage here is that the SO remains raw and you can change its ACR adjustments by double clicking it. There’s no difference for the SFX part of the workflow.

The smart object/filter technique works with all filters, not just SFX. It’s also a neat way to copy SFX effects between images – you drag the smart filter from a SO in one image and drop it on a SO in the other.

And wasn’t this good news?

I was very pleased to see that Google are letting someone else develop the Nik programs, Silver Efex in particular. See DXO’s announcement :

“The Nik Collection gives photographers tools to create photos they absolutely love,” said Aravind Krishnaswamy, an Engineering Director with Google. “We’re thrilled to have DxO, a company dedicated to high-quality photography solutions, acquire and continue to develop it.”

“We are very excited to welcome the Nik Collection to the DxO family,” said Jérôme Ménière, CEO and founder of DxO. “DxO revolutionized the image processing market many times over the years with its innovative solutions, and we will continue to do so with Nik’s tools, which offer new creative opportunities to millions of photographers. The new version of our flagship software DxO OpticsPro, which is available as of now under its new name DxO PhotoLab, is the first embodiment of this thrilling acquisition with built-in U Point technology.”

The Nik Collection is now available for free through the DxO website – provide your email address and they will send you the download links for all 7 Nik plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom. There will be a new version in 2018.