I know… I’m a little late to the party on this one.
But if you’re anything like me, sometimes software updates get downloaded with the best intentions and then life, workshops, editing deadlines, YouTube videos, and approximately 14 cups of coffee later… you finally sit down and properly explore what’s new. Through in an overseas holiday and well, things slide.
And after spending some time looking through the new features in Nik Collection 9, I think DxO may have delivered one of the biggest updates we’ve seen in years.
For those who don’t know, Nik Collection has long been one of my favourite creative editing toolsets, especially for still life work, cinematic portraits, black and white processing, and adding those little artistic touches that would normally take forever inside Photoshop.
What I’ve always loved about Nik is that it lets you experiment quickly. You can go from “nice image” to “ohhh… now we’re talking” in just a few clicks.
And version 9 seems heavily focused on making that process even faster and more creative.
AI Masking Finally Comes to Nik Collection
One of the headline additions is the new AI-enhanced masking tools, including both Depth Masks and AI Masks.
Now, I’ll be honest, I’m generally pretty skeptical when companies throw “AI” into every second sentence like seasoning on hot chips. But this actually sounds useful.
The new Depth Masks analyse the image and create a depth map, allowing you to target adjustments based on distance from the camera. That means you can apply effects to foregrounds or backgrounds without manually painting complicated masks.
For portrait photographers, still life shooters, and anyone working with layered scenes, that could be a genuine time saver.
Then there’s the new AI Masks, which let you click directly on subjects or drag a quick selection box to isolate areas for adjustments.
Again, less fiddling around, more creating.
And honestly? That’s where editing software should be heading.
The New Colour Grading Tool Looks Very Interesting
This is probably the feature I’m most curious about.
Nik Collection 9 introduces a brand-new Color Grading tool inside Color Efex, designed to control shadows, midtones, highlights, and global colour adjustments from a simplified interface.
What caught my attention is the ability to “lock” colour relationships together while grading. So instead of wrestling multiple colour wheels independently, you can maintain harmony between tones while shifting the overall mood of the image.
For cinematic edits, moody still life work, vintage-inspired portraits, or even creative black and white toning, this could be incredibly handy.
And because it’s Nik Collection, it still keeps that “creative playground” feeling rather than becoming overly technical.
Halation, Glass Effects & Chromatic Shift
Now this is where things start getting a bit fun.
Nik Collection 9 adds several new creative effects including:
- Halation
- Chromatic Shift
- Glass Effect
The Halation effect recreates that beautiful soft glow often seen in vintage film stocks, where highlights gently bloom into darker areas.
And honestly… if you’ve followed my work for any length of time, you already know I’m weak for anything cinematic, dreamy, moody, painterly, or slightly nostalgic.
The Glass Effect also sounds like something I’ll absolutely lose an afternoon experimenting with, adding distortion and texture overlays inspired by different glass surfaces.
Meanwhile, Chromatic Shift leans into those imperfect analog printing vibes with subtle colour separation effects.
Used carefully, these sorts of tools can add atmosphere and character incredibly quickly.
Used badly… well… let’s just say not every slider needs to go to 100.
Blending Modes Finally Arrive
Another genuinely useful addition is the introduction of Blending Modes inside Nik Color Efex and Analog Efex.
If you’re familiar with Photoshop blending modes, you’ll immediately understand how much creative flexibility this opens up.
DxO says there are now 18 blending modes available, allowing photographers to dramatically change how effects interact with the image underneath.
This feels like one of those features that won’t necessarily make the flashy headlines, but once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you edited without it.
Workflow Tweaks That Actually Matter
One thing I appreciate is that DxO didn’t just throw in shiny new filters and call it a day.
There are also workflow improvements including:
- Hover previews for presets
- Better mask overlays
- Easier navigation for local adjustments
- Copy/paste local adjustments between images
Small changes? Maybe.
But if you edit a lot of images, those little workflow refinements add up quickly.
Final Thoughts
Nik Collection has always been one of those plugin suites that encourages experimentation. It’s less about technical perfection and more about helping photographers develop a visual style.
And honestly, in a world where so much editing is starting to look identical, I think that matters more than ever.
The new masking tools look genuinely useful, the colour grading additions are exciting, and the new analog-inspired effects feel very much in line with the kind of creative editing many photographers are leaning toward right now.
So yes, I may be a little late talking about Nik Collection 9…
…but better late than never.
And if you’ve been thinking about trying DxO software, don’t forget you can grab 15% off all DxO products for new customers using my affiliate code:
Code: JuliePowell
You can check out the full details on the DxO website and download the free trial if you want to have a play for yourself.
Note: Sample images supplied by DXO
