Google makes Nik photo-editing tools free to download
Anybody can get Snapseed's sibling plug-ins now.
![](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/tGZi_YMBf83Pav0bm1RDiA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUwNQ--/https://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/a45bcb101c8c24f38101f839ba50a21e/203599964/google-nik-collection.jpg)
When Google snapped up Nik Software, it acquired not just Snapseed, but also the company's photo-editing plug-ins for Photoshop and Apple Aperture. Now, the company is making those plug-ins completely free to download. The Nik Collection, a suite of seven editing tools that used to cost $150, can mimic the look of classic photography, turn images into dramatic black-and-white photos, adjust colors with filters, tweak HDR images and more.
They can make editing a lot easier for photographers, but keep in mind that among the seven, only HDR Efex Pro can fully run as a standalone program. Also, it's very much possible that Google won't continue developing the suite. In its announcement post, the big G says it's making the collection free, because it's focusing on mobile photography apps, including Photos and Snapseed. If you already paid for the plug-ins earlier this year, though, you can expect a refund notice to hit your inbox soon.