First of all I want to point out that I am no photographer. I am an Interface artist, but that does not exclude me from seeing other things that will surely benefit other artistic platforms.

Some of you may already know of it, but for those who don't, listen up.

Nik Software, Inc. is a privately held company that develops software solutions for the growing digital imaging and photography markets. It has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals including U Point® technology, Dfine®, Viveza™, Color Efex Pro™, and Nik Sharpener Pro™ software.

In January of this year, they released Viveza™. Here is their product description "Two of the most important factors in creating great photography are color and light. Mastering the art of selectively correcting or enhancing each of these is now possible for every photographer without the need for complicated masks or selections, or expert-level knowledge of Photoshop. Integrating award-winning U Point technology, Viveza is the most powerful and precise tool available to control light and color in photographic images.

U Point powered Color Control Points, placed directly on colors or objects in an image (such as sky, skin, grass, etc.), reveal easy-to-use controls that photographers can use to quickly adjust brightness, contrast or color in a fraction of the time needed by other tools. With Viveza you’ll spend more time shooting photographs and save hours of image editing.

My first reaction was "ho hum, here's yet another plugin...so what?." I have tried loads and 99% of them I end up binning after playing with them a bit. BUT I saw some rave reviews and thought I would give it a go.......my jaw hit the ground. It is one of the easiest plugs to use and what it produces is outstanding.

This one is such an advance in photo editing that I predict Adobe buying (or copying) it and incorporating a version of this into a future version of PS. It really is that good and now it's just become available for people on macs.

But don't take my word for it. Go and check it out [link] and try the free trial. I will guarantee that, as a photographer, you will actually want to purchase this one.

Remember where and who you heard it from first when you see this in a future version of Photoshop