Google makes $150 photo-editing plugin free

A snapshot of the Nik Collection Tool

Nik Collection is widely considered as one of the most powerful photo-editing plugins available for desktop users. The collection is comprised of seven desktop plug-ins that provide a powerful range of photo editing capabilities from filter applications that improve color correction, to retouching and creative effects, to image sharpening that brings out all the hidden details, to the ability to make adjustments to the color and tonality of images.

The set of 7 plugins used to cost $500 before Google acquired the software company. Post Google’s acquisition, the cost of the plugins was reduced to $150.

Last night however, Google made an announcement that is bound to bring smiles on the faces of all photography enthusiasts. Google has decided to offer the Nik Collection completely free of cost. What’s more, Google will also refund any user who has paid for the collection in 2016.

Google’s announcement read, “Photo enthusiasts all over the world use the Nik Collection to get the best out of their images every day. As we continue to focus our long-term investments in building incredible photo editing tools for mobile, including Google Photos and Snapseed, we’ve decided to make the Nik Collection desktop suite available for free, so that now anyone can use it.”