Dfine Camera Profiles are no longer available. Dfine 2.0 utilizes a new noise reduction system that no longer requires Camera Profiles. With Dfine 2.0, you can create a profile unique to each image, or create your own profiles to save, reuse, and even share.

Dfine Camera Profiles are no longer available. Dfine 2.0 utilizes a new noise reduction system that no longer requires Camera Profiles. With Dfine 2.0, you can create a profile unique to each image, or create your own profiles to save, reuse, and even share.

In Dfine 1.0, cameras were profiled by a Nik Software engineer to determine the camera’s  noise characteristics. The camera profiles were then available  as an additional purchase. In Dfine 2.0, users can profile their images automatically or manually using the measurement systems provided within Dfine 2.0. Profiles in Dfine 2.0 can also be shared with other Dfine 2.0 users.

The Load Based on EXIF Data option enables Dfine 2.0 to apply profiles that you’ve previously created to your images automatically. If no profile is found that matches the camera and ISO combination of the opened image, Dfine 2.0 will Auto Profile it.

To turn on the Load Based on EXIF Data feature, follow these steps:

1. Open an image in Photoshop.
2. Click on Filter > Dfine 2.0 > Dfine 2.0.
3. Within the Dfine 2.0 interface, click on Settings.

To create a batch process in Dfine 2.0, follow these steps:

1. Open an image in Photoshop.
2. Open the Actions tab by clicking on Window > Actions.
3. Click the 'create new action' icon just to the left of the trash can icon at the bottom on the Actions tab in Photoshop, and assign a name for your action.
4. Click on the record icon on the Actions tab to begin recording your action.
5. Execute the appropriate Dfine 2.0 noise reduction methods. For example:
   
   1. Click Filter > Dfine 2.0 > Dfine  2.0.
   2. Click on the appropriate noise reduction settings in the Dfine 2.0 interface and click ok.
   3. Wait for Dfine 2.0 to complete the filter applying  process.
   4. Click the stop icon on the Actions tab. Your Action is now complete, and can  be viewed in the Actions tab.
      

1. Ensure that the action that was created earlier is indicated in the Action pull-down menu. If the correct action is not indicated, click on the pull-down menu and select the correct action.
2. Under source, indicate folder, and then click Choose. Navigate to the folder that contains all of the images that you want to apply the Batch Process to.
3. Under Destination, select Folder. Click Choose and navigate to the folder that was created on your desktop earlier. For example, navigate to the Polarization Processed folder.
4. Click OK.
   

For the Macintosh users:

1. Insert the CD or mount the downloaded DMG file.
2. Run the uninstaller application.

For the Windows users:

Yes, we recommend turning off noise reduction in your camera and/or in the RAW processing.

Yes, Dfine 2.0 is Smart Filter compatible in Adobe® Photoshop® CS3 as the host application. To use Dfine 2.0 as a Smart Filter, please follow the instructions below:

1. Open your image in Photoshop CS3


2. Select the layer to apply Dfine 2.0 to.


3. Click on Filter > Convert for Smart Filter, and the layer is converted to a smart filter.


4. Click on Filter > Nik Software and then select one of the Dfine 2.0 filters to open up the Dfine 2.0 interface. From here you can apply the desired sharpening to your image.

Dfine 2.0 now functions as a Smart Filter and allows you to go back and edit the sharpening applied to the image as long as that file is saved as a PSD or TIFF file with the layers retained.

To use Dfine 2.0 on an image in Aperture, follow the steps below:

1. Highlight the image that you wish to enhance with Dfine 2.0.


2. Click the Images menu.


3. Roll over the Edit With sub-menu. A popup menu appears.


4. Select the Dfine 2.0 from the popup.

The Dfine 2.0 interface will open with the image(s) selected.

To enable the Nik Selective Tool to automatically launch when Photoshop starts, do the following:

1. Bring up the Nik Selective Tool by clicking on File >Automate >Nik Selective Tool. On the lower section of the Nik Selective Tool click Settings.


2. For the setting, ‘When Photoshop Launches:’change it to, ‘Automatically open the selective tool.’ Alternatively if you do not want the Nik Selective Tool to appear each time, change this same setting to ‘Do Not Automatically open the Selective Tool’.

By using the Nik Selective Tool, you can apply Dfine 2.0 to your images selectively using a Brush tool in Adobe Photoshop. While Dfine 2.0 has U Point technology using Control Points which selective in nature, sometimes adjusting the effect with a brush is a necessary additional step to get the right end result.

The Nik Selective Tool can be opened by clicking on File> Automate >Nik Selective Tool in Photoshop (File > Automation Tools in Photoshop Elements). After opening the Nik Selective Tool you are able to access the Dfine 2.0 interface.

After you have selected the desired noise reduction adjustment in the Dfine 2.0 interface, you return to the Nik Selective Tool by clicking on the Brush button at the bottom of the interface. From this point forward you are in the selective editing environment and can use any of the four buttons that are on the Selective tool as listed below:

• Paint - Select this editing function to begin selectively applying noise reduction enhancement to the image. After selecting this button, paint the effect using the Photoshop paintbrush into the image, using varying opacities or levels of pressure (when using a pressure sensitive input device) to control the amount of the effect as it is being painted into the image.


• Erase - Select this editing function to selectively remove the current filter effect from the image. After filling the image (by pressing the [Fill] button), select the [Erase] button, paint the effect out of the image, using varying opacities or levels of pressure (when using a pressure sensitive input device) to control the amount of the effect as it is being removed from the image. This tool is only available after selecting a filter that has been applied to the image.


• Fill - Select this editing function to add the current filter effect onto the entire image.


• Clear - Select this editing function to remove the noise reduction enhancement from the entire image. This tool is only available after selecting a filter that has been applied to the image.

Once you have completed editing your image, click on the Apply button to apply Dfine 2.0 to the image. Alternatively you may click on the Discard button and cancel the current noise reduction enhancement and start over again.

Dfine 2.0 may be used with any mouse or pointing device. Graphics tablets are not required. However, the Nik Selective Tool offers additional control through pressure sensitivity when it is used with a pressure sensitive graphics tablet.

When using Dfine 2.0 as an external editor for Lightroom, Dfine 2.0 can support JPEG and TIFF files*.

*Dfine 2.0 only supports TIFF files in 8 or 16-bit with no compression or LZW compression.

Dfine 2.0 can also be manually added as an external editor providing easy access to edit your photos in Dfine 2.0. Follow the steps below to manually add Dfine 2.0 as an external editor.

1. Open the Preferences in Lightroom.


2. Click the External Editing tab.


3. In the Additional External Editor section select a desired File Format, Color Space, Bit Depth, Resolution, and Compression.
   
   Note: Dfine 2.0 is only compatible with TIFF files (8 or 16-bit, with no compression or LZW compression).


4. Click on Choose to select an application. Navigate to the location of Dfine 2.0.
   
   
   On Windows, the default installation location for Dfine 2.0 will be:
   
   
   C:\Program Files\Nik Software\Dfine 2.0 for Lightroom
   
   On Macintosh, the default installation location for Dfine 2.0 will be:
   
   
   Macintosh HD : Applications : Nik Software : Dfine 2.0 for Lightroom


5. Select the Dfine 2.0 file and click Choose.


6. Under the Preset drop-down menu, select Save Current Settings as New Preset… and name the preset.

After Dfine 2.0 has been added to Lightroom as an external editor, it can be accessed under the Photo > Edit In… menu. Follow the steps below to access Dfine 2.0.

1. Highlight the image(s) that you wish to enhance with Dfine 2.0.


2. Click the Photo menu.


3. Roll over the Edit In sub-menu. A popup menu appears.


4. Select Dfine 2.0 from the popup.


5. After selecting Dfine 2.0, select whether to Edit Original, Edit a Copy, or Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments.
   
   Note: If Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments is selected, the Copy File Options must be determined as well. Select the File Format, Color Space, Bit Depth, Resolution and Compression for the new file to be edited in Dfine 2.0*.
   
   *Dfine 2.0 is only compatible with TIFF and JPEG files (8 or 16- bit with no compression or LZW compression).


6. Click Edit and the Dfine 2.0 interface appears, displaying the image(s) specified in Step 1 above.