I haven't used the specific filter in question, but have several Nik filters that I use quite often.
For those who ask why you would use a plug in versus just doing it manually is the savings in time and consistency.
In some cases I could get the exact same result with a manual tweak, so the only saving is time.
On the other hand, I have blur filter "Nik's Classical Blur" that I have had a hard time trying to replicate manually. Obviously, if it is a plugin, it is just firing off parameters that you could set manually if you only new how.
Some of the filters I use go through ten or twelve steps. Take 20 photos and multiply that by 10 steps and then compare that to simply a single mouse click and the time savings becomes enormous.
Better yet, you can set up an action to fire the plugin and batch a whole series.
Ultimately, the plugins I use most are those that give me a result I cannot obtain manually or that provide a time saving.
I have a bunch of plugins and filters that I never use because I can get better results manually or they offer not "adjustment" and are take it or leave it and offer no control.
But once in a while you stumble across one that is a real keeper.
Some of the specific sharpening filters (as already mentioned) are a good example.
Mark
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