Week 3: Bi-Color User Defined Filter in Color Efex Pro 4
© Mike MoatsThe Bi-Color User Defined Filter in Color Efex Pro 4 simulates the traditional glass bi-color filter by blending two colors and then adding the result to the image. This filter takes the traditional Bi-Color filter to a new level of creativity by adding the ability to select both of the colors used in the filter for both the upper and lower colors. Let’s take a look at how to select or create the color we want to use as well as how to use the controls for Opacity, Blend, Vertical Shift, and Rotation.
Begin by selecting a color for the top and a different color for the bottom area for the image. You can either select the eyedropper to choose a color from the image, or click the color patch to open the color picker.
The Opacity slider allows you to increase or decrease the strength of the filter effect. By moving the slider to the right to 100%, you will see the full effect of the filter. The opposite will happen by moving the slider to the left. At 0%, the filter effect is globally removed from the image.
The Blend slider will transition the top and the bottom colors making this a very distinct transition at 0%, or a very soft, subtle looking transition at 100%.
The Vertical Shift slider will move the horizon either all the way to the bottom at 100%, or to the top at 0%. The default is set at 50% which is in the middle.
You can change the angle of the rotation of the filter by moving the slider at a 360 or 0 degree angle or any angle in between.
Tip: To quickly see a preview of before and after, press the P key on the keyboard. A list of keyboard shortcuts is available by clicking on the Help button in the lower left-hand corner of the Color Efex Pro 4 interface window, and then choosing the Keyboard Shortcuts tab.
very useful this “BI-color”
Mark did a really great job at explaining this filter simply and clearly. Though … a second, different style of demo image would have been nice to see too.
thank you for the wonderful training. I can’t wait for all the rest of the filters…this is really, really helpful!
Glad to hear this video was helpful and thank you Stu for the feedback!
I do not own any of the Nik products…Yet!. Most editing software always appears so intimidating … At first. However, this series has been the most convincing reason to get the Nik line of tools. If Nik continues to provide the educational resources that I have been participating in (which includes web-inars), which allow me to understand the techniques and methods I always dreamed about utilizing in my workflow…you will have a client for life! My sincere thanks and please keep striving for greatness”
Thank you for your comment D. Kuksa. This is why we do what we do! To help show what the Nik Software products can do and to help educate and inspire photographers. We have a whole year of these tips for you, guest blog posts and 3 to 4 free webinars everyday!
I’ve never thought of using this. Gotta give it a try!