DxO’s New Nik Collection 9

credits: DxO

DxO’s new Nik Collection 9 is here. It is the latest version of the company’s long-running suite of photo editing plugins, and this update focuses on AI-assisted masking and more flexible editing controls. The collection still works both as a standalone app and as a plugin for software like Photoshop and Lightroom Classic, but the main thing this time is improving how you handle local adjustments rather than changing the overall workflow.

The biggest additions are the two new AI-based masking tools. One is a depth mask, which analyses the scene and lets you apply edits based on distance from the camera, so you can adjust foreground, midground, and background separately without doing everything manually. The other is an object selection mask, which works more like modern subject selection tools, letting you isolate parts of a photo by hovering over them or drawing a box around them. Both include edge feathering and support multiple masks at once, and everything runs locally on your device. These tools build on Nik’s existing U Point system, which has been a core part of how it handles selective edits for a long time.

There are also a few new other extras. A colour grading panel now gives you separate control over shadows, midtones, and highlights, along with shortcuts to adjust them together. Three new filters have been added as well, including Halation for a film-style glow, Chromatic Shift for colour channel effects, and Glass, which overlays textured patterns. Another change is the addition of blending modes, with 18 options available across filters, which affects how edits stack and interact. Nik Collection 9 is available as a one-time purchase for $179.99, with upgrade pricing for existing users.