DxO Nik Collection 9 Review: Is This Photo Editing Software Worth It in 2026?
Aug 17, 2026
If you're looking for photo editing software that hands you more creative control, DxO Nik Collection 9 is worth a look.
I've used and reviewed the Nik Collection through several versions now, and what keeps standing out to me is how much it pushes you toward creativity. It's not just about making a photo technically cleaner. It gives you more ways to actually express the feeling behind an image.
What's New in DxO Nik Collection 9?
The biggest addition here is AI-powered masking.
The AI depth masking and AI masking tools let you isolate specific parts of an image and make targeted adjustments instead of applying one edit across the whole frame. That means more precise changes and a faster workflow overall.
The new color effects and controlled color grading tools add even more flexibility when you're developing the look of an image.
New Film-Inspired Effects
The creative color and film effects have always been one of my favorite parts of the Nik Collection.
Version 9 adds a few new filters:
- Chromatic Shift
- Glass Effect
- Halation
Color Efex and Nik Analog Efex also picked up new blending modes, giving you more control over how these effects sit on top of your photos. If you love that film look and feel, these tools are a fun way to bring some analog character into a digital image.
More Than Just Photo Editing
For me, the real appeal of the Nik Collection is the creative process itself.
When I'm working on portraits, landscapes, animal photography, engagement sessions, or select wedding images, I want to take a photo past a standard edit and into something that actually represents how I felt when I shot it. That's where Nik Collection earns its place in my workflow.
It gives you room to experiment with color, texture, contrast, film-inspired effects, and other creative treatments without losing the original vision behind the photo.
For high-volume wedding work, I usually want a more consistent editing style across the board. But for portraits and personal projects, having that freedom to experiment changes how I approach an image entirely.
Is DxO Nik Collection 9 a Subscription?
One more thing photographers will appreciate: Nik Collection 9 runs on a perpetual license, not a subscription.
Buy it once, keep it. If you want to try it, use code JOY for 15% off.
Final Thoughts on DxO Nik Collection 9
There's no shortage of photo editing software out there, but Nik Collection 9 stands apart because it leans so heavily into creative expression.
The new AI masking tools speed up targeted editing, and the updated color grading, film effects, and blending options give you more room to build a visual style that's actually yours.
If you want photo editing software that goes beyond basic corrections and gives you real creative freedom, DxO Nik Collection 9 is worth exploring.
Try it on some of your own photos and see what you come up with.
See if it’s the right fit for you: https://vanessajoy.samcart.com/products/the-wedding-breakthrough-masterclass
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