Nik Software Color Efex Pro 3 is a powerful and versatile set of filters for editing color, tone, contrast, and more in your photos. It is one of eight plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic that offer endless creative possibilities. Whether you want to apply stunning and imaginative effects, enhance specific areas with U Point technology, or cut through haze with ClearView, Nik Color Efex Pro 3 has you covered.

But what if you don’t want to spend $299.95 on this amazing software? Well, there is a way to get it for free! In 2016, Google acquired Nik Software and decided to make the entire Nik Collection available for free download. This includes Nik Color Efex Pro 3, as well as Analog Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, Viveza, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro, and Dfine. If you purchased the Nik Collection in 2016, you can even get a full refund from Google.

So how do you download the free version of Nik Color Efex Pro 3? It’s simple. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to this page on the DxO website and enter your email address to request the free Nik Collection 2012 download[^1^]. This is the same version that Google released for free in 2016.
2. Check your email and click on the link to download the Nik Collection installer file.
3. Run the installer file and follow the instructions to install the Nik Collection on your computer.
4. Open Photoshop or Lightroom and access the Nik Collection plug-ins from the Filter menu.
5. Enjoy using Nik Color Efex Pro 3 and the other plug-ins for free!

Note that the free version of Nik Color Efex Pro 3 is not compatible with newer versions of Photoshop or Lightroom. You may encounter some bugs or crashes when using it. If you want to get the latest version of Nik Color Efex Pro 5, which has a redesigned interface, improved performance, and new filters and recipes, you will need to purchase it from DxO for $149.00.

Nik Color Efex Pro 3 is a great tool for enhancing your photos with creative and professional effects. By downloading it for free from Google, you can save money and still enjoy its features. However, if you want to get the most out of this software, you may want to consider upgrading to Nik Color Efex Pro 5 from DxO.

Now that you have downloaded and installed Nik Color Efex Pro 3 for free, you may be wondering how to use it. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started:

• To access Nik Color Efex Pro 3 from Photoshop, go to Filter > Nik Collection > Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete. To access it from Lightroom, go to Photo > Edit In > Color Efex Pro 3.0.
• You will see a list of filters on the left side of the window. You can browse them by category or by popularity. You can also search for a filter by name or keyword.
• To apply a filter to your photo, simply click on it. You will see a preview of the effect on the right side of the window. You can adjust the intensity and other parameters of the filter using the sliders below the preview.
• You can also combine multiple filters to create your own custom effect. To do this, click on the Add Filter button at the bottom of the filter list. This will create a new layer of filters that you can edit independently.
• If you want to apply a filter only to a specific area of your photo, you can use the U Point technology. This allows you to place Control Points on your photo that affect only the pixels within a certain radius. You can adjust the size, opacity, and feathering of the Control Points using the sliders next to them.
• If you want to save your custom effect for future use, you can create a recipe. A recipe is a combination of filters and settings that you can apply to any photo with one click. To create a recipe, click on the Save Recipe button at the bottom of the window. You can name your recipe and add a description and keywords for easy access.
• You can also use the image recipes that come with Nik Color Efex Pro 3. These are preset effects that are designed by professional photographers and artists. You can find them on the right side of the window under the Recipes tab. You can apply them to your photo by clicking on them, and you can adjust their parameters using the sliders below.
• When you are happy with your effect, click on OK to apply it to your photo. You can also click on Cancel to discard it or Brush to apply it selectively using a brush tool.

Nik Color Efex Pro 3 is a fun and easy way to enhance your photos with creative and professional effects. By downloading it for free from Google, you can experiment with different filters and recipes without spending a dime. However, if you want to get more features and updates, you may want to consider upgrading to Nik Color Efex Pro 5 from DxO.