Nik Collection 9 Gets a Major Overhaul: AI-Powered Color Grading Arrives

I’ve been watching DxO’s evolution of the Nik Collection with genuine interest, and their latest version 9 release just landed with some genuinely compelling upgrades. If you’re serious about color grading in Lightroom, this update deserves your attention.

A Long Journey to This Moment

Here’s the thing about Nik—it’s got legitimate legacy. These tools started way back in the Photoshop plugin era before most of us had even heard of non-destructive editing. Google acquired the collection in 2013, then DxO picked it up in 2017 and basically started from scratch with fresh code. That’s a massive undertaking. Version 9 is the first release built entirely on DxO’s own architecture, which means we’re looking at a fundamentally rebuilt toolset—not just incremental patches.

What’s Actually New for Color Graders

The headline features here are worth unpacking. The enhanced color grading tools feel like they’re finally catching up to what Adobe’s been offering in Lightroom’s color grading panel, but with some distinct personality. The inclusion of more AI-assisted features is where things get interesting for workflow efficiency.

I’m particularly curious about how these new filters integrate with existing Lightroom edits. The real test for any external editing tool is whether it feels like a natural extension of your process or like you’re jumping through hoops. From what I’m seeing, DxO seems to understand that photographers want seamless integration, not friction.

The AI Question

Let’s be honest—everyone’s slapping “AI” on everything these days. But when DxO talks about AI enhancements in a color grading context, they’re referencing their years of algorithmic development in lens correction and image optimization. That’s not nothing.

The question I keep asking myself: does AI-assisted color grading actually improve your creative output, or does it risk homogenizing your visual voice? That’s the tension worth sitting with.

Who Should Care

If you’re already living in Lightroom’s ecosystem and want complementary color grading power without switching contexts, this update makes the Nik Collection worth reconsidering. If you’ve been on the fence about plugin investments, the fact that DxO is clearly committed to continuous development (rather than Google’s classic “acquire then abandon” strategy) is encouraging.

The real value will depend on how these tools integrate into your personal editing philosophy. Version 9 feels like DxO finally has the technical foundation to compete seriously in this space.