While not a major feature release, 7.0.302 focuses on under-the-hood improvements:
Note: The UI remains unchanged from Nik 6—clean, functional, but slightly dated. DxO continues to prioritize performance over visual overhauls.
Even at version 7.0.302, the suite retains the iconic eight plugins that made Nik famous, albeit with modernized engines:
In version 7.0.302, all eight plugins benefit from the updated underlying architecture. Nik Collection 7.0.302
While DxO’s official changelog is concise, the practical improvements in Nik Collection 7.0.302 are significant.
Tested on an M2 Max Mac Studio with 64GB RAM, editing 61‑MP Sony A7R IV files:
The performance gains are modest but meaningful—especially for high‑volume retouchers. While not a major feature release, 7
Previous version 7 builds ran well via Rosetta 2, but 7.0.302 introduces fully native execution. Users report:
Earlier version 7 builds suffered from a "crash on exit" bug when used with Photoshop 2024 (v25.x). Nik Collection 7.0.302 resolves this. Additionally, the plugin menu now respects dark mode settings perfectly.
To avoid conflicts, follow this exact installation method: Note: The UI remains unchanged from Nik 6—clean,
Important: 7.0.302 is not compatible with Photoshop Elements 2021 or earlier. You need Elements 2022+ or a full Creative Cloud subscription.
For users of DxO PhotoLab (the raw processor), Nik Collection 7 is essentially an extension of that software. It acts as a set of local adjustment panels rather than a separate external editor. This integration is smoother than the Lightroom/Photoshop round-trip, offering a unified editing environment.