Hi All - so, whilst I’m rather enjoying using DxO tools I can get very confused.
I saw a YouTube video about processing B&W images with PL8 (incl FilmPack) and SilverEfx. It got me thinking - what advantage is there of using Silver Efex with PL? I guess the same with ColourEfx 
I have PL7 and FilmPack - also SilverEfx from pre-PL days - but I find I rarely, if ever use Silver Efex now.
Happy to be enlightened - as there seems to be a lot of crossover of functionality between DxO tools…
The only “extra” that some folks seem to like is their presets
thanks Joanna - are they any different to Film Pack ones?? I can’t imagine so or why…
And presets in FP via PL get confusing - there are regular ones of stock films and ‘designer’ ones that also include stock film!?
This is a stitched composite iphone photo converted to B&W. I tried PL7 and Silver Efex7. I could not get the balance between the clouds, mountains, and foreground with PL7 that I was able to do in Silver Efex.
SE has more tonality handles in the local adjustments section and the color filtering seems better. Overall, I felt SE was more intuitive for me. I am far from an expert, so watched a few videos. The SE workflow seems to better match the darkroom process I learned many decades ago.
YMMV
Added: I didn’t like or use any “presets”.
Thank you - I kind of agree about the workflow.
I did just realise one pretty chunky SE plus - elliptical control points. And, yes, I guess the ‘fine tuning’ may be a bit finer
Nice storm too btw
btw btw - what’s YMMV!
“Your Methods May Vary”.
We all do things a bit differently.
I really REALLY wish these were in Photolab. It’s my own biggest wish for DxO PL.
Tom
PS. For the inevitable, incoming (repetitive) question… for dodging and burning purposes.
