Is a non-destructive RAW workflow possible? Can I subsequently continue working with the RAW in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom Classic?

This information applies to versions: 3, 4, 5, 6

The short answers to these questions are:

1. No, Nik Collection does not employ a RAW non-destructive workflow: it is TIFF non-destructive in  Adobe Lightroom Classic / standalone, or smart object non-destructive in Adobe Photoshop.
2. Nik Collection can not be used with RAW images. This applies generally to all plugins.

The longer answers are as follows:

In Adobe Photoshop

You can open an image either:

1. As a regular object, in which case any changes applied to the selected layer by Nik Collection cannot be reversed; or
2. As a regular object and convert to SmartObject when saving changes from Nik Collection to Photoshop; or
3. As a Smart Object which benefits from a non-destructive workflow with Nik Collection (or with any other plugin or Photoshop tool). In this case, any changes applied to a given layer can be reversed later.

Note: this does not apply to Nik Perspective Efex.

In Adobe Lightroom Classic

The non-destructive workflow is not RAW non-destructive simply because Nik Collection is not compatible with RAW files... however, it is a TIFF non-destructive workflow.

In order to use Nik Collection, a TIFF or JPEG copy of the RAW file must be created and sent to the Nik Collection software.

If this new copy of the RAW file:

1. Is a JPEG, then any changes made to the JPEG file cannot be reversed after saving in Nik Collection.
2. If it is a TIFF, there are two possibilities:

• • You can select the checkbox "Save and allow to resume editing" in order to benefit from a TIFF non-destructive workflow. In this case, any changes made to the TIFF file by the last software in which the non-destructive checkbox was applied can be reversed.
  • You can alternatively omit to select the "Save and allow to resume editing" option. In this case, they will not benefit from the TIFF non-destructive workflow, and it will be impossible to reverse any changes.

Note:

*To activate the TIFF non-destructive workflow:

1. Use a TIFF file.
2. Click the checkbox "Save and allow to resume editing" located just below the image preview.
3. Save any changes made.

** TIFF non-destructive workflow is only available when the software is used either as LrC plugins or in standalone mode.

*** TIFF non-destructive workflow is not available for Perspective EFEX.