I updated a Mac computer from OS 10.10 to 10.11. Yes, 1-1/2 years behind the times. The reason for the update is because some new applications now require OS 10.11. But all Topaz and Nik (Google) plugins for Photoshop starting acting up after the update.
The reason why these plugins were acting weirdly is because Mac’s newer operating systems, starting with OS 10.11, have Apple’s System Integrity Protection (SIP). This security feature does what its name says by not allowing non-Apple files in certain directories.
Topaz and Nik plugins had installed files into the hidden /usr/lib/ directory which is now blocked by SIP. But the update to OS 10.11 removed all non-Apple files from directories protected by SIP.
Topaz updated its installers so that its plugins now place files in /usr/local/ which is allowed by SIP. Reinstalling Topaz plugins fixes the problem.
Google’s Nik Collection was discontinued a year ago and will not be updated.**
The Nik Collection (on Mac) had four files in /usr/lib/ that were removed by OS 10.11: ColorEfexPro4FC.dylib, HDREfexPro2FC.dylib, SilverEfexPro2FC.dylib, and Viveza2FC.dylib. For the Nik plugins to be back in working order, these four files have to be manually put back in place.
To do this, you have to disable SIP, copy the four Nik files back into /usr/lib/ and then re-enable SIP. You can disable/re-enable SIP after booting your Mac into Recovery Mode and using Terminal.
Note that the Nik Collection, and all other 32-bit applications, will stop functioning if you update to macOS 10.15 in late 2019. This new OS will run only 64-bit applications.
** Added October 25, 2017: DxO announced that it has bought the Nik Collection from Google. There will be a new edition in mid-2018 that will fix the install issue as well as a few other things, too.
