PhotoWalkPro

When it comes to creating HDR images, most folks know that Photomatix renders much better results than Photoshop when it comes to tonemapping.  So if that’s the case, why would anyone need to use Photoshop as part of the process?  The simple fact is that, while Photoshop is pretty lame when it comes to any post-HDR processing, its image alignment process stands head and shoulders above anyone else.  To prove this point, I took the same set of 3 bracketed images and created HDR files using Photomatix Pro 3.1 and Photoshop CS4.  I saved the images as OpenEXR files and then tonemapped the files using the same tonemapping settings in Photomatix Pro.

The file on the left was merged using Photomatix Pro and the image on the right using Photoshop.  This was a challenging image to merge because I did not use a tripod to shoot the bracketed exposures so there was some slight alignment shifts between the different exposures.  To really get an idea of how much better Photoshop’s alignment function really is, check out these enlargements from the above images.  All of the images depict Photomatix Pro on the left and Photoshop on the right.

You can click on all of the above images to see a larger view.  Another thing I noticed in doing this little test is that the file created with Photoshop has a little more faithful color rendition and better sharpness and detail.  Just imagine how much better it would be if I would use a tripod.

The HDR software market is getting a little more crowded each day. There’s Photomatix, easyHDR, FDRTools, and many others that will all create, post-process, and enhance your RAW and HDR files. If you already own Photoshop, you might already own all of the software you need to enjoy the benefits of HDR imaging. Let’s check out some HDR processing using just Adobe Photoshop CS3 (and a little Bridge and Camera Raw too).

Above you see the three exposures I used to create my HDR version of the scene. I am not going to cover creating the HDR file because I have already done this in a previous tutorial (click here to see the tutorial covering this subject). Read the rest of this entry »

Following on the heels of the Photomatix Pro 3.0 Beta 6 release for Mac comes Photomatix Pro 3.0 Beta 11 for the Windows platform. Along with improved Vista performance, the new Windows release also features:

• Drag and drop of images from the Explorer window to automatically create an HDR file.
• A new “Workflow Shortcut” panel to easily access the most used functions.
• Improved Tonemapping Preview with better sizing controls.
• A better loupe view for magnified viewing of the preview image.
• A new alignment option that is more accurate (but a little slower).
• A new algorithm method for Highlight & Shadow adjustments that reduces halos while preserving highlight and shadow details.
• Better handling of large image files.
• And new options for batch processing.

I have been using the Mac version of 3.0 and I am very pleased that the HDRSoft team has made the Windows version just as slick and functional. Now I feel satisfied with using either platform to process my images. The image below was processed with the new Windows Beta version and achieved very good results. I’m not sure how long these will be available as full functioning betas so if you have been trying to decide if you should buy the program or not, download it today and start playing and processing before they start charging for the final release.  For more information, head on over to the HDRSoft website.

♦ DC Photowalk News

Folks have already begun to sign up for the March photowalk (ok, you don’t really have to sign up, just let me know if you are interested). I will try and get downtown this weekend to scope out a couple of potential routes. If you have any suggestions for a location where you would like to shoot, please let me know (but remember, this is a monument-free shoot).

I was feeling better his weekend so I decided to record part III of my HDR tutorial series.  This installment deals with creating a pseudo-HDR image from a single RAW file.  Often times the ability to shoot for HDR just isn’t a reality.  Either you forgot your tripod or maybe your subject matter just doesn’t lend itself to multiple exposures.  What ever the case may be, you can still derive the benefits of HDR from just a single image.  Most digital cameras that are shooting RAW have an exposure latitude of 7 to 11 stops, far great than any film.  By using the Single File Conversion process in Photomatix Pro, you can process the entire tonal range of your file and have it converted to an HDR file that you can then tonemap the file as per any HDR.

I couldn’t take multiple exposures of this scene out my airplane window but i could still perform some HDR processing using the single file conversion process.

Here is the completed image that was processed in the tutorial.

If you are interested in seeing more HDR imagery that I have created, try checking out my new  HDR Images page that can be found by following the link on the banner at the top of the page or by clicking this link.

My last post created a little discussion about what method is best for processing HDR and if you already have Photoshop, is it necessary to go out and spend more money just to get get the benefits from HDR photography.  Instead of debating this with myself in this post, I thought I would take an HDR file and process it using both software packages and see which one you prefer.  As I said in a comment in my last post, I am always on the lookout for the “next thing” especially if it is going to speed my workflow and give me the results that I want.  The bottom line is that there really is no “better” solution, just the solution that’s best for you.  Also in the comments, Roger pointed me to an article over in Layers Magazine called HDR Another Way in Photoshop that is uses two exposures and then overlies the images and masks back in the tones that are wanted for the final image.  There is certainly more than one way to skin this HDR cat but as I read through the article I noticed that there were no less than 25 adjustment layers used to create their image.

I would love to have that kind of time to work an image but let’s face it, i have other things to do and probably not the patience for it.  Now if I can find a software solution that brings me close and then I can spend a fraction of the time in Photoshop finishing off the image then sign me up!

So let’s take a look at our image to be processed.

So here are my three exposures; one normal, one shot at +2 stops, and one shot at -2 stops.  I processed the images in Photoshop to create my HDR file (see Part I of my HDR tutorial for more information on this process).  Once I had the HDR file, I then went about processing them in Photoshop and Photomatix Pro.

In Photoshop I changed my mode from 32-bit to 16-bit.  This brought up a dialog box that offers four different ways to make this conversion:

Exposure and Gamma, Highlight Compression,  Equalize Histogram, and Local Adaption.  Local Adaption is the only one worth a damn for this project and is the setting used by most individuals who use Photoshop to process their HDR images.  By using this method, you can adjust the Radius, Threshold and Tone Curve to get the best possible detail and tonal range from your HDR file.

Here is that file without any further Photoshop adjustments.

Now here is the same file processed in Photomatix Pro as described in Part II of my tutorial.

Both of these images would require further processing and sharpening in Photoshop but it gives you a good idea of where each software application goes with the HDR file.  There are many more effects and techniques including combining the HDR images with normal processed exposures for more realistic images.  Just like any image in Photoshop, you can work it till the day you die and never be done.  Unless you decide you are done because in the end, it’s your decision where to take your images and yours to decide what “look” you really want.

But if I can help you get there, just give me a shout.  I’m happy to help.