Posted by Jonathan Lent on April 25, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Need help on a good link for HDR using windows and CS3. Just got home from Zion, Antelope Canyons(unbelievable), Grand Canyon, and Sedona. An incredible road trip that started in Vegas and ended in Phoenix. Ton of bracketing and now need to learn the best way to merge my work. Thanks for any help, definetly got some keepers but processing is not my strong point.
As great as Photoshop is, CS3's Merge-to-HDR automated function just plain sucks. I personally stay away from combining multiple exposures, but from what I've seen and heard on NPN, Photomatix does a much better job and has much more functionality built in specifically for HDR images.
You might want to take a look at this - http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/ - its a great article that covers HDR, from generating the HDR "look" from a single file, to using the popular Photomatix package, to some fairly detailed work on HDR images that have moving subjects and challenging lighting.
Posted by Brian Snyder on April 26, 2009 at 7:06 AM
I have found that the CS3 program is doesn't compete with outside programs. I purchased a fairly new HDR program and am satisfied with the results I have gotten. Whether single or multiple images, I have used both with good results. Check out http://imagingluminary.com/, I believe they have a trial period you can use to try it first.
If you are using lightroom, have a look at the enblend-enfuse plugin by timothy armes.
It works great for most images and imo looks more natural than hdr conversions.
If youre not using lightroom, then photomatix would also be my recommendation.
Wim
Posted by Carlos Molina on April 28, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Jonathan,
As much as high dynamic range is to be properly worked in an image, I personally stay away from pre-set programs which do it all automatically. I have Photomatix pro in my computer but hardly ever use it. If I had to recommend a software program and I had no choice, it would be Photomatix, no doubt, however, the problem is that it does everything automatically as I said and not everything (all the elemnts) in a photograph are to be treated equally. I strongly recommend that if you auto bracketed all you images from Zion (needless to say one of the most beautiful places on earth) you should try to blend you images in CS3 using layers & masks, this is really the best way as you will be able to control every segment of your images, if you use photomatix you do not have a ny control, the program does what it does and you are stuck with the outcome. If you do not know how to do this I recommend you take a look at Scott Kelby online training courses, which, in my opinion are some of the very best in the world. they have more than plenty of training courses not just on photography but Lightroom, Photoshop CS2/CS3/CS4......
Here's their website:
Discussion
6 repliesIt works great for most images and imo looks more natural than hdr conversions.
If youre not using lightroom, then photomatix would also be my recommendation.
Wim
As much as high dynamic range is to be properly worked in an image, I personally stay away from pre-set programs which do it all automatically. I have Photomatix pro in my computer but hardly ever use it. If I had to recommend a software program and I had no choice, it would be Photomatix, no doubt, however, the problem is that it does everything automatically as I said and not everything (all the elemnts) in a photograph are to be treated equally. I strongly recommend that if you auto bracketed all you images from Zion (needless to say one of the most beautiful places on earth) you should try to blend you images in CS3 using layers & masks, this is really the best way as you will be able to control every segment of your images, if you use photomatix you do not have a ny control, the program does what it does and you are stuck with the outcome. If you do not know how to do this I recommend you take a look at Scott Kelby online training courses, which, in my opinion are some of the very best in the world. they have more than plenty of training courses not just on photography but Lightroom, Photoshop CS2/CS3/CS4......
Here's their website:
www.kelbytraining.com
I hope this helps you some.
Have fun...