HDR Help

Hi Folks,

Just downloaded Photomatix Pro and tried out my first HDR image. I'm impressed...but am trying to figure out what the "blue fringe" is along some of the transitions between sky and foliage. Attached (hopefully attached...the note says I can post an image in a "regional forum" and this is general) is an extreme close up of what I'm talking about. What is it and how do I fix it? Is it caused by the movement of the foliage during the shooting and Photomatix doesn't know what to do with it? I shot on a tripod...but it was a bit breezy that morning. Thanks for any suggestions.
Kate

Motion is a big factor here - the main branch also looks a bit blurry. The Generate HDR Options screen in PMatix has a checkbox for Attempt To reduce ghosting artifacts, with a sub option for Moving Objects? Did you try that? Fringing can also be caused by being too aggressive with the Strength and Saturation settings. In this case though, I am more inclined to suspect motion.

I agree with Glenn - motion can be a killer with multiple exposures for HDR. One work around is to open the sharpest and/or best exposed image into a raw converter like Adobe Camera Raw and generate new images at a range of different exposures, then import these into Photomatix. Not that good if you really do have a wide range of exposure values to wrangle - but can produce better images than using a range of real exposures out of the camera that have motion problems because of the time lag between those exposures. Of course an image that is blurred because of wind caused motion and slow shutter speed is going to stay that way whatever you do to it.

A combination of multiple exposures and layer masks will eliminate the ghosting that comes from movement, and the noise that is common in the shadows. Photomatix is pretty good, but not perfect. Here you can find an excellent tutorial that explains the entire process in great detail:

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/

Hope this helps.

The cyan coloration and the fact that it is only on one side of your edges makes me wonder if some of your brighter photos had chromatic aberration/fringing. Take a look at the originals and (if ca is present) correct it prior to blending.