Merging multiple exposures into one

Hello Forum!
I own a 30D and a MacBook with 2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo running on Mac OS 10.4.8.

What software application will allow me to take three shots--identical in everyway except for exposure value--and combine them seamlessly into one picture?

I want to identify the best exposed portions of each photo and then let the computer "stitch" them together for me. Is there such a tool?

I do not own any software related to digital photos at this time except for the Canon software (Digital Photo Professional) that came bundled w/ the 30D.

Before I run out and buy Photoshop or Aperture, or some other program, would like your suggestions. By the way, I don't want to spend more than $1,000 (US dollars) on software at this time.

Ryoichi

Ryoichi wrote in post #3198449
I want to identify the best exposed portions of each photo and then let the computer "stitch" them together for me. Is there such a tool?

If you want the best control, and be able to bring out specific areas of exposure, I would recommend going ahead and splurging on Photoshop. It's at a state where it pretty much does everything, if you like to do things manually. I personally don't like any of its auto settings though.

However, if you're just looking for software that is better at merging exposures under an "auto" mode, some of the special "HDR" programs would give you better results. I don't have experience with it, but it seems that Photomatix gets good reviews:

http://www.hdrsoft.com​/

Ryoichi wrote in post #3198449
I want to identify the best exposed portions of each photo and then let the computer "stitch" them together for me. Is there such a tool?

No matter what software application you choose, you will have to significant involvement in attaining your results. There isn't anything that you can literally flip the switch and have it come out perfect.

Photoshop can blend exposures as can many other applications. One popular program is Photomatix but my experience is that it still requires you to have input as to the final product. This program is used predominantly for the creation of HDR type images but can be used to recover areas of the image that is not showing like you saw it. There are several versions of photoshop available. I'm not experienced in using the Elements series and if it has the capabilities to do what you want but it is certainly the less expensive route to go in the Adobe line.

Photoshop CS3 has a great script in it called HDR Merge. It does it all for you, you just pick the output file extension and all the photos you want it to combine.