HDR help needed. What software, shooting techniques?

I have PSE 6.0 and have recently (yesterday) heard of Photomatrix software. The question I have is can I buy the stand alone Photomatrix software ($99) and use my PSE 6.0 to make HDR's. The info I read (magazine) spoke of using Photomatrix with Photoshop, but did not specify if I could do it with PSE 6.0. Also, any info on how to shoot images for HDR's. I am going to Alaska next Thursday and I would like to shoot some images for later use as HDR's. What is the basic technique for capturing images to make and HDR? Any help appreciated.

HDR images aren't very hard to shoot.

Usually I use a tripod and bracket the exposures at -2,0,+2 exposure compensation. so I have three shots that a 2 stops away from each other.

Depending on the scene you could take moe shots. as many as you want really but I find that 3 shots usually works.

I put my camera on timer. (I don't have a cable release yet) and it fires the three shots when I have AEB selected.

Hope that helped a little bit.

boucher.

boucha, your correct when you say that they are not hard to shoot, but to shoot then and turn out a really good image, as opposed to a POS, requires a deft touch in PP.

My tips for HDR.

1) Set your camera for RAW with a set white balance.
2) Set your aperture for the DOF effect you want.
3) Meter the brightest and darkest sections of your shot by pointing at them and half pressing to get the shutter speeds you require.
4) Set your camera on a tripod
5) Take shot at the highest shutter speed, then 2 stop intervals until you reach the lowest shutter speed. Use the timer to prevent vibration.
6) Merge in your chosen PP package.
7) If you decided to saturate the colours to unnatural levels - DELETE THE PICTURE!!!

I love good HDR but i loathe the oversaturated, unnatural nonsense that some people produce!

This sounds simple enough. So I just shoot the images, load into Photomatix which automatically merges them, then put into PSE 6.0 for final touches. One question, if shooting RAW, I don't make any changes (wb, color, sat, etc..) until I put them into Photomatix, right? Then do I need to change the file type before putting in Photomatix? Or do I change the file type after Photomatix, or is it after PSE 6.0 tweaking? Any help here?

chauncey wrote in post #5511255
boucha, your correct when you say that they are not hard to shoot, but to shoot then and turn out a really good image, as opposed to a POS, requires a deft touch in PP.

That is true. HDR editing is a lot easier in Photomatix. However can still be rendered in Photoshop.

check out this site for some more info.

Vanilladays

Yeah, your right, it is simple enough, just check out some of the garbage that has been posted herein.

Some HDR's look like crap, and others look very good. It all depends on how much one 'tweaks' the end-result. As far as the process goes, set your camera's AEB to a +2/-2 bracket. This will give you three shots: +2, 0, -2. Use a cable release and mirror lock up if need be. When you're ready to process, convert your shots to TIFF files in your RAW converter and then load into Photomatix. Try the default settings first, then tweak afterwards until you get what *you're* looking for. Sometimes, the cartoonish look fits the subject, and other times it doesn't. It all depends on what suits your eye, not someone else's.

This was taken with three shots at +/- 2 and merged in Photomatix:

Great shot argyle,

One question I have still is about when to convert RAW. Do I put all the RAW images into Photomatix without any editing done to them. Or do I put the images into ACR and make some changes there, then put into Photomatix? Or do I do all the changes in PSE 6.0 to the actual HDR once it is put together and tone mapped? I am just not sure about when to make the edits. For what it is worth, I just started shooting RAW about a month ago. It is all pretty new to me since getting my first DSLR about 5 months back. Thanks for your patience.

As I mentioned in my post, just convert each RAW file to TIFF in your converter; save them to your desktop or a separate folder. I don't do any touch-ups to my RAW files prior to conversion/merging. Then open Photomatix and use those same TIFF files from your desktop or whatever folder where you saved them. Make whatever edits you need to make on the final merged image. At least this works for me...

You can also use the 'Help' menu within Photomatix...

Thanks for the additional info. I just don't know why the raw images have to be converted to tiff. Why would you not just put the raw images into Photomatix? I am sure there is a good reason, I just don't know what it is.

So after that, then I save the file (completed HDR) and open it into PSE 6.0. After final tweaking there, I save it as a jpeg. Is this right or am I still out in left field? Thanks for your time and thoughts.

DANATTHEROCK wrote in post #5543086
Thanks for the additional info. I just don't know why the raw images have to be converted to tiff. Why would you not just put the raw images into Photomatix? I am sure there is a good reason, I just don't know what it is.

So after that, then I save the file (completed HDR) and open it into PSE 6.0. After final tweaking there, I save it as a jpeg. Is this right or am I still out in left field? Thanks for your time and thoughts.

You can just input the RAW files into Photomatix if you wish, although processing the RAW files in ACR first allows you to set white balance, tidy up CA, etc.

Thanks Duder, sounds like I should put the unedited raw images into Photomatix, then do the HDR bit, then tone mapping, then save as a tiff to PSE 6.0 for some finishing touches, then save as a jpeg. Does this sound right? This is all new to me. Just recently started shooting in raw. Sorry for all the questions.

Like Duder said, you're better off processing the RAW files first, converting to TIFF then loading them into Photomatix. This allows you to make simple corrections to the image before HDRing it.

Photomatix is a great program for producing HDR images. I agree that the overdone images are not as exciting as other more subtle effects. The Antelope Canyon shot in this thread is, in my opinion, a perfect application of the technology and very well done.

As others have already said, exposing for HDR is not complicated at all. You can use your auto bracketing setting as well as working manually.

I have an affiliate relationship with Photomatix, established for my workshop attendees. It will give you a 15% discount on the purchase of the program. Just enter the coupon code RickRosen when making the purchase.

Hope that helps.

Rick