HDR Effects?

Ive looked for the answer but can't find anything deffinate.

Ive done a couple of hdr's using -2 -1 0 +1 +2 and combining them in PS.

How do you get a more cartoony effect (all i could think of).

My HDR's seem to come out as a good standard picture? If that makes sense?

Thanks

Dylan_J wrote in post #11530478
Ive looked for the answer but can't find anything deffinate.

Ive done a couple of hdr's using -2 -1 0 +1 +2 and combining them in PS.

How do you get a more cartoony effect (all i could think of).

My HDR's seem to come out as a good standard picture? If that makes sense?

Thanks

Try photomatix, it is a stand alone software that combines the images and you can do natural to grunge looks in it. Also the plug in Topaz Adjust is another great tool to play with after the files are merged together. There is also NIK HDR-Pro another PS plugin. Do some research on those.

Sevan

Photomatix is probably still the most popular HDR app, and a good choice.

But I have found that achieving the "grunge" or "tonemapped" look is much more difficult with it now than in earlier versions.

I would recommend Oloneo. IMHO, it is the best app currently available to achieve that look. It even has an Auto mode where you can click only one slider and often achieve some good results. It is currently a beta, as such it is free. I think the latest version doesn't expire until February. It is also much faster than other apps.

As mentioned, Topaz features tools that can enhance the look further. Also Nik ColorEfex has a tool called Tonal Contrast which will emphasize grunge effects nicely. Unfortunately, all Nik software is a bit pricey.

Dylan_J wrote in post #11530478
Ive looked for the answer but can't find anything deffinate.

Ive done a couple of hdr's using -2 -1 0 +1 +2 and combining them in PS.

How do you get a more cartoony effect (all i could think of).

My HDR's seem to come out as a good standard picture? If that makes sense?

Thanks

So you're trying to get the overcooked HDR look?

Scatterbrained wrote in post #11534337
So you're trying to get the overcooked HDR look?

That's the way I read his question. Should he not be?

So this requires taking three pictures at varying exposures correct?

Oloneo will let you get some very cool results (both natural looking or "cartoony") with just one exposure, especially if it's a RAW.

ShirleyNKY wrote in post #11534617
So this requires taking three pictures at varying exposures correct?

Yes 3, 5 or 7 -1,0,+1, -2-1,0+1+2 or -3-2-1,0+1+2+3 or how ever you need depending on the scene. Google HDR or High Dynamic Range.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #11534255
Photomatix is probably still the most popular HDR app, and a good choice.

But I have found that achieving the "grunge" or "tonemapped" look is much more difficult with it now than in earlier versions.

I would recommend Oloneo. IMHO, it is the best app currently available to achieve that look. It even has an Auto mode where you can click only one slider and often achieve some good results. It is currently a beta, as such it is free. I think the latest version doesn't expire until February. It is also much faster than other apps.

As mentioned, Topaz features tools that can enhance the look further. Also Nik ColorEfex has a tool called Tonal Contrast which will emphasize grunge effects nicely. Unfortunately, all Nik software is a bit pricey.

Actually the trick is to make two different versions of the HDR shot, one being in the natural stage and then the other in the grunge stage, trust me the newest version v4 of photomatix will let you toast the image really good, they even have a grunge preset. I use it then tweak the sliders till it looks good. Then take those two shots into photoshop and put the grunge on top of the natural one in layers, then play with the blend modes and opacity, then tweak some more in photoshop with levels, curves and what not. You get some awesome results.

Here is an example of one that I did that way.

ncjohn wrote in post #11534747
Oloneo will let you get some very cool results (both natural looking or "cartoony") with just one exposure, especially if it's a RAW.

Agreed, but how do you do a single raw? I see no option for that. When I do a single file faux hdr (tonemapping), I make three exposure tiffs in dpp then load them in.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #11535983
Agreed, but how do you do a single raw? I see no option for that. When I do a single file faux hdr (tonemapping), I make three exposure tiffs in dpp then load them in.

When you have the "browser" window open with all the thumbnails, instead of using the "add" button to the right, just double-click on the RAW thumbnail.

S.E.V. wrote in post #11535146
Actually the trick is to make two different versions of the HDR shot, one being in the natural stage and then the other in the grunge stage, trust me the newest version v4 of photomatix will let you toast the image really good, they even have a grunge preset. I use it then tweak the sliders till it looks good. Then take those two shots into photoshop and put the grunge on top of the natural one in layers, then play with the blend modes and opacity, then tweak some more in photoshop with levels, curves and what not. You get some awesome results.
Sevan

Sevan,

Thanks for your post and info. Sounds interesting and I may give it a try. However, it sounds like a lot of steps to go thru, especially when considering that Oloneo can create spectacular results in Auto mode with the single slider adjustment.

The thing I like about Oloneo is control. Even in Auto mode it offers controls that Photomatix does not such as individual color saturation, luminance, and hue adjustments. And in the Advanced mode, even more so.

With much more robust adjustment features, and also considering the fact Oloneo seems to be faster, it is my personal opinion that Oloneo absolutely kills Photomatix. That is, in all areas except one: ghosting/movement. Oloneo (at least the last time I tried it) really, really sucks at that. And Photomatix's semi-manual features works nicely.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #11536255
Sevan,

Thanks for your post and info. Sounds interesting and I may give it a try. However, it sounds like a lot of steps to go thru, especially when considering that Oloneo can create spectacular results in Auto mode with the single slider adjustment.

The thing I like about Oloneo is control. Even in Auto mode it offers controls that Photomatix does not such as individual color saturation, luminance, and hue adjustments. And in the Advanced mode, even more so.

With much more robust adjustment features, and also considering the fact Oloneo seems to be faster, it is my personal opinion that Oloneo absolutely kills Photomatix. That is, in all areas except one: ghosting/movement. Oloneo (at least the last time I tried it) really, really sucks at that. And Photomatix's semi-manual features works nicely.

Yes it might be a little bit more work but the results are great. I never tried Oloneo, might have to give it a shot. it sounds like a neat program.

Thanks

Sevan

S.E.V. wrote in post #11536733
Yes it might be a little bit more work but the results are great. I never tried Oloneo, might have to give it a shot. it sounds like a neat program.

Thanks

Sevan

Do this: put it in the Auto mode and tweak the slider. You might be surprised at the results. But ultimately, put Oloneo in the Advanced mode, click off the auto contrast and exposure settings, and adjust things. You might be surprised at the power of user adjustability.

As to Photomatix and jumping thru the hoops, I think it's kinda ironic and funny. If you recall, in the first versions, it was very easy to create grungy effects. But people cried "we want more realistic hdr!" So they provided it. Now that it is available, the tonemapped look has become popular and many people want to go back to it. Can't win for losing.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #11537891
Do this: put it in the Auto mode and tweak the slider. You might be surprised at the results. But ultimately, put Oloneo in the Advanced mode, click off the auto contrast and exposure settings, and adjust things. You might be surprised at the power of user adjustability.

As to Photomatix and jumping thru the hoops, I think it's kinda ironic and funny. If you recall, in the first versions, it was very easy to create grungy effects. But people cried "we want more realistic hdr!" So they provided it. Now that it is available, the tonemapped look has become popular and many people want to go back to it. Can't win for losing.

Just downloaded it from there site, it is free!?! Saweet, just another tool to play with, thanks for the tips, I will give it a shot tonight with a previous HDR I did via photomatix.
Yes they have changed photomatix from the first versions but I actually like the layout of v4 better, people cry but once the changes happen they are all like WTF did you guys do? Hahahahah yes Ironic.

Sevan