HDR Not enough dynamic range - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

04/13/2007 11:00:14 PM · #1

Ok, I have this problem since the day one of trying to create a HDR. :( my bad luck is bad ;);)

In my case steps are:

1. convert CR2 to 16 bit TIF using Canon EOS viewer utility
2. convert for each value of exposure -2, -1 and 0
3. Open Photoshop CS2, go to file-> Automate -> Merge to HDR
4. select three files created above
5. click ok, it does some work and then it complains about "Not enough dynamic range".

Am I missing something in here? does it have to do anything with the content of the photographs?

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

04/13/2007 11:04:34 PM · #2

HDR files are 32 bit. Might try going to mode and change to 32 bit.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/13/2007 11:09:07 PM · #3

Thanks Jeff, but what is mode? and where can I find it? Sorry about that :)

_eug

Nikon D50

04/13/2007 11:10:17 PM · #4

Actually what you need to do is strip the EXIF data. It's reading the EXIF and thinks that all 3 copy are the same.

04/13/2007 11:19:22 PM · #5

Now here is something else :)

Now i saved all of my TIF files to 32 bit mode by selecting each file and then change the mode to 32 bit and save as new file and again 32 bit.

After doing that in Merge HDR, it complains, it says "HDR Merge, because, it is not the right kind of document". now I must have done something wrong. :(:(

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

04/13/2007 11:21:30 PM · #6

Originally posted by _eug:

Actually what you need to do is strip the EXIF data. It's reading the EXIF and thinks that all 3 copy are the same.

I am sorry, I am asking so many questions, but how can I remove that?

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

04/13/2007 11:42:07 PM · #7

Blah i guess it needs to be 16 bit. The easiest way to strip the exif is to use save to web but im not sure that a lossless format like tiff is avaliable for that method.

Eitherway i wasnt aware that tiff files maintained exif data so it might also not be a solution.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

04/14/2007 12:02:29 AM · #8

Copy and paste the image into a new file and then save like you normally do. That will remove the exif data.

bergiekat

04/14/2007 12:12:13 AM · #9

May I jump in here? Is it possible to do a HDR using Adobe Elements or can you only do this in CS2/CS3? I can't afford the newer software yet. :(
(edited for spelling)

Message edited by author 2007-04-14 00:12:36.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

04/14/2007 05:06:15 PM · #10

I have another update on this:

first I was using EOS viewer to convert RAW to TIF and it did not work now I tried CS2 to convert RAW to TIF and when it is doing merge it does say that the TIF is of 16 bit but again it gave me same error. means no luck so far.

Does it have anything to do with the content in the image? means image has to have too many colors, too many variations etc????

Message edited by author 2007-04-14 17:07:01.

splidge

Canon EOS-40D

04/14/2007 05:23:15 PM · #11

As others have said, you need to strip the EXIF data.

It's reading the exposure details out of the EXIF, and because they all show the same exposure settings it (not unreasonably) claims they are too similar. Doesn't matter how you convert to TIF, if the exposure data is in there it will see it and give the error.

splidge

pineapple

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

04/14/2007 05:26:37 PM · #12

You can avoid all this trouble by layering the 3 images in Photoshop and erasing the parts of each layer as required to produce a controlled HDR development. IMO using this method, although one does not have the automated effect provided by Photomatix or CS2's HDR system, you have something you can creatively control. And it will not look like all the faddish HDRs that are out there now.

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

04/14/2007 07:04:10 PM · #13

Originally posted by pineapple:

You could also play with select->quick mask (at least in CS3) and use masks on each layer.

If you're using a 16 bit photo, the 0EV image may have all the info. You can make several layers, build a mask for each, and brighten each layer as needed. Then set the blend mode and/or transparency for each layer to get the effect you want.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/14/2007 08:30:07 PM · #14

Originally posted by splidge:

As others have said, you need to strip the EXIF data.

And the part that we all keep leaving out is that to do that you must either a) Save For Web or b) copy the image into a new image document and save it normally.

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/14/2007 08:55:07 PM · #15

Originally posted by _eug:

And the part that we all keep leaving out is that to do that you must either a) Save For Web or b) copy the image into a new image document and save it normally.

Which is what yanko said.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/14/2007 09:07:00 PM · #16

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:

Originally posted by _eug:
And the part that we all keep leaving out is that to do that you must either a) Save For Web or b) copy the image into a new image document and save it normally.

Which is what yanko said.

Yeah but he only said half of that... ;)