Pseudo-HDR in CS2 - DPChallenge Forums

06/06/2007 11:08:32 PM · #1

Anyone got a tute or a link to one. I jus tried to do it based on what I know about HDR and a raw pic but I keep getting a not enough dynamic range blah blah blah for a HDR pic.

Some help please!
Thanks in advance!

06/06/2007 11:09:48 PM · #2

Save all the variations with save for web. CS2 won't do it from the same RAW file even if you have multiple exposures cause it reads the EXIF. And if they all have the same one...well it's not going to work. Save for web strips the EXIF so it'll work then.

06/06/2007 11:14:11 PM · #3

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

So after I convert it from RAW I should save all the converted pix in save for web? Did I understand you correctly?

Actually, this can't be the way to do it from a single raw image. The file is huge! It is 28 MB once converted to jpeg. That is far too big for save to web.

Message edited by author 2007-06-06 23:20:45.

06/06/2007 11:19:36 PM · #4

If I'm understanding you correctly, yes. So I take it that you shot one RAW image and converted it to jpeg in different exposures right? So one conversion for -4, one for -2, one for 0, etc?

06/06/2007 11:21:34 PM · #5

There was a good thread that had how to do this.. But I'll some it up.

Open the images and save them for web. The EXIF data is what is causing you to get the error you are getting. Save them as a completely differnt name and you will be able to do the HDR merge

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

06/06/2007 11:25:14 PM · #6

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

If I'm understanding you correctly, yes. So I take it that you shot one RAW image and converted it to jpeg in different exposures right? So one conversion for -4, one for -2, one for 0, etc?

Yes that is correct but when you do this with the same image you use the Safe For Web.

Before you do though be my test subject and try this to see if it works. Got under EDIT>PREFERENCES>FILE HANDLING> and check the box "ignore EXIF profile Tag" under File compatibility and then save. close CS2 and reopen then edit your picture with the different exposures and see if it will let you...

Message edited by author 2007-06-06 23:26:15.

chimericvisions

Canon EOS-60D

06/06/2007 11:26:55 PM · #7

I don't know if CS2's HDR has ever been validated for Basic, just FYI. Photomatix has.

06/06/2007 11:29:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

If I'm understanding you correctly, yes. So I take it that you shot one RAW image and converted it to jpeg in different exposures right? So one conversion for -4, one for -2, one for 0, etc?

Yes, that's right. So, Sam, are you saying that this is the only way to do it? If you've done this before, have you tried adjusting other settings? If so, how have the results been?

Thanks in advance! It's taking a while, but I'm testing out your suggestion right now. :)

Oh, it just asked me to manually set EV. I have no idea what this! Hmmm... it finished. Not sure but it looks kinda interesting.

06/06/2007 11:31:12 PM · #9

Originally posted by chimericvisions:

I don't know if CS2's HDR has ever been validated for Basic, just FYI. Photomatix has.

Yes it has been validated...AS LONGas it comes from the single exposure.

Message edited by author 2007-06-06 23:31:51.

06/06/2007 11:31:52 PM · #10

Unless you are using multilple SEPERATE exposures, yes. I have done it before and it works. You will have to set the EV manually since it doesn't have an EXIF to pull that data from...that's why I name the files with the EV value I saved it for. The results of straight CS2 HDR are kinda shaky, I like to use the photomatix plugin for my HDR work. It is much more reliable and the results are much better.

06/06/2007 11:34:33 PM · #11

Originally posted by Lowcivicman99:

Originally posted by chimericvisions:
I don't know if CS2's HDR has ever been validated for Basic, just FYI. Photomatix has.

Yes it has been validated...AS LONGas it comes from the single exposure.

HEY I'm Sorry I take that back, I was thinking of the Advanced rules... SORRY......

06/06/2007 11:35:34 PM · #12

Originally posted by Lowcivicman99:

Originally posted by SamDoe1:
If I'm understanding you correctly, yes. So I take it that you shot one RAW image and converted it to jpeg in different exposures right? So one conversion for -4, one for -2, one for 0, etc?

Yes that is correct but when you do this with the same image you use the Safe For Web.

Before you do though be my test subject and try this to see if it works. Got under EDIT>PREFERENCES>FILE HANDLING> and check the box "ignore EXIF profile Tag" under File compatibility and then save. close CS2 and reopen then edit your picture with the different exposures and see if it will let you...

ok. be right back!

06/06/2007 11:37:51 PM · #13

If you ask the SC they can tell you if you can or not but I would think that you would NOT be able too. For Basic, the rules say you may use only Adjustment Layers (or their equivalent). An Adjustment Layer is a special type of layer containing no image data that lets you experiment with color and tonal adjustments without permanently modifying the pixels. Adjustment Layers must be applied in Normal mode.

You would have duplicate layers and that isn't allowed.

06/06/2007 11:38:39 PM · #14

You will NOT be able to do this for basic, I'm pretty sure you can for advanced and for sure in expert.

06/06/2007 11:40:10 PM · #15

SC is there anyone from SC that can come save me....

YELLING:: WE NEED 10MG OF SC OVER HERE STAT!!! Nurse hand me the pilers, Looks like were going in alone...

06/07/2007 12:00:47 AM · #16

As far as I understand, and am fairly confident in these answers.
Basic, in Cs2: You can tonemap an image from a single exposure, which is what is explained in this tutorial by

lesgainous. It is done to a single image file, no different image layers with different exposures. In Photomatix, I believe you can just pop open a single raw file and do the same thing. Tone mapping is the last step done in HDR processing.
advanced:You can create several different exposures of the same image from a single raw and use the Merge to HDR function or Photomatix. Another way to strip exif Data for Cs2, is to open your exposure from raw then create a new document and copy the image into the new file and save. No need to save for the web, I am pretty sure that they both will work.
Expert:Use as many different exposures as you would like.
This is how I understand it, but I am not SC, but I have confidence these are all ok.

06/07/2007 12:04:42 AM · #17

Originally posted by Rooster:

Originally posted by Lowcivicman99:

Originally posted by SamDoe1:
If I'm understanding you correctly, yes. So I take it that you shot one RAW image and converted it to jpeg in different exposures right? So one conversion for -4, one for -2, one for 0, etc?

Yes that is correct but when you do this with the same image you use the Safe For Web.

Before you do though be my test subject and try this to see if it works. Got under EDIT>PREFERENCES>FILE HANDLING> and check the box "ignore EXIF profile Tag" under File compatibility and then save. close CS2 and reopen then edit your picture with the different exposures and see if it will let you...

ok. be right back!

No go Lowciv. I get the same error message that there is not enough dynamic range.

But I did try Sam's idea & it seems that the change is very slight & seems a bit washed out. It isnt a landscape so I'n not sure if that makes much of a difference.

This was fun! Thanks guys!

06/07/2007 12:06:03 AM · #18

Originally posted by Rooster:

Did you convert to 16bit with the curve thingy? What sort of an image were you trying to convert to HDR?

06/07/2007 12:10:03 AM · #19

Originally posted by Rooster:

Okay I didn't know if it would work or not but it seemed like it might have worked.

06/07/2007 12:14:12 AM · #20

Create exposure from raw and when the jpeg opens copy it. Create new file->paste jpeg. Save as exposure -1, +1, 0 whatever. It should work, you will have to set the values. Then when you convert to 16 bit, from the drop down menu select local adaptation and open the pull down that has histogram and tonemap.

06/07/2007 12:14:18 AM · #21

Originally posted by Lowcivicman99:

Originally posted by Rooster:

No go Lowciv. I get the same error message that there is not enough dynamic range.

But I did try Sam's idea & it seems that the change is very slight & seems a bit washed out. It isnt a landscape so I'n not sure if that makes much of a difference.

This was fun! Thanks guys!

Okay I didn't know if it would work or not but it seemed like it might have worked.

Yeah, it sounded like it would. The copying & pasting to a new document seems to be the best bet. Sam's advice is good too just takes a bit of time & A LOT of CPU power.

06/07/2007 12:17:23 AM · #22

Originally posted by Rooster:

Yeah, it sounded like it would. The copying & pasting to a new document seems to be the best bet. Sam's advice is good too just takes a bit of time & A LOT of CPU power.

If by sam's advice do you mean convert to 16 bit? You have to do that to get the HDR effect. :)

06/07/2007 12:21:08 AM · #23

Originally posted by jdannels:

Originally posted by Rooster:

Yeah, it sounded like it would. The copying & pasting to a new document seems to be the best bet. Sam's advice is good too just takes a bit of time & A LOT of CPU power.

If by sam's advice do you mean convert to 16 bit? You have to do that to get the HDR effect. :)

No. Sam answered the original post of saving to web to get rid of the exif in order to merge thru cs2.

06/07/2007 12:25:52 AM · #24

Originally posted by Rooster:

Originally posted by jdannels:

Originally posted by Rooster:

Yeah, it sounded like it would. The copying & pasting to a new document seems to be the best bet. Sam's advice is good too just takes a bit of time & A LOT of CPU power.

If by sam's advice do you mean convert to 16 bit? You have to do that to get the HDR effect. :)

No. Sam answered the original post of saving to web to get rid of the exif in order to merge thru cs2.

So where are you now exactly? did you get it to merge to HDR? Did you convert back to 16 bit? I am a bit confused at what step your at. :)