HDR V - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

07/23/2014 05:37:41 PM · #10

I've been wanting to do bracketed shots of at least 3-5 images and make some great HDR images in Photoshop. Are there any tutorials that are good? I have searched Google and came up with different links telling me different ways to do them. Some are ridiculously easy to kinda challenging.

Where is there a good tutorial on how to do some great HDR images with the current technology in Photoshop?

armando_m

Nikon D800

07/23/2014 06:03:27 PM · #11

more complicated than throwing everything into a tonemapping software , but worth the effort

PS Luminosity masks

no halos
no cartoonish look

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/23/2014 06:51:29 PM · #12

Originally posted by armando_m:

more complicated than throwing everything into a tonemapping software , but worth the effort

PS Luminosity masks

no halos
no cartoonish look

Thanks

armando_m!

jgirl57

07/23/2014 06:52:56 PM · #13

oooooo thanks Armando I will have to check that out... I usually have been using photmatix for my hdr it drives me nuts lolol

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/23/2014 06:57:46 PM · #14

Originally posted by jgirl57:

oooooo thanks Armando I will have to check that out... I usually have been using photmatix for my hdr it drives me nuts lolol

I've used photomatix for several years and never really liked it. I recently got Nik HDR Effects Pro (part of Nik Collection) and I've experimented with it a little and it is MUCH easier to use than photomatix and does a lot better job in my experience. You can download the Nik collection trial (15 days, no restrictions) for free and if you buy it, do a google search for a coupon code. I found one for 15% off.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

07/23/2014 07:00:30 PM · #15

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by jgirl57:
oooooo thanks Armando I will have to check that out... I usually have been using photmatix for my hdr it drives me nuts lolol

I've used photomatix for several years and never really liked it. I recently got Nik HDR Effects Pro (part of Nik Collection) and I've experimented with it a little and it is MUCH easier to use than photomatix and does a lot better job in my experience. You can download the Nik collection trial (15 days, no restrictions) for free and if you buy it, do a google search for a coupon code. I found one for 15% off.

+1 Well said. I concur with everything you've said.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/23/2014 07:01:50 PM · #16

Originally posted by armando_m:

more complicated than throwing everything into a tonemapping software , but worth the effort

Luminosity masks are great, and I have used them for years, but they are NOT a substitute for HDRI imaging. They work where the tones are adequately contained within the single exposure but you want to adjust the balance of those tones.

HDRI (not to be confused with tone-mapping, which is just a component of HDR imaging, and the most-abused component at that) is a technique for making bracketed exposures of a scene with a very broad tonal range, then combining the correctly exposed portions of the several exposures seamlessly into a single rendering of the image. Done "properly" (that is, as designed) HDR imaging is not easily detectable by the viewer.

DPC being what it is, however, the "overcooked" images, which are often very dramatic, tend to get high votes and if you want to DO well in an HDR challenge you pretty much have to cook with reasonably high heat. The true-to-life HDR images often don't look like they used the technique at all, unless the viewer is savvy enough to say "Wow! Amazing detail in the luminous areas, very informed shadows!" They often suffer for that, IN AN HDR CHALLENGE, but do well in a regular challenge.

Here's an HDRI not taken to extremes that did well for me:

Here's an overcooked one, from 2006, that I'm now embarrassed by. It did very well also...

Here's a realistic HDRI by Richard Hahn that did very well in a free study:

jgirl57

07/23/2014 07:18:41 PM · #17

Yes, I did have that trial but never used that HDR portion of it.. I feel bad for not using it on the trial

Hopefully, next month I will be able to have that full program! Unless, I can cheat the download again for another 15 day trial LOL

Message edited by author 2014-07-23 19:19:00.

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/23/2014 07:43:36 PM · #18

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

And if you get lucky like me, your 15 day trial just keeps recycling. I did eventually buy it when I bought my new laptop. The trial pooped out after 15 days on that.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/23/2014 08:07:00 PM · #19

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

bear_music What is a good website/tutorial then on how to do those well? I can see how that one is overcooked...I love the beach scene you did.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

07/23/2014 08:57:01 PM · #20

Originally posted by Frakster:

bear_music What is a good website/tutorial then on how to do those well? I can see how that one is overcooked...I love the beach scene you did.

Assuming you want to wpork with Photoshop's native merge to HDR feature, then:

Peachpit has a decent video tutorial introduction.

Julianne Kost points out something a lot of people miss, if you're using CC.

Here's a useful capsule discussion.Here's what Adobe Press has to say.

Finally, I get a lot of useful information from Everyday HDR, I subscribe to their postings. They are especially interesting on "Color Zone System".

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/24/2014 10:52:03 AM · #21

Thanks

bear_music !

Is Photoshop CS5 any different than working with Photoshop CC for these HDR tutorials?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

07/24/2014 11:09:32 AM · #22

Originally posted by Frakster:

Thanks bear_music !

Is Photoshop CS5 any different than working with Photoshop CC for these HDR tutorials?

A little bit, because CC has added some functionality in the tone mapping stage (it lets you tone map 32-bit composites directly in Camera Raw) but the basic workflow is otherwise the same.