HDR photos

[rikkersc]

How do you create HDR photos?
I have seen some of them and love the effect and would like to try it.
I have a Canon 300D and I also use Photoshop Elements 5.
Is it possible to create this effect with these tools?
Any help (step-by-step directions, even) would be appreciated.

[inkista]

I doubt PSE can do it. You might want to take a look at the Photomatix website (http://www.hdrsoft.com/index.html). I believe they have a free version (smaller feature set) of the software for Windows, and a watermarked trial for Mac.

[Nicole]

inkista is right. According to an article on Photoshop v Photoshop Elements (http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/photoshop/f/elementscompare.htm) (which looks at Elements 5), HDR functionality is only in CS2. You might be better off using some other software like photomatrix.

But... You have other options too. If you use the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) or GIMPShop (http://gimpshopdotnet.blogspot.com/) (both are free), you can simulate HDR. Here are some links to get you started:

HDR in GIMP (http://www.flickr.com/groups/gimpusers/discuss/72057594090329325/)
GIMP HDR Tools Plugin (http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/%7Ecocidius/hdrtools/)
GIMP Blending Exposures (http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Blending_Exposures/)
Dynamic Ranger (http://www.digitalsecrets.net/secrets/DynamicRanger.html)
HDR with pfstools (http://flickr.com/groups/technique/discuss/72157594155731025/)
Digital Blending (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml)Hope some of these help you out :)

[mikeboy]

This would be a very nice article on the site, would really like to read about this, photoshop tutorial and other techniques.

[Merlyn]

Here is another HDR site, free for 30 days then purchase if you wish.

http://www.easyhdr.com/

Can also be found on the Flickr-easyhdr group.

[hpebley3]

But... You have other options too. If you use the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) or GIMPShop (http://gimpshopdotnet.blogspot.com/) (both are free), you can simulate HDR. Here are some links to get you started:

HDR in GIMP (http://www.flickr.com/groups/gimpusers/discuss/72057594090329325/)
GIMP HDR Tools Plugin (http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/%7Ecocidius/hdrtools/)
GIMP Blending Exposures (http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Blending_Exposures/)
Dynamic Ranger (http://www.digitalsecrets.net/secrets/DynamicRanger.html)
HDR with pfstools (http://flickr.com/groups/technique/discuss/72157594155731025/)
Digital Blending (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml)

Just to clarify if it's not already obvious, some of these listed (the blending ones in particular), while the tutorial is GIMP specific, describe general techniques which can be adapted to any software which supports layering (e.g. PSP, Paint.Net, PSE).

HTH,
Harley Pebley

[Nicole]

That's definitely true... bit of a side question, have you used Paint.NET Harley? Just curious since I haven't actually tried it out :p

[jiminyClickit]

Merlyn,

The freeware version of easyHDR appears to be an excellent introduction to that technique, as well as a way for new post-processors to see what curves and filters (and sigma?) do to enhance a bland shot. This is the first tentative one off:

Original:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47146451@N00/456477799/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/456477799_556314cc18.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="easyHDRorig" /></a>

easyHDR edit:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47146451@N00/456477773/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/456477773_e4a98d3dd8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="easyHDR" /></a>

Many more options not used. This program has a Pro version for trial, and later purchase.

[Darren Rowse]

would love for someone to write up a tutorial or two on this for the main blog if they have time. It's an increasingly common question and popular technique.

[jiminyClickit]

Darren Rowse,

Can do, would probably take a week of practice.

[jamwerx]

http://www.good-tutorials.com/search/tutorials/hdr

[jiminyClickit]

jamwerx,

There is a thousand times more info here than I could discover in several years! Thanks for good searching.

[sirhe]

Just a question: what is HDR?

[jiminyClickit]

sirhe,

High Dynamic Range. If you go to Post #11 above and click on that link, it will show you more about achieving the rich contrasted photos you'll see occasionally that make you ask, 'how'd they do that?' HDR is one way, it's layering different exposures of the exact same scene to enrich the range of highlights and shadows, detail, contrasts, etc.

[jamwerx]

sure:)
heres another http://www.popphoto.com/howto/3038/how-to-create-high-dynamic-range-images.html

jamwerx,

There is a thousand times more info here than I could discover in several years! Thanks for good searching.

[jiminyClickit]

jamwerx,

There go my week-ends! Thanks for another goody.

[hpebley3]

bit of a side question, have you used Paint.NET Harley? Just curious since I haven't actually tried it out :p

I have been using it for most of my post processing for a couple months. I tried out GIMP but it looked like it was going to take more time than I wanted to invest in learning it. I just recently got a free copy of PSP included with a CF card.

Paint.Net is a good, light-weight, basic open source/free editor. It has layering, fairly good color adjustment options and some effects. PSP has a lot more features, with the normal added complexity. So far I find they complement each other, I haven't completely left Paint.Net for PSP and I'll probably keep PSP around for things Paint.Net doesn't support.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Harley Pebley

[sirhe]

sirhe,

High Dynamic Range. If you go to Post #11 above and click on that link, it will show you more about achieving the rich contrasted photos you'll see occasionally that make you ask, 'how'd they do that?' HDR is one way, it's layering different exposures of the exact same scene to enrich the range of highlights and shadows, detail, contrasts, etc.

Thank you for the explanation! It's much clearer now! :)

[Nicole]

I have been using it for most of my post processing for a couple months. I tried out GIMP but it looked like it was going to take more time than I wanted to invest in learning it. I just recently got a free copy of PSP included with a CF card.

Paint.Net is a good, light-weight, basic open source/free editor. It has layering, fairly good color adjustment options and some effects. PSP has a lot more features, with the normal added complexity. So far I find they complement each other, I haven't completely left Paint.Net for PSP and I'll probably keep PSP around for things Paint.Net doesn't support.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Harley Pebley

Thanks Harley. I can't, of course, use the program on a Mac, but I was very interested in it when I read about it. Good to know.

[Sergio]

I love HDR, it's so stunning to look at. Stupid question: Do you need to take two or more pictures with different exposures? Or is that done in post production?

[jiminyClickit]

Sergio,

Two or more photos, it is said, will give the best results. But if you want the "look" for some photos you've got now, to experiment on, this website found by Merlyn (#5 post, this thread) is a fun way to start:

http://www.easyhdr.com

See #8 post, this thread, for the simplest generic first use of that program. It's free for the basic program; a pro version's also available.

[Sergio]

I downloaded easyHDR, but I wasn't too impressed. It still made the images better, but I've seen some better HDR pics. I think I might buy it anyways.