Photoshop's "Merge to HDR" vs. Photomatix HDR

[jprime84]

I have photoshop CS4, and I have tried a few times at generating HDR images from exposure bracketed images, and I have not had very good success. I was wondering if one application's algorithm is better than the other for this purpose?


Side note: when shooting the auto exposure bracketed shots, do you use evaluative metering mode?

[Japaslavian]

Photoshop doesn't have a Tone-Mapping process. It just meshes the shots.
That's what Photomatix does to give the shots that (ugh...) vibrancy.

[jprime84]

Photoshop does have a tone mapping process that is separate from generating the image, and somewhat more work. I actually found a guide linked somewhere on the forums where he used both. I think my biggest hurdle is getting better at the tone mapping process.

[Japaslavian]

Originally Posted by jprime84

Photoshop does have a tone mapping process that is separate from generating the image

Wait... what? Since when!?
I know you can get plug-ins from third party companies that do it in Photoshop, but I didn't think it was build-in to Adobe.
Maybe its a cs4 thing.

[jprime84]

here is the guide I used

http://www.naturescapes.net/072006/rh0706_1.htm