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A little fun with Photomatix Pro 6.0
Oct 17, 2017 14:44:58   #
Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee
 
Recently upgraded to Photomatix Pro 6.0. This image was tone-mapped using the Detailed preset with some adjustments and some final tweaking in PS CS6.


(Download)

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Oct 17, 2017 15:07:26   #
Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room
 
Very nice! I like the colors and the depth-of-field is well-achieved. The focus is razor-sharp on the butterfly, as it should be! Well done!

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Oct 17, 2017 15:47:02   #
tresap23 Loc: Texas
 
jpintn wrote:
Recently upgraded to Photomatix Pro 6.0. This image was tone-mapped using the Detailed preset with some adjustments and some final tweaking in PS CS6.


Well, Photomatix might have helped you with the toning, but good photography skills is what made the picture. Can't get that kind sharpness, clarity, and composition with editing software. great shot! I will ask you though, is the Photomatix easier to learn and use than Photoshop? I am struggling with photoshop. Of course, if I had more time to learn it, it would help. I am looking for easy, user friendly editing software for Raw files. Thanks

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Oct 17, 2017 16:05:04   #
Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee
 
Reply to tresap23. Forgot to click Quote.

Photomatix and Photoshop are 2 different animals. Basically Photomatix is HDR (High Dynamic Range) software and is not suitable for your everyday editing. It is also excellent for tone-mapping a single image. Photoshop, on the other hand, is a great editing program, and it does have a high learning curve. Adobe Camera RAW, which is included with PS is excellent in my opinion. I have been using Photoshop since Photoshop 5 (that's been a long time) and I still discover things that I didn't know that I could do.

This photo was shot in RAW and processed in Adobe Camera RAW and then tweaked in PS CS6. I opened my final image in Photomatix and used a tone-mapping preset and then a little additional tweaking in PS6.

The best advise that you will get is to stick with Photoshop and learn something new everyday. Do not allow it to consume you. If you are shooting RAW, open your image from Bridge and explore every slider until you get the result you want. Then click Open Image. Save it as a tiff and start exploring with it in Photoshop.

It you get stuck on something feel free to post your questions here. There are many Photoshop experts on UHH that will be happy to help you.

Thank you for your kind comment.

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Oct 17, 2017 16:55:10   #
tresap23 Loc: Texas
 
jpintn wrote:
Reply to tresap23. Forgot to click Quote.

Photomatix and Photoshop are 2 different animals. Basically Photomatix is HDR (High Dynamic Range) software and is not suitable for your everyday editing. It is also excellent for tone-mapping a single image. Photoshop, on the other hand, is a great editing program, and it does have a high learning curve. Adobe Camera RAW, which is included with PS is excellent in my opinion. I have been using Photoshop since Photoshop 5 (that's been a long time) and I still discover things that I didn't know that I could do.

This photo was shot in RAW and processed in Adobe Camera RAW and then tweaked in PS CS6. I opened my final image in Photomatix and used a tone-mapping preset and then a little additional tweaking in PS6.

The best advise that you will get is to stick with Photoshop and learn something new everyday. Do not allow it to consume you. If you are shooting RAW, open your image from Bridge and explore every slider until you get the result you want. Then click Open Image. Save it as a tiff and start exploring with it in Photoshop.

It you get stuck on something feel free to post your questions here. There are many Photoshop experts on UHH that will be happy to help you.

Thank you for your kind comment.
Reply to tresap23. Forgot to click Quote. br br ... (show quote)


Thank you for your advice! I have the current version of PS on my PC, so I will continue to work with it and learn!

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Oct 17, 2017 17:38:37   #
rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida
 
Nice work!

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Oct 17, 2017 17:48:08   #
Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast
 
Beautiful work, Jim, and very natural-looking tone-mapping.

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Oct 17, 2017 18:52:24   #
angela k Loc: Long Island
 
Beautiful image, Jim and the dreamy background compliments the butterfly and flowers!!

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Oct 17, 2017 19:31:13   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
tresap23 wrote:
Photomatix easier to learn and use than Photoshop? Thanks


No. Photmatix allows you to merge a sequence of HDR (High Dynamic Range +1 stop, normal exposure, -1 stop - example) into 1 final image showing the entire tonal range of light available.
You can also load a single image into Photomatix and apply the presets,or your own adjustments, into a final edited image. That being said, it is very easy to overdo, or overcook an image in Photomatix and give it a very overly saturated and sharpened look.

What jpintn achieved was a subtile final product, which speaks of his experience.

The learning curve for Photoshop is quite steep, since it is so complicated. If you are just looking to adjust exposure, highlights, contrast, cropping, etc then I would recommend Adobe Lightroom for photography. Lightroom ain't easy either, but at least it allows you a get out of jail free option if you overdo and image and want to revert.

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Oct 18, 2017 07:12:34   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Beautiful

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Oct 18, 2017 09:32:49   #
RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania
 

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Oct 18, 2017 23:51:15   #
Snap Shot Loc: California
 
Beautiful capture Jim! Very well done!

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Oct 20, 2017 09:06:06   #
Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee
 
My sincerest thanks to all of you who took time to comment on this photo.

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