HDR with Photomatix vs NIK HDR Efex vs Lightroom (Page 4): This has gone off topic. It was interesting for a day. But, I'm going to stop paying attention or posting. Thanks for all...

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

orrie smith wrote:

:thumbup:

This has gone off topic. It was interesting for a day. But, I'm going to stop paying attention or posting. Thanks for all that participated in an HDR conversation.

wtw2143 Loc: West Hempstead, NY

NIK HDR Efex & Google NIK Collection, can now be used as a stand alone, does not have to be only as a plugin to Adobe software. Check out this link: https://www.google.com/nikcollection/
It's being offered by Google+ FREE of charge. I downloaded the complete collection, and works as a standalone or as plugins.
Win

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

bsprague wrote:

Photomatix Pro --> $99 br NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 --... (show quote)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

bsprague wrote:

Photomatix Pro --> $99 br NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 --... (show quote)

I used Photomatix in the past (actually still resides on the computer), but I haven't used it in years. I started using Photoshop for it and it does a much better job, so that's what I use!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

MiroFoto wrote:

Oh yes - I see you still merge 3 shots in Photoshop .
Pls let me know which version . I am not a PP guy and do not want to "rent Photoshop" for $10/months.
I have Adobe Elements 9 (used very little) and wanted to upgrade it to Elem 14 , to have an option of RAW ...but maybe I can buy some lover level Photoshop ???

Thank you Miro

Hya Miro

Yep thats correct I just merge the shots in Photshop and export as a 32 bit Tiff which has ALL the info from 3 merged Raw files.
I use CS6 and its under File>Automate>Merge to HDR pro. You follow the merge but do NOT tonemap. After files are merged you export the file. I think CS4 onwards has this feature.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

Billyspad wrote:

Hya Miro

Yep thats correct I just merge the shots in Photshop and export as a 32 bit Tiff which has ALL the info from 3 merged Raw files.
I use CS6 and its under File>Automate>Merge to HDR pro. You follow the merge but do NOT tonemap. After files are merged you export the file. I think CS4 onwards has this feature.

I rarely use tonemapping either... I use Photomatix fusion for all my architectural processing.

As to 32 bit Tiff, how do you view such a file? My understanding is that every program that can open a 32 bit tiff file, displays it differently on your monitor, usually using a tone mapping process to do so.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

mallen1330 wrote:

I rarely use tonemapping either... I use Photomatix fusion for all my architectural processing.

As to 32 bit Tiff, how do you view such a file? My understanding is that every program that can open a 32 bit tiff file, displays it differently on your monitor, usually using a tone mapping process to do so.

Camera Raw is what I use to view the 32 bit file. Looks a little flat until you make adjustments in CR.
And like you I sometimes use Fusion. Tone Mapping seems almost obsolete with a modern camera which is maybe why Photomatix has not been updated in years.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

Billyspad wrote:

Camera Raw is what I use to view the 32 bit file. Looks a little flat until you make adjustments in CR.
And like you I sometimes use Fusion. Tone Mapping seems almost obsolete with a modern camera which is maybe why Photomatix has not been updated in years.

Actually, Photomatix Pro upgraded to version 5.1.2. on 24-Feb-16. The latest versions have new presets that work very well for my real estate photos. I use its batch processing function to quickly merge hundreds of bracketed images.

My point about viewing 32 bit tiff files is that each program displays them differently. It has to be interpreted in order to display on the monitor. Like raw files, what you see on the screen is the particular program's interpretation. In some cases the program uses tone mapping to render the resulting view.

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

bsprague wrote:

Photomatix Pro --> $99 br NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 --... (show quote)

Try Photodynamics pro by media chance it has more tmos than photomatix you can change light sources and angles it also has pin warping for hand held HDRI
.....unbelievable program .My avatar done with it.

wmcy Loc: Charlotte

For Capture One 20 users, what's your choice of HDR processors? Can any of them be used as a C1 plug-in (as opposed to having to export)?.

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

Billyspad wrote:

Camera Raw is what I use to view the 32 bit file. Looks a little flat until you make adjustments in CR.
And like you I sometimes use Fusion. Tone Mapping seems almost obsolete with a modern camera which is maybe why Photomatix has not been updated in years.

You are right about modern Cameras my nikon d810 has 14.8 stops of EV so does the d850..which can mostly be done with one underexposed or soft split neutral density filter if doing sunsets but 2 images of 4 can be merged in CC photoshop. If you work at 32 bit throughout the workflow the bit depth really holds down the noise in underexposed portions of the image ..more stairsteps ...produce smoother images