Topaz and all their confusing options or Photomatix
Dec 18, 2016 10:01:05 #
pithydoug wrote:
You have HDR in your LR and it is damn good and simple to use PLUS you get a raw DNG file as output. You can then post process in whatever. You don't need to buy Photomatix for HDR.
Exactly! LR does a good job. There is an amazing amount of info available in the shadows that can be brought out minus the noise that would have been present in the original non-HDR image.
Dec 18, 2016 10:06:43 #
gthopkins wrote:
Hi and Happy Holidays to all.
I currently make no money with my photography, and as you know, this is one of the most expensive hobbies I could get enthusiastic about. Lucky me. lol
Thanks for understanding my humor and for any input you care to share. I'm here to learn and connect until I can contribute.
I currently make no money with my photography, and as you know, this is one of the most expensive hobbies I could get enthusiastic about. Lucky me. lol
Thanks for understanding my humor and for any input you care to share. I'm here to learn and connect until I can contribute.
Hate to correct you but...
Your buddies golf is more expensive...
if your wife sews, it's more expensive...
car collectors, more expensive...
do I need to think of some more?
VBG, photography is not expensive, get yourself a Christmas Present.
Dec 18, 2016 10:10:50 #
lamiaceae wrote:
Yes, I like that image. I've found Ps CS6 alone for HDR to be pretty poor. Easy enough, but I get weird remnants and odd glows. In the end I find I use a well processed normal exposure. I would like to find a better HDR program.
Of the "true" HDR blending programs I've tried, my favorite is Aurora, but I think it is just available for mac OS at this time. It is also a darned good single image editor to get the most range and detail out of a well exposed single capture.
I get better results blending exposures in LR than in PS, though not sure why, probably something I do wrong. I also blend exposures by hand so to speak, on layers with masks, choosing which parts will show where. But NIK HDR effects can do a credible job if you don't rely on the presets, which are kind of extreme and wacky.
Dec 18, 2016 10:32:06 #
Linary
Loc: UK
gthopkins wrote:
Hi and Happy Holidays to all. br br I am looking... (show quote)
If you are already using LR6 why not try the built in HDR? (Develop - Photo - Photomerge - HDR). I have had some pretty good results from this. (I also have Photomatix - more options and presets + single image tone mapping).
Dec 18, 2016 10:57:06 #
rmalarz wrote:
My personal opinion is to forget about HDR. Even some of the top photographers have left it in the dust. Your best bet is to determine your camera's ERADR, and work with that.
--Bob
--Bob
I have to respectfully disagree. This technique is great as far as it goes, but it can only utilize the full dynamic range of the sensor, it cannot extend it, as bracketed HDR does.
Granted, too many people are bracketing in situations in which a single frame would suffice, if properly exposed, but when the dynamic range of the scene exceeds that of the sensor, ERADR is useless, and a good knowledge of HDR and its uses leaves ERADR in the dust in terms of the final image.
Dec 18, 2016 10:58:45 #
gthopkins wrote:
I currently make no money with my photography, and as you know, this is one of the most expensive hobbies I could get enthusiastic about. Lucky me. lol
Not really. Think about it. Jet ski's x2 one for you one for your wife and some for the kids, $30,000 easy, Motorcycles - 1 Harley Davidson $25,000, 3 dirt bikes @ $8,000 ea = $24,000, 2017 Polaris RZR XP® 1000 EPS LE $24,000, and I could keep going on this list. There are boats, (speedboats, sailboats) planes, motorhomes, off road toys that I have not even mentioned like a Jeep, Hotrods the list could go on ad infinitum. Just throwing that out there. Hahahaha
Dec 18, 2016 11:21:45 #
I have BOTH, and use PHOTOMATIX when I need to balance lighting coming in through a window with, the interior lighting for example. I also use it for some special effects..Photomatix is now easier to use as they now have template examples of what you are working on might look like with various settings.. I use TOPAZ for lots of other stuff, but my "go-to" plug-in is NIK from Google..And it's FREE!!
Dec 18, 2016 11:30:16 #
i will not poopoo HDR so soon .it has its advantages if it is properly chosen for indications like landscape photography.Topaz in my humble opinion is good for removing the digital noise effectively when you use a high ISO like 3200 .but if you want to try HDR,you are better off using either photomatixpro or Aurora where you can do tonemaping and HDR at the same time.joseph
Dec 18, 2016 11:32:36 #
i will not poopoo HDR so soon .it has its advantages if it is properly chosen for indications like landscape photography.Topaz in my humble opinion is good for removing the digital noise effectively when you use a high ISO like 3200 .but if you want to try HDR,you are better off using either photomatixpro or Aurora where you can do tonemaping and HDR at the same time.joseph
Dec 18, 2016 11:40:09 #
There is a HDR plugin within NIK Collection and this is free. It would get your feet wet and allow you to decide whether you would like to pursue it further that is as long as you have PSE 14. Earlier versions of PSE are claimed to be incompatible. Worth a try. I personally like luminosity masking to blend images. It looks more natural generally. That isn't to say you can't accomplish near natural work using HDR. Just a preference. Good luck.
Dec 18, 2016 11:45:08 #
Think photography is expensive, Try sailing as a hobby, I have both Topaz suite and Photomatix. I only use photomatix for my HDR shots. Its easy , has lots of presets, you can also save your own ... and its fast....
I like Topaz for other adjustments including noise, sharpen and color to b&w etc.
I like Topaz for other adjustments including noise, sharpen and color to b&w etc.
Dec 18, 2016 11:57:28 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
I have been using Photomatix for several years. I use Photomatix as a stand alone, processing RAW and in some cases JPG. Then I take my 3 up results in to my software. In my case Aperture. And buy the way use some software off my Aperture.
Dec 18, 2016 12:03:43 #
Oldspice668
Loc: Somerset UK
To my mind you have all you need with LR6 but to increase your options the NIK collection is a really good free plugin. In LR6 you can 'photomerge' several images to produce either panaramas or HDR images. Once merged you have the full power of LR6 to tone map and tune the image to suit . I only use LR6 with the occasional adjustment in Elements. It works for me!
Dec 18, 2016 12:09:36 #
gthopkins wrote:
.... this is one of the most expensive hobbies I could get enthusiastic about.....
.... this is one of the most expensive hobbies I could get enthusiastic about.....
I think there are many more expensive hobbies ... boats, Harleys, fast women and slow horses come to mind.!!!
Sorry can't help with the PP but Happy Holidays.
Dec 18, 2016 12:18:40 #
I don't think you've made it clear whether you're talking about post processing a single exposure or whether it's exposure bracketing that you're asking about. There's a big difference between the two. If you're talking about PPing a single exposure, there's probably not much difference between the various plug-ins.
However, if you're talking about merging exposure-bracketed shots, that's a different ball game altogether, and it'll give you far better results than the pure PP route. Your LR6 has all that you need to do a good job of merging shots got from exposure bracketing. It has Auto Align (hand-held bracketing is a possibility) and Anti Ghosting (you choose from 4 different levels).
However, if you're talking about merging exposure-bracketed shots, that's a different ball game altogether, and it'll give you far better results than the pure PP route. Your LR6 has all that you need to do a good job of merging shots got from exposure bracketing. It has Auto Align (hand-held bracketing is a possibility) and Anti Ghosting (you choose from 4 different levels).
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