Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

In past years using cameras, when RAW files were smaller, I often used three or more to create a HDR. Or, take a single file; create one or more EV over, another under, and using the original, create an HDR. My raw files (I only shoot RAW) are now larger, between 35-45 MB, and I can not use them for HDR as in the past. So, I have questions:

(1) Is there an HDR program than can handle large RAW files such as mine? (2) Is there a simple way of converting to jpegs without Exporting and bringing them back into the digital film strip? (3) Is Layers in PS the answer?

If relevant, my serious work is almost entirely in greyscale.

don1047 Loc: Colorado

(1) I have 36mb files, at least 3, and use HDR Efex Pro or Adobe Lightroom CC 2015 and both handle creating a HDR no problem.

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

I have tried HDR Efex without success. Perhaps I should reinstall. Thanks

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

One of the "new features" in Lightroom 6/CC is that HDR is built in. My first try was an HDR Panorama project using 6 sets of 5 bracketed shots. Lightroom did fine. I don't think it has a file size limit. Different from other systems, the HDR output file is a RAW in the .dng format.

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

Discovered my problem....although 32 GB Memory, totally maxed out on Start Up/System Disk.......so, no wonder having problems.

Thanks

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Nate,

It looks like you have some very serious problems inside your computer. 32 GB Memory, totally maxed out on Start Up indicates you have way too many applications booting up when you start your computer.

You need to consider all the programs and applications that boot at power on and remove them from the start-up process. The major reason for having them in the start-up process is so they can fire up when you need them instantly.
All these nonessential programs consume valuable memory resources, and can be removed from the start-up process.

You will notice a difference when you need a program in how fast it loads and is ready for your use, it will appear to load slower than before.

If you cannot, or are not willing, to clean up your computer then purchase another PC with 32Gb of RAM and a new i7Intel CPU. Use that computer only for your image processing and you will have plenty of resources to process large RAW files in HDR.

Michael G

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

You are partially right.Thce CPU is an Apple iMac, w/ 27'screen. I think it is easy to run out of start-up space and the best solution may be a second external drive for storrage to be used for working being worked on rather than "dead" storrage. I have no knowledge how professionals with large storrage issues issues handle over loading the main hard drive, which would be useful knowledge for seriious hoppyists as myself.

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

You are partially right....

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Nate,

I cannot speak for a Mac, as I use Windows 7, from what I understand about a Mac, its operating system is similar to Unix. If this is still the case when the operating system boots up it pre-loads programs and applications from a directory assigned by the OS.

Many hobbyists and professional photographers use a version of MS Windows, there are a lot more choices of professional programs available for the Windows OS. We can install the operating system and registry onto an internal memory stick so it will not consume more and more resources as the registry grows in size. We use professional video cards with 2 - 4 Gb of on-board memory and twin DVI video ports to drive two 20 inch monitors.

One major thing you can do right now without spending any money. Find out how you can disable any program that launches at Start-up, disable all those that are not necessary for the operation of your Mac, enable only those that you use every day. All the rest will launch whne you click their icon and then close down when you close the program, in addition at close down the program should rlease ant reserved memory.

Michael G

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Wait, are you saying that your hard drive is too full and the machine has no space to work, or that too many programs are loading and maxing out the RAM?
One is solved by another drive, either replace yours with a larger one or add an external drive and move all data files to it leaving only programs, apps and OS on the main drive. The other is solved by thining out the programs/apps that automatically load at start up. Just have the ones you use often auto load, set the others to load only when you click on them. They will be a few seconds slower, but, nothing serious. And with the thined out herd the overall performance will probably improve. I do that every so often, there are apps to help do that for windows so I assume someone makes them for Mac also.

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

I think the answer is both and will shape up accordingly. Thanks. nc

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I don't know if it applies to Mac, don't use it (well someone else's machine for about 30 minutes in the 90s).

In Windows we have "restore points". Created on a schedule you set (I use weekly) or everytime an upgrade or new app/program is added or one is removed. Normally I keep this set to a max of 10% of the hard drive for the files, not a big deal since my 256GB SSD only has the OS and programs on it (this leaves me 78GB for work space etc), the data is on a 3TB HDD. In April suddenly my desktop (and my wife's) bogged down and when I checked the drives they were at about 99% full. They were slow because they were using a virtual drive on the data drives as work space. I went nuts, ran every scan I knew to see if malware etc was clogging my drive, found nothing. So I checked on line and found a reminder to check the restore point/backup files and their settings. Went there, sure enough, an upgrade to the app had changed the % devoted to restore point files to 100% and it had every restore for over 6 months still there. Reset that to 10% and all but the last month's vanished, both machines went back to normal.

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

Got help-from Apple Support---internal drive storage was almost maxed out. Sendding most images stored in internal hardrive over external 3T external drive which has plenty of available space. They do accumulated faster than I expected. Apple Support will phone later to check out CPU after transfer is made. Thanks for the help.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

That is great news.
I hope you have a backup partition on that external drive or another external you put everything on regularlly.
I know Macs don't get hit by malware/virus etc as often as PCs, but drives do fail from time to time. I had that happen to my data drive in Feb. I had a backup drive with monthly full system backups and weekly incremental backups so I only lost about 3 days of files and I still had my memory cards for the cameras so I reloaded those also after the new drive was installed and the system was recovered.
I am thinking of giving a tip of the hat to my old buddy Murphey and add a second external backup drive with copies of the entire main back up drive about once a month or so. And keep that second backup unplugged and un powered to isolate it in case of a major power surge or other disaster.

Nate Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi.

This is my second external drive. I have anogher for "Dead Storage." Also have it partictioned. Thanks. nc