gthopkins Loc: Stratford, CT

Hi and Happy Holidays to all.

I am looking at trying my hand at HDR. I currently use a Nikon d7200 and Nikor lenses. I post process in PSE 15 & LR6. I am an enthusiastic amateur photographer who is still learning to do most of the work in the camera. I like LR6 and PSE 15 and I'm still learning the in's and out's of LR and using with external drives, etc. LR baffles more times than not. ;o)

For HDR , I had been considering Topaz Adjust, until someone mentioned Topaz Clarify. Then someone showed me some shots processed in Photomatix pro. What I thought might be a fun and interesting experiment turned into a confusing and time consuming effort leading me to this post. I have heard great things about Topaz and Photomatix. Topaz has some decent specials running. They have lots of plug in options which seem to overlap.

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

What are your thoughts on the post processing software, Topaz (and their confusing array of plug ins and standalone packages) and Photomatix?

Should I forget about HDR and just stick with LR6 and the PSE editor?

I just took to Advil, so if there is something else you care to share about, my headache should be under control in 30 minutes. 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.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

First there are other options besides Topaz and Photomatix. Try Googling "HDR software" to discover alternatives.
I've created HDR images using both Photomatix and NIK apps with good results in both cases. The process itself is extremely simple. Take a bracketed series of one scene and the HDR app blends them together for you.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If having to pick one, I'd go with Topaz Adjust over Clarity. But, it works best from another Topaz module - PhotoFXLab. I've used (continue to use) Photomatrix Pro but have moved away from the 'heavily baked' results of most of their presets. From LR5 and onward, Adobe also has an HDR function. Have you tried that already without investing in more software?

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I suggest you look at the excellent NIK suite, now owned by Google. Not only does it have a very good HDR product (HDR Efex Pro), but has the advantage of being free! You also get a couple of other excellent plug-ins that work with Photoshop and Lightroom (and some other editors), including Silver Efex Pro (for b&w) and Color Efex Pro. There are also plug-ins for sharpening, noise removal, and analog effects.

Google doesn't seem to be enhancing the suite, and some fear it could eventually become incompatible as the parent software products are enhanced, but it's great for now. I like the HDR Efex product and use it quite often. I also have Photomatix, and feel they are about on the same par, with some advantages and disadvantages. HDRSoft, the Photomatix parent, hasn't done a lot of enhancements lately, either.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

There are some excellent Topaz tutorials on the Youtubes and on the Topaz Labs web site that vover all their plug ins done by Professional Photographers in a format for all skill sets.
Check the out

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

You can download & use Photomatix for free to try it out. The downside is that until you elect to pay for it, it puts a large watermark on the image but at least you will know if you like it or not. It's a very intuitive program.

Walt

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

I have the entire Topaz Collection and love it. I don't know anything about Photomatix. So can't help you there. I do have the NIK Collection (its free now) and I use it as well. But my go to filters are almost always my Topaz ones. I also use Photoshop CC and the Topaz and NIK filters work very well with it.

zuzanne

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

PhotoMatix is an excellent program with a lot of "presets" and the choice of how extreme is the users. I think HDR is generally misused--at least what I see on UHH leans that way.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Photomatix Pro is very easy to use, and with practice the results can be indistinguishable from single frame images.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

What I find is that I have several programs to use for HDR and I find that results from all of them look a little bit different. Enough so that for some images, I like one better than the others. And for other images I like another better. I have been using all the ones being mentioned, such as Photomatix, Topaz, NIK collection, Lightroom and Photoshop, and even Franzis HDR Pojects 4.

But the thing I dislike the most with HDR is the overcooked look. Please work hard on avoiding that. So many HDR examples I see are just, flat out overcooked and they just scream out that they are HDR.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

In my opinion, HDR is often used to "fix" a photo that doesn't stand on it's own--and that's the problem: the image lacks visual interest and HDR Can't fix that.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Just be aware that Topaz and Photomatix are apples and oranges. Topaz does not have any plugin that does HDR. Adjust and Clarity are handy, but with a bit more effort you can do all that and more in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

Have several programs. Including those you mentioned but my favorite for hdr when I need it is photoengine from oleno. Very natural looking and most people when they see the images can'T believe they are hdr

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

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

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Topaz doesn't really "do" HDR, in terms of blending multiple exposures for extra detail. Lightroom does, and since you have it, you could start there. I do enjoy the various special effects we can create with plugins, though, so I would not discourage you from exploring these things, though.

My best recommendation to you is to start out with the excellent and now free NIK suite available through Google https://www.google.com/nikcollection/. Though I have Topaz and other plugins, NIK is still my favorite of all the external plug in suites. Their plugins can be used through LR and/or Elements. Then if you run into something the NIK suite won't do you could explore other options. But it's a pretty wonderful full-service suite.