conkerwood

I am fairly new to this group so if I am providing information that has already been shared then I apologise.
Obviously many are using Photomatix and I notice that people just starting out seem to stick to using the default settings because all of those sliders can be quite daunting when you first start using the software. Unfortunately the default setting tends to be very flat in my opinion and the software is capable of much much more. So if you are just starting out the solution is Photomatix presets. I came across these a couple of years ago. There are 80 of them and they cover just about the full range of effects you might want to use. Of course as you become familiar with the software I would always suggest that you tweek the settings to perfectly match what you want to do. The presets are not mine, they were set up by some guy called Stuart I think. You can download them for free from here

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=Photomatix+presets#/d1t7zme.

There are instructions on the website about how to load them into Photomatix if you using a pc. The process for mac isn't covered but it is relatively simple. Since I am a Mac user, if anyone wants help loading them onto a mac just let me know.

Peter

MadMike Loc: SALT LAKE

Thanks for the information. I'm sure it will help some of us, and some of us need help, me especially. I haven't spent the money for Photomatix yet, budget problems. I love the photo, and think you did a great job.

colo43 Loc: Eastern Plains of Colorado

Thank you- I've downloaded and installed them.

drhanson Loc: Coos Bay, Oregon

I have already downloaded these about a week ago, and they are great, a big help. Saves a lot of time and you can tweek to your desired taste, by the way nice shot.

TaraMar Loc: Kingston, RI

Thanks for the info. Will have to check into it. You are correct in that the current presets are a little flat so what I usually do is stick with one of the defaults, import back into lightroom and do additional adjustments there. most often all I have to work with is the blacks.

papah

I am brand new to the forum and not sure if I am asking this question properly. I'm also a new user of Photomatix and the presets sound like a great idea. I have downloaded them to a folder on my desktop but don't now where to go from here. I am a Mac user and work in Lightroom 4 and PS5. I would appreciate any help you cold provide to help in downloading the Presets to Photomatix on my computer.
By the way, great picture. Very natural looking.
Thanks in advance, Jack

TaraMar Loc: Kingston, RI

papah once you import your photos from Lightroom into Photomatix, the presets will appear in a film strip underneath your photo; that is, if the orientation is landscape. If portrait, then they appear in a vertical filmstrip to the right of the preview area. I never had to import them, they are a part of the software. I work with windows so I don't know if it is different for the Mac.

conkerwood

Hi
The presets have to go into the library which is by default hidden in mac. But the steps are easy.

Firstly click onto finder and then press shift+command+G This will open up a small dialogue goto box.

type in ~/library/ and press return. You are now in the library. Find a file called Application Support and open it. Inside that folder find a folder called Photomatix. Open the Photomatix folder and you will find a folder called Presets. Copy the presets you have downloaded and put them into the presets folder. (Make sure you only put the presets in, not the folder you downloaded them in) Close everything up and the next time you open Photomatix to process a pic you will find all of the presets in place at the bottom left of the dialogue box. Hope this helps

Peter

papah

Peter,
Thanks for the easy to follow instructions. I got to the Library and Application Support folders without a problem. However there is no Photomatix folder in the App.Suport folder.
Photomatix is installed on my computer and appears in the Applications folder, but not in the Application Support folder.
Any other suggestions??
Thanks again-Jack

conkerwood

Hmmmmm sounds very strange which version of photomatix are you using and which mac operating system. I now the folder changed in pcs but I am not sure about macs. depending on your answer I will have to do some hunting. I have both version 3 and 4 of photomatix and on both lion and mountain lion they are in the folders I suggested. But with a bit of research we should be able to crack it.

Look forward to hearing from you

Peter

papah

I'm using Photomatix Pro 3.2.6 and on a Macbook Pro--Mac OSX 10.7.4 on OSX Lion.
Maybe there is another way to get these Presets but if there isn't, it's not a big deal. If your picture is any indication, they would be nice to have, so I'll see if I can find another way.
Thanks for all your help.
Cheers--Jack

TheBigO

All you have to do is work from within Photomatix itself. Once you are in the preview screen where you see the built-in presets, you should see the a tab for "My Presets." By selecting this, there is a dropdown that allows you to import them.
You can also create your own preset and then save it. Once saved, you will find the Photomatix folder in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder. Then you can just copy/paste your presets as described above.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I start my pictures with the presets, then I change the sliders to try and get more of what I want. Then if I find something I like i'll save the settings.
Im going to D/L the 80 and im sure I'll spend the next week doing nothing but playing with them.

Jim McDonald Loc: Ellsinore, Mo.

Have tried to download these, but nothing is happening?

ImageCreator Loc: Northern California

You should upgrade photomatix. Its free and can be done with the program loaded. New version is 5.something