Lightroom and HDR Merge question
Apr 18, 2020 11:40:34 #
In learning more of my camera capabilities and at the same time new'ish' to Lightroom, I'm trying the HDR Merge feature. I set the Canon 7ti, for the 3 exposure bracket shots. I, for the time being, shoot in RAW only, since I wasnt really using my jpeg versions anyway. After merging the 3 shots, they look terribly noisy, which I figure, comes from the darker pictures. The question is, should one edit to their best, the 3 original shots first, then merge, or merge the 3 then edit? Would not editing the original 3 take away the 'features' of using 3 different exposures?
Apr 18, 2020 11:57:19 #
I'm wondering how you are bracketing? Shutter? Aperture? HDR shouldn't add noise by itself. If the lower one is properly exposed for the shadows
Apr 18, 2020 12:10:57 #
When I set up for an HDR shot, I prefer 7 total shots in 1/2 increments either way, sometime 9 shots if the scene is particularly difficult. I shoot only RAW and I use Lightroom for processing. What I vary to get the shots depends upon the situation. PP takes a minute, but is usually worth it. Once complete, I edit the final image as needed. Best of luck.
(You're not to far from me, so feel free to PM).
(You're not to far from me, so feel free to PM).
Apr 18, 2020 12:27:25 #
You are correct to not adjust before merging. Raw files will tend to look noisy if shot at high ISO until they are processed. After the merge is complete you can allow for noise reduction and save as jpeg or other during export.
Apr 18, 2020 12:44:36 #
It's Lightroom. It's a non destructive editor. These features mean that you can experiment to your heart's content on what works best: edit first, then merge? Merge, then edit? Edit, merge, edit? If you want to track the sources that lead to the specific results, create Virtual Copies of the originals and start the experiments.
Apr 18, 2020 14:10:50 #
Plus you can use "create virtual copy" then do the merging and PP and you will have your results as seperate images to compare instead of hunting through the edit history in develop.
Apr 18, 2020 14:41:55 #
I find that if I check the Auto Tone box, the merge comes out a bit on the bright side, which would tend to bring out any noise. You may find that if you darken the merge a bit the noise problem lessens. You may also find that if you do any processing before merging it may interfere with the merge or even prevent it.
Apr 18, 2020 14:51:08 #
Apr 18, 2020 21:36:42 #
buckscop wrote:
In learning more of my camera capabilities and at ... (show quote)
It is my opinion that you should not process the images prior to doing the conversion into HDR. I don't normally use the Auto Tone either as I like to control the process. It could be that your exposures were too dark for the most part. Did you get a bright shot? It's not just about using 3 images, it's about using 3 or more images with various exposures from dark to light. I have heard, however, that some people do this using one image processed 3 different ways, dark to light, not something I'd normally pursue but it could be helpful for you to experiment with this. In any case, did you attempt to de-noise the final image? You could also try that.
Apr 19, 2020 06:25:59 #
A good trick to reduce noise in photos is called stacking. Like in HDR you take multiple images with the same settings and then stack them in Photoshop, or other program capable of stacking. This increases the pixel count of the image and Photoshop will average all the pixels together. As noise is random this averaging of pixels (not all noise is in the same place) greatly reduces the overall noise, as well increase resolution I have probably way oversimplified this but it does work
Apr 19, 2020 07:46:56 #
buckscop wrote:
In learning more of my camera capabilities and at ... (show quote)
I merge first then process
Apr 19, 2020 08:56:01 #
bleirer wrote:
I'm wondering how you are bracketing? Shutter? Aperture? HDR shouldn't add noise by itself. If the lower one is properly exposed for the shadows
Bracketing aperture does not work because of depth of field changes. Set aperture priority, choose your aperture, and shutter speed will change with bracketing.
Apr 19, 2020 09:06:53 #
kvanhook wrote:
Bracketing aperture does not work because of depth of field changes. Set aperture priority, choose your aperture, and shutter speed will change with bracketing.
I'm asking the OP how they set up their shot, not recommending anything.
Apr 19, 2020 09:18:15 #
buckscop wrote:
In learning more of my camera capabilities and at ... (show quote)
What was the bracket set for? If the "under" image is too far under, it could generate noise.
Apr 19, 2020 09:24:43 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
buckscop wrote:
In learning more of my camera capabilities and at ... (show quote)
With lightroom HDR merge you can experiment to find what would work well for you. And, there are tutorials, LOTS and LOTS of them.
And, I will add, Lightroom HDR is far from perfect. But, like I said, the best way to learn is by doing, NOT READING ANSWERS POSTED HERE. Good luck grasshopper.
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/how-to/hdr-merge-for-high-contrast-scenes.html
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