CS4 hdr
 

hey guys,

I've been using photomatix trial for the last month and have loved the results but it has now ended and a watermark is put ontop of the hdr image now :( i don't really want to buy any expensive software as i do have CS4 but the automated HDR thing isn't really giving me the same results.

so the question is, how do i make the images on CS4 look the same as from photomatix or is there some free-ware that I can download.

Any suggestions would be very welcome as I am desperate to get my HDR sunset finished.

Thank you a lot,

Jan:)

There are some free HDR programs out there.

[url]http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-high-dynamic-range-hdr-software.htm[/url]

HDR programs and add-on do the hard work for you but CS4 has all the power to make HDR images without any software help. So to answer the how to question, do it manually.

Layers and blend modes plus some local edits. If you wish to know more on doing it manually, say and ill explain more.

[QUOTE=LaPistola;78883]HDR programs and add-on do the hard work for you but CS4 has all the power to make HDR images without any software help. So to answer the how to question, do it manually.

Layers and blend modes plus some local edits. If you wish to know more on doing it manually, say and ill explain more.[/QUOTE]

go ahead :) I'm all eyes and ears

Method one: Masking

Get all your exposures into one PS file each in there own layer. Not important in which order but it makes sense to have some order so maybe darkest the bottom most layer.

Now using any of the selection (lasgo - marquee - marching ants) tool you select the area from each image you wish to show. You generally want to show the elements that are perfectly exposed from each. Which selection tool you use will depend on the element but in each you want to refine the edge and use a feather of some sort. Not a huge feather, maybe 3-6. Once your happy inverse the selection and click the mask layer button.

Once done to all layers use the healing tools to bend in any parts that don't look perfect and make sure there are details everywhere (in highlights and shadows). Now you merge layers and do the other PP.

Method two: Bending

Again all exposures into PS layers. But before doing so do some PP on the images to bring out the highlights in lighter exposures and shadows in the darker exposures. These do need to be in the order darken to light but the bottom most layer needs to be a white solid colour.

Now change the bend mode on all the layers other than the darkest and white colour to multiply and reduce there opacity down to desired, around the 5-10% works well.

Now using local edits make sure there is detail everywhere the merge and do the rest of the PP.

[QUOTE=LaPistola;78888]Method one: Masking

Get all your exposures into one PS file each in there own layer. Not important in which order but it makes sense to have some order so maybe darkest the bottom most layer.

Now using any of the selection (lasgo - marquee - marching ants) tool you select the area from each image you wish to show. You generally want to show the elements that are perfectly exposed from each. Which selection tool you use will depend on the element but in each you want to refine the edge and use a feather of some sort. Not a huge feather, maybe 3-6. Once your happy inverse the selection and click the mask layer button.

Once done to all layers use the healing tools to bend in any parts that don't look perfect and make sure there are details everywhere (in highlights and shadows). Now you merge layers and do the other PP.

Method two: Bending

Again all exposures into PS layers. But before doing so do some PP on the images to bring out the highlights in lighter exposures and shadows in the darker exposures. These do need to be in the order darken to light but the bottom most layer needs to be a white solid colour.

Now change the bend mode on all the layers other than the darkest and white colour to multiply and reduce there opacity down to desired, around the 5-10% works well.

Now using local edits make sure there is detail everywhere the merge and do the rest of the PP.[/QUOTE]

you my friend, are a god

thank you

[QUOTE=LaPistola;78888]Method one: Masking

Get all your exposures into one PS file each in there own layer. Not important in which order but it makes sense to have some order so maybe darkest the bottom most layer.

Now using any of the selection (lasgo - marquee - marching ants) tool you select the area from each image you wish to show. You generally want to show the elements that are perfectly exposed from each. Which selection tool you use will depend on the element but in each you want to refine the edge and use a feather of some sort. Not a huge feather, maybe 3-6. Once your happy inverse the selection and click the mask layer button.

Once done to all layers use the healing tools to bend in any parts that don't look perfect and make sure there are details everywhere (in highlights and shadows). Now you merge layers and do the other PP.

Method two: Bending

Again all exposures into PS layers. But before doing so do some PP on the images to bring out the highlights in lighter exposures and shadows in the darker exposures. These do need to be in the order darken to light but the bottom most layer needs to be a white solid colour.

Now change the bend mode on all the layers other than the darkest and white colour to multiply and reduce there opacity down to desired, around the 5-10% works well.

Now using local edits make sure there is detail everywhere the merge and do the rest of the PP.[/QUOTE]

btw did you mean blend or bend?

Blend. Sorry L key must have been asleep.

Strange I have just read it back I didn't once put the L in blend yet didn't notice any other words with the L missing.

this saved me having to create another post! Will try this out tonight when i get home from work took some shots i was trying to do some HDR with in CS5 but im sure the principle is the same :)