The one and only pre-requisite is to have Adobe Photoshop CS2 or above, due to its in-built automated HDR merging function.
Step 1: Automated HDR Merger
Open Photoshop, go to File > Automate > Merge to HDR. A window will open to request you to load the photos you would want to merge.
Please remember to check the Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images option. This is the annoying part because Photoshop does not check this option by default, so if you missed it, you’ll have to wait for a long time (since Photoshop’s HDR merging takes a significantly longer time than Photomatix) before being given the option to start again.
After you click OK, the whole process really get automated, but you’ll have to wait. Photoshop will load all the photos, align them meticulously and then merge into one HDR.
Step 2: Select Photos to be Included
A window will open, and you can see the whole list of photos you’ve asked Photoshop to merge for you. Normally the results will appear just nice, but when the resultant HDR looks too white or too dark, you’ll have to exclude some photos. This can be done on the sidebar on the left, where you can tick to include and untick to exclude certain photos.
After clicking OK, it’ll take even more time for Photoshop to get things done :( this is annoying but too bad, you don’t really have the option to stop it (and it takes up quite a lot of resources!). A preview will appear after it’s done:
Step 3: More Tweaking
The resultant HDR is a 32-bit image, but it is made to look normal on your screen. However, you’ll realise that none of the photo manipulation tools are going to work on it (like filters, auto colour and etc). You’ll have to convert it to a 16-bit mode first (not to 8-bit mode since you do not want to lose details yet!).
Upon converting to 16-bit mode, a HDR Conversion dialogue box will open and provides you with several options. Since I have not experimented all the options thoroughly, I’ll stick to the Exposure and Gamma option.
After this you’ll be able to manipulate your photos just as described in the previous Photomatix tutorial section. Oh, don’t forget to save! :)
Here is the final product:
Wow!! Another tutorial!!! I love it!!!
Check out Adam Danial’s last blog post: 2nd post for 2008 ??
Hey, teddY. It’s a great tutorial. Where can I get the Photomatrix. I wanna try it too. But it takes many steps. I think the photoshop one is better than the Photomatrix
Adam: Thank you. You can go to HDRSoft to get Photomatrix as a free trial version, but be warned that HDRs larger than 640*480 will get a Photomatix watermark embedded in it. Although the Photomatix tutorial is a little bit more complex, it gives you the best results.
i always wanted to try HDR..
heard so much abt it!!!… :)
thx ted!!!…
looks awesome!!!
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I have been meaning to try making some HDRs. I think your tutorial came at the right time! Thanks!
Check out Id’s last blog post: You Don’t Open It; You Turn It On.
eddy: Thank you! :)
Id: Hey Id thanks for dropping by! Hope this tutorial is of good use to you, heh.
hey, thanks for the tutorial and resources. I’ve downloaded photomatix, but like you, i probably will do all the final tweaking in photoshop. Thanks for making it all simple. can’t wait to start generating some! :)
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[...] Launches Morph Concept Phone- A sleek, morphing phone from Nokia at Brown Baron’s blog. HDR Merging & Tweaking Tutorial- teddY teaches you how to merge + tweak on Photomatix and Adobe Photoshop. Very detailed; nice [...]
letti: You’re welcome! And oh you’ve downloaded Photomatix! Sounds like you’ll be going to have a lot of fun with HDR :) anyway yeap Photoshop is better at photo/image manipulation and touchup than photomatix. Basically Photomatix is a HDR generating machine :D that’s all.
Grace (at Neonscent): Thanks for linking!
I guess it’s time to get photomatix. xD xD!!
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teddy.. u made the most “learning-friendly”
i know i told u that i love your tutorial many times
but i cant stop myself to tell u again n again!
love your tutorial! keep it on!
Check out lunaticgal’s last blog post: Canot find the song you want?
ingSiang: If you want to make your own HDRs, Photomatix is one of the best software to use :) heheh.
lunaticgal: Thanks for the compliment, haha! Usually when I write tutorials I’ll try my best to make it understandable to those who have little working experience with photoshop :) anyway using too complicated terms will also throw people off, haha!
[...] have auto exposure bracketing. If you want to know more about creating your own HDR, you can visit my tutorial (or Google it if you prefer [...]
[...] Published a HDR tutorial – the best tutorials I’ve written so far, IMHO. [...]