Combining two shots in Photoshop to achieve good DR...

[Arif110]

Hi there,

If I've got two shots - one taken for the lowlights, and one for the brightest bits - how do I combine these to create an overall image with full Dynamic Range?

I'm probably gonna get flamed here - but I really don't get 'layers' in Photoshop - and just prefer to make the image into what I want it. It sounds as though layers is largely for if you need to go back and undo something - so not bothered.

So - if it can be really simple, that'd be great.

I've got Photoshop Elements 4.0, I think.

Hoping you can help,


Arif

[V6GTO]

http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/informatio...

Martin.

[gregorio!]

Good article Martin.

Arif, don't rule out the use of layers, they are far more than a method to undo something. If you persevere with them you'll see how useful they are.

Have a read of this too:
http://www.elated.com/articles/introduction-to-lay...

Greg

[Arif110]

Hey thanks guys,

I know, I know - to refuse to get your head around layers on Photoshop is like buying a 27-speed mountain bike and refusing to ever figure out how to use the gears!

Thanks to both of you - I will endeavour to learn this aspect of Photoshop - lest I waste the majority of its capabilities!


Thanks again,


Arif

[stigmundfreud]

hdr

www.hdrsoft.com

get photomatix as that is what you want, the tone mapping is fantastic and much stronger than in PS

its far far easier to do it this way, check out the trial version

[Arif110]

Thanks Michael!

That kind of dedicated software is right up my street!

Much to the chagrin of the others - I may well look into this.

[stigmundfreud]

when using the tonemapping try to get it looking as natural as possible

dont use the tools contrast and brightness settings as its a major pain, plus if you need to undo any change you have to undo all the tone mapping and start again

instead get your tonemapped image saved (prob in jpeg) then use PS or whatever to adjust level settings

[Arif110]

One more question on HDR then...

Image-making and photography is something I do semi-professionally (not making any real money out of it yet).

So - I'd be happy to buy the full program.

But - given that my only requirement is for it to take two or a few bracketed images, and then create a well-exposed overall image out of them - does the pro version have anything substantive over the freeware (not trial) version?

[stigmundfreud]

Arif110 said:

One more question on HDR then...

Image-making and photography is something I do semi-professionally (not making any real money out of it yet).

So - I'd be happy to buy the full program.

But - given that my only requirement is for it to take two or a few bracketed images, and then create a well-exposed overall image out of them - does the pro version have anything substantive over the freeware (not trial) version?

from memory feeware only works with 2 exposures, any more and it plasters a photomatix logo over the image. I also believe the freeware doesnt have tone mapping enabled? For the price of it, even as a hobby tool, its worth it

[Arif110]

Agree!

That swings it - thank you sir - and your helping me has already led to my mentioning this to another forumeer trying to solve glare problems in Canary Wharf.

I'll be buying it tonight then, hopefully.

[stigmundfreud]

Arif110 said:

Agree!

That swings it - thank you sir - and your helping me has already led to my mentioning this to another forumeer trying to solve glare problems in Canary Wharf.

I'll be buying it tonight then, hopefully.

make sure you keep the license key, I luckily had a back up but found nowhere on the site to resend it as the key comes from something like SWREG.

I tend to use it then whack into PS to do final adjustments. I tend to creat two layers in PS to adjust contrast differently for two areas then blend together. I'm far from an expert (why does everyone feel the need to pre-qualify themselves with that?!)

But by a little work I went from this:



to this:



Ok they are two slightly different shots but both done at the same time. I went back and reworked the second one. The difference is there to be seen.

[aspender]

Another alternative piece of HDR software is http://www.fdrtools.com - I've found it very good, and it works on Mac and PC.