Best software for HDR?

[M@lew]

I'm looking into taking some HDR shots and I was wondering if there was any special software out there to make it easier to blend the images, or if Photoshop is easy enough.

 

[Mr.Texor]

http://www.hdrsoft.com/

I'm under the impression that hdrsoft sells one of the most popular hdr packages.. I'm not 100% sure tho.

 

[0007776]

If you already own or were planning on buying photoshop it is good for making HDR and not too hard to figure that part out.

 

[D34th]

Edit...posted wrong info, I basically just said was Mr.Texor said....woops.

 

[Martin C]

I second the HDR Soft notion and their Photomatix Pro software. Since you are getting Photoshop, here is a tutorial made by Trey Ratcliff where he uses both Photomatix Pro and Photoshop to make HDR images. His HDR work is really nice and this is a superb tutorial if you have both Photomatix Pro and Photoshop.

Link to tutorial: http://stuckincustoms.com/?p=548

 

[JeffTL]

I really like Photomatix. Haven't really had any experience with the HDR stuff in Photoshop, but Photomatix puts out good results.

 

[freebooter]

I like Photomatix Pro, as well. However, I think it (and/or my HDR skill ) has room for improvement.

 

[M@lew]

Just tried out Photomatix Pro. Didn't really know exactly what I was meant to be doing, but I tried my best and here's my first attempt at HDR.

 

[Coheebuzz]

I used Photomatix for a while but then went back to Photoshop for my HDR.

Both programs produce interesting results but i think Photoshop lets you be more expressive, as its HDR conversion is less automated than Photomatix. So if you know Photoshop and you know how to use Curves you can achieve a lot more with it IMO.

 

[Mr.Texor]

Both programs produce interesting results but i think Photoshop lets you be more expressive, as its HDR conversion is less automated than Photomatix. So if you know Photoshop and you know how to use Curves you can achieve a lot more with it IMO.

I hate saying that anyone is wrong, but.. the default photoshop hdr plugin is lacking compared to photomatix.

hdrsoft has a tutorial here:
http://www.hdrsoft.com/resources/tutorial_basic/index.html
the next and back button on the tutorial are not located in the best place (upper left corner) but the tutorial is ok.. another great tutorial is the one that Martin C already linked:
http://www.hdrsoft.com/resources/tutorial_basic/index.html

Photomatix Basic 1.2 (the free one) is windows only and very simple. Photomatix Pro is the one you want, but it costs $99

 

[D34th]

Photomatix Basic 1.2 (the free one) is windows only and very simple. Photomatix Pro is the one you want, but it costs $99

Unless you happen to be a student. They offer student disccounts that cut the price considerably. You can get Photomatix Pro (with the Tone Mapping plug in) for $39 bucks or just Photomatix Pro for $29...http://www.hdrsoft.com/order/academic.html

 

[Coheebuzz]

I hate saying that anyone is wrong, but.. the default photoshop hdr plugin is lacking compared to photomatix.

Lacking in what part? I haven't found anything that Photomatix does and PS doesn't. Photomatix saturates colors by default and 'compresses' the curve to give you instant, catchy results. PS on the other hand does not mess with color saturation, as you can do that later, and gives you far more control as you can adjust the curves by yourself.

Also PS CS3 image alignment purely rocks, it cannot be compared to Photomatix's one so if you shoot without a tripod most of the times like i do its a lifesaver.

 

[Mr.Texor]

Lacking in what part? I haven't found anything that Photomatix does and PS doesn't. Photomatix saturates colors by default and 'compresses' the curve to give you instant, catchy results. PS on the other hand does not mess with color saturation, as you can do that later, and gives you far more control as you can adjust the curves by yourself.

It's all very subjective. So, I really dislike, as I said, saying someone is wrong or not.. Unless CS3 hdr plugin has changed drastically, then other people agree with me (emphasis mine):

If you’ve used the HDR features in Adobe Photoshop CS2, these steps will seem familiar. In my tests, though, Photomatix Pro provided more control and more pleasing results than did Photoshop CS2. Photoshop’s tone-mapping features often yield images that lack contrast and punch.

that's from the review in here. more control over it doesnt mean it's prettier. More control is objective since it's a fact that is not influenced by what you think, feel, etc.

At the other hand, as I said, how pretty the results are is subjective, as you might not like the results from one or the other (or both).

But with more controls, I'm pretty sure you can find a setting that would allow you to have the result you want.

 

[wmmk]

Use qtpfsgui!
It's opensource and has more options than Photomatix.

http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net/#download
Just grab a Qt4 binary and install the app from the DMG.