What software do you use for HDR?

[DVC Mike]

I'm looking to get into High Dynamic Range photography, and I was wondering what software those of you use for HDR.

I don't have Photoshop CS5 (I use Lightroom or Capture NX) and rather not have to pay it's steep price just for HDR. Photomatix Pro seems extremely popular, and Nik (who makes great products) has their fairly new HDR Efex Pro.

I'm not interested in a shareware or freeware solution.

What do you use for HDR?

 

[boBQuincy]

I use a combination of:
either PS or Photomatix for merging and alignment;
either PS or Photomatix for tone mapping;
Topaz Adjust for final tweaking.

Lately I have tried the free hdr software found by GDAD and it is quite good but doesn't offer a lot of options for tone mapping (maybe buying the full package does this).

Btw, Photomatix offers a generous discount for educational use.

 

[DVC Mike]

I guess I'll download Photomatix Pro 4.0 and give it a try.

 

[mrcricket]

Photomatix is my program of choice. I've tried Photoshop CS5's Merge to HDR and it is quiet good, but I like the look photomatix gives more than that of Photoshop. There's a certain "dreaminess" to Photomatix that Photoshop just doesn't have.

Good luck with your venture into HDR. In can be addictive.

 

[Marlton Mom]

I just wanted to say thanks to Mike for posting this poll. I have CS4 but my computer is a dog and the HDR to merge function is not behaving nicely due to computing power issues and PEBKAC ("Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair").

I am at the point where I am considering using HDR 'exclusive' software and this will help the HDR newbies like myself to narrow down the selections.


Thanks again!
Marlton Mom

 

[ukcatfan]

Other, in camera

 

[Experiment_626]

Photomatix Pro is my main HDR program, but I sometimes use Photoshop's "Merge to HDR" command to generate 32-bit Open EXR files, which I then open in Photomatix for tonemapping. Sometimes Photoshop just gives a better starting point, sometimes it doesn't. I have noticed that the files Photoshop generates often seem to be a little sharper. I always use Photomatix for tonemapping, though.

Scott

 

[zackiedawg]

Another 'other' here...in camera for me too. if I want to modify it for more extreme style, I'll use Topaz Adjust on the in-camera version to tweak it.

 

[Golf4food]

I don't do deliberate multishot HDR to then combine later. I do sometimes use my in camera HDR function, which does a very nice job, but only rarely. Most HDR I see is overdone and fake looking and I don't have the time or patience or software to mess with it out of camera.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I'm sort of surprised Dynamic Photo HDR doesn't get a little more press here than it does. I just discovered it yesterday while cruising some Flickr threads.

Pretty cool stuff. I'm still trying to learn to use Photomatix Pro but what this thing (Dynamic Photo HDR) does in pseudo mode with just a single .jpg is pretty good stuff. I have a lot of photos I'd like to play with that were shot before I started shooting any .raw files and I have never been able to figure out how to deal with Photomatix Pro with a single .jpg file. I'm not even sure it will.

I'm probably going to throw another $55 at this thing and write it off as another tool in the war chest. What I really need is more time for my photography hobby. My life just seems to keep getting in the way. LOL

I just thought I'd throw this out there. Photomatix is pretty amazing but Dynamic Photo HDR seems to be a lot more flexible and easy, at least to me.

 

[Marleen2]

I discovered HDR last year. Before when I saw HDR pics, I thought they used a special kind of lens, but I never realised I could do it myself as well. I use Photshop and Essential HDR (depending on the result that I want). My new compact Sony camera DSC HX5 has a HDR function as well, which works fine to compensate if there's dark as well as bright parts in your picture.

 

[mylittleprincess]

I as well am interested in HDR. Is this something I can do with just software and I have a Mac so can I do on there? I currently have a Canon S3IS. I am looking to upgrade to a new camera. I need something pretty simple to use. Can anyone steer me in the direction?

 

[cosine4]

I am just learning HDR but have been using Picturenaut and Luminescence (both open source). I know you said you did not want to try those but as part of the poll it's what I use.

I have yet to take pictures specifically for this though, so I really cannot report on how well they work but will soon. If it doesn't turn out well I plan to upgrade to Photomatix.

 

[cosine4]

I as well am interested in HDR. Is this something I can do with just software and I have a Mac so can I do on there? I currently have a Canon S3IS. I am looking to upgrade to a new camera. I need something pretty simple to use. Can anyone steer me in the direction?

Yes you can do it with just software assuming the pictures are taken with HDR in mind. Basically you will need 3 pictures taken perfectly lined up (tripod) with -2EV, 0EV and +2EV. The rest is software. Most of the software comes in Windows and MacOS I believe.