HDR: Photomatix

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 08:01 PM

Just getting into HDR editing. What exposure settings do you guys use for editing RAW images? I use -2, 0, and +2...are those the universal numbers or do you guys use others?

Also, after you get to tone mapping, how much do you mess around with setting usually?

watrob · 12-11-2008, 08:59 PM

I use +2, 3 shots, play alot with tone mapping!

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watrob

I use +2, 3 shots, play alot with tone mapping!

Same here!

Here was my first attempt:

Original

HDR

Wanna give it a shot with my original so we can compare?

JNic335i · 12-11-2008, 09:50 PM

Here's my render.

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNic335i

Here's my render.

looks half animated

561design · 12-11-2008, 10:04 PM

Here's one of my first HDR attempts. I really like the light pole in this pic.

- Paul - · 12-11-2008, 10:06 PM

Its totally subjective - different settings work for different photos. You've just got to experiment.

Some of mine done in photomatix

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 561design

Here's one of my first HDR attempts. I really like the light pole in this pic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Paul -

Its totally subjective - different settings work for different photos. You've just got to experiment.

Some of mine done in photomatix

Very nice work guys...in your opinions', how does mine look?

- Paul - · 12-11-2008, 10:15 PM

IMO - the effect is too pronounced - but you may have been after that effect??

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 10:18 PM

I wanted the yellow to be pronounced, and the background to be a little more subtle. Didn't work too well

lol

- Paul - · 12-11-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Paul -

IMO - the effect is too pronounced - but you may have been after that effect??

DOH - I was looking at the other render!!!! Yours is a lot less pronounced!!

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Paul -

DOH - I was looking at the other render!!!! Yours is a lot less pronounced!!

Guess he was being sarcastic. If you have a few extra minutes can you edit the original I posted up. I want some practice before I take the Lambo out for a photoshoot!

561design · 12-11-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxballinboi786

Very nice work guys...in your opinions', how does mine look?

I think you did very well with it. I typcially use the HDR to get vivid "saturated" colors, I think it adds a surreal quality to the image. The added detail it gives helps as well.

I do not like HDR being over used though to the point where it looks like an over done photoshop filter.

xxballinboi786 · 12-11-2008, 10:30 PM

Thanks man...everytime I take pictures of a car, I get the car to take up most of the picture. However, with HDR photos, bringing out vivid colors in background items such as containers, trees, clouds, etc...calls for a bigger background! Now I need to find a good backdrop so I can start shooting.

561design · 12-11-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxballinboi786

Thanks man...everytime I take pictures of a car, I get the car to take up most of the picture. However, with HDR photos, bringing out vivid colors in background items such as containers, trees, clouds, etc...calls for a bigger background! Now I need to find a good backdrop so I can start shooting.

HDR does really well pulling out colors in the sky. Try to shoot early afternoon, morning or with a storm rolling in.

Here's an example. Not mine

UdubBadger · 12-12-2008, 12:50 AM

again, like i just said in a different thread. You want the luminosity all the way up to eliminate the "halo" effect you see under the car. Also, you are probably trying a little too hard for that cartoonish effect... try medium smoothing instead (this is in reference to Jnic's rendition). Also, like I've said 1000 times, try using just 1 raw image especially when starting out with this program. more times than not you won't get the best result because you aren't bracketing properly. its not about being exactly at -2, 0, +2 for the shots... besides unless you are using a real light meter you aren't actually getting the perfect "0" exposure because you are measuring the light with the camera seen in the frame which can be wrong and distorted because of a black or white object in the photo.

Shoot raw, use 1 exposure to start off and work on getting 1 properly exposed picture rather than 3 or 5, let photomatix decide how it wants to bracket and your pics will look a lot better.

AllydNYC · 12-13-2008, 03:05 AM

My attempts if someone can help. I did everything exactly as your supposed to. I got the stupid watermarks out of one so far but the other ones didn't merge correctly or did something strange to high reflected areas. I did -2,0,+2. Also nice Lambo

TWiTCHY · 12-13-2008, 12:14 PM

Seems like you have some one-on-one training to do, Badger

xxballinboi786 · 12-14-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllydNYC

My attempts if someone can help. I did everything exactly as your supposed to. I got the stupid watermarks out of one so far but the other ones didn't merge correctly or did something strange to high reflected areas. I did -2,0,+2. Also nice Lambo

Thanks man..wanna put the originals up so we can take a shot?

UdubBadger · 12-14-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWiTCHY

Seems like you have some one-on-one training to do, Badger

i'm always available for consultations

AllydNYC · 12-14-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxballinboi786

Thanks man..wanna put the originals up so we can take a shot?

Trying to upload them now

Edit:

Damn this is annoying to do. I have to downsize them now. Lol I don't know if I have the attention span for this.

Bah nevermind I can't even upload the full image size on Photobucket. I got one picture working though:

xxballinboi786 · 12-19-2008, 01:18 PM

Sorry for the late response, I thought you would post the picture in a new post. When I saw no new posts I didnt open the thread, until now. Well, here's my attempt:

12-11-2008, 08:01 PM	#1
xxballinboi786 Captain Drives: Lamborghini Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	HDR: Photomatix Just getting into HDR editing. What exposure settings do you guys use for editing RAW images? I use -2, 0, and +2...are those the universal numbers or do you guys use others? Also, after you get to tone mapping, how much do you mess around with setting usually?
	Tweet

12-11-2008, 08:59 PM	#2
watrob Major Drives: MY2013 X5M 50d - White Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane - Australia Posts: 1,490 iTrader: (0)	I use +2, 3 shots, play alot with tone mapping! __________________ X5 M50d White, 20"rims, Adaptive Drive, HUD, Xenon Adapt Lights, Rear/Side Camera, Sunroof, Auto Tailgate, Comfort Access, Active Perforated Ventilated Comfort Seats, M Paddle Shift, Active Crus, Stop/Go, Proff Nav + TV, DAB, 16 Spk Ind HiFi, USB, Internet, Apps, 4 Zone Air, Towbar 20% Tint, 5mm Castor Bushes, Yellow Calipers, Ceramic Pads

12-11-2008, 09:50 PM	#4
JNic335i Captain Drives: 08' E92 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 646 iTrader: (7)	Here's my render. Attached Images __________________ /// E92 \| JB4 \| UR DP \| BMS DCI \| H&R \| LC Z2S \|

12-11-2008, 10:04 PM	#6
561design z4um Hooligan Drives: 3.0Si Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodstock,Ga Posts: 586 iTrader: (1)	Here's one of my first HDR attempts. I really like the light pole in this pic. __________________ Charles flickr

12-11-2008, 10:06 PM	#7
- Paul - Major General Drives: see above. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 7,226 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2005 320D SE [5.00] 2005 645 [4.50]	Its totally subjective - different settings work for different photos. You've just got to experiment. Some of mine done in photomatix __________________ My Photos

12-11-2008, 10:15 PM	#9
- Paul - Major General Drives: see above. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 7,226 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2005 320D SE [5.00] 2005 645 [4.50]	IMO - the effect is too pronounced - but you may have been after that effect?? __________________ My Photos

12-11-2008, 10:18 PM	#10
xxballinboi786 Captain Drives: Lamborghini Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	I wanted the yellow to be pronounced, and the background to be a little more subtle. Didn't work too well lol

12-11-2008, 10:30 PM	#14
xxballinboi786 Captain Drives: Lamborghini Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	Thanks man...everytime I take pictures of a car, I get the car to take up most of the picture. However, with HDR photos, bringing out vivid colors in background items such as containers, trees, clouds, etc...calls for a bigger background! Now I need to find a good backdrop so I can start shooting.

12-12-2008, 12:50 AM	#16
UdubBadger Banned Drives: '04 330i ZHP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 24,714 iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW 330i ZHP [4.75] 2011 135i [3.73] 2008 328xi [4.38]	again, like i just said in a different thread. You want the luminosity all the way up to eliminate the "halo" effect you see under the car. Also, you are probably trying a little too hard for that cartoonish effect... try medium smoothing instead (this is in reference to Jnic's rendition). Also, like I've said 1000 times, try using just 1 raw image especially when starting out with this program. more times than not you won't get the best result because you aren't bracketing properly. its not about being exactly at -2, 0, +2 for the shots... besides unless you are using a real light meter you aren't actually getting the perfect "0" exposure because you are measuring the light with the camera seen in the frame which can be wrong and distorted because of a black or white object in the photo. Shoot raw, use 1 exposure to start off and work on getting 1 properly exposed picture rather than 3 or 5, let photomatix decide how it wants to bracket and your pics will look a lot better.

12-13-2008, 03:05 AM	#17
AllydNYC Loading... Drives: 08' 328xi Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: invalid_value Posts: 2,181 iTrader: (15) Garage List 2008 328xi [5.00]	My attempts if someone can help. I did everything exactly as your supposed to. I got the stupid watermarks out of one so far but the other ones didn't merge correctly or did something strange to high reflected areas. I did -2,0,+2. Also nice Lambo __________________ BBS CH w/PSS\|H&R Coilovers\|Front Strut Bar\|CF CSL Trunk\|Front Splitters\|LCI Halogens\|LUX 5.1\|Blacklines\|Black Grill\|CF/White roundels "A Associate or Bachelors degree is America's most over rated product"

12-13-2008, 12:14 PM	#18
TWiTCHY Lieutenant Colonel Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,762 iTrader: (0)	Seems like you have some one-on-one training to do, Badger

12-19-2008, 01:18 PM	#22
xxballinboi786 Captain Drives: Lamborghini Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	Sorry for the late response, I thought you would post the picture in a new post. When I saw no new posts I didnt open the thread, until now. Well, here's my attempt:

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