HDR Photos

Overview

I am using the HDR guide here: http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/

I am using the Photomatix presets here: http://photo.bruha.net/postprocessing/hdr/collection-of-popular-photomatix-presets/

A list with other Photomatix presets can be found here: http://photo.bruha.net/postprocessing/hdr/collection-of-popular-photomatix-presets/

To install/use Photomatix presets (XMP files) on a Mac, simply copy the XMP files into ~/Library/Application Support/Photomatix/Presets and then restart Photomatix. Once you have begun the process of creating an HDR image in Photomatix, and you get to the point where you can select a Photomatix preset, the dropdown menu should be populated with all of the XMP files you added.

Required Software

This guide requires Photomatix; optional software includes Photoshop, as well as Picasa and/or Lightroom.

The Quick-and-Dirty Outline

Basic steps:

• Phase 1: Photomatix
  • Take photos
  • Load them into Photomatix
  • Apply Photomatix presets or your own settings
• Phase 2: Lightroom or Picasa
  • Create an HDR-like image in Lightroom/Picasa
• Phase 3: Combine
  • Combine multiple HDR images (from Photomatix and Lightroom) by putting them in a single Photoshop canvas as multiple layers. Then use brushes to adjust opacity and make various layers shine through from underneath other layers.