High Dynamic Range Image Programs

floyyd k wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer Wind" <SummerWind.RemoveThis@summer.com> wrote:
>
>> Which would you recommend, aside from Photoshop CS2?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> SW
>>
>
> First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3 for that matter. It's always been a
> 16-bit only math platform. No better than a Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
> data and math involved with 16-bit digital images for HDR merging is beyond the
> abilities of any version of PhotoShop to do it properly. Those that use it for
> this purpose are only kidding themselves and anyone they suggest it to.
>
> 3 payware programs come to mind:
>
> Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
> PhotoLine 32, better than PhotoShop in many ways, currently undergoing
> improvements to its HDR features, full 32-bit platform.
> PaintShopPro X2 (v12) I don't care for PSP these days since Corel bought it,
> but they do a decent job with the HDR interface in their latest incarnation.
>
> There's also some excellent freeware for this purpose. Those who are more
> familiar with them will hopefully say a few words. I know they can be every bit
> as good if not better than payware programs that support HDR processing.
>
>
>
I'm interested in your comment regarding later psp. I'm using psp 7
which I find quite adequate for fixing photos. Is there much to be
gained in later versions. I don't have raw capability.
Dave Cohen
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:33:51 GMT, Dave Cohen <user.RemoveThis@example.net> wrote:

>floyyd k wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer Wind" <SummerWind.RemoveThis@summer.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Which would you recommend, aside from Photoshop CS2?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> SW
>>>
>>
>> First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3 for that matter. It's always been a
>> 16-bit only math platform. No better than a Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
>> data and math involved with 16-bit digital images for HDR merging is beyond the
>> abilities of any version of PhotoShop to do it properly. Those that use it for
>> this purpose are only kidding themselves and anyone they suggest it to.
>>
>> 3 payware programs come to mind:
>>
>> Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
>> PhotoLine 32, better than PhotoShop in many ways, currently undergoing
>> improvements to its HDR features, full 32-bit platform.
>> PaintShopPro X2 (v12) I don't care for PSP these days since Corel bought it,
>> but they do a decent job with the HDR interface in their latest incarnation.
>>
>> There's also some excellent freeware for this purpose. Those who are more
>> familiar with them will hopefully say a few words. I know they can be every bit
>> as good if not better than payware programs that support HDR processing.
>>
>>
>>
> I'm interested in your comment regarding later psp. I'm using psp 7
>which I find quite adequate for fixing photos. Is there much to be
>gained in later versions. I don't have raw capability.
>Dave Cohen

PSP 9.01, very much worth it, the first implementation of their noise and CA
filters, worth it for just those 2 filters alone. The CA filter in PSP is the
only reason I keep any new versions installed. Nobody has ever come up with a
nicer way of dealing with that common digital camera artifact. PSP v9.01 can be
bought for a song & a dance, if you can find it.

PSP10, Okay, but buggy, only partial 16-bit support for its tools. With a minor
binary tweak on one byte to the main exe file you can still get it to interface
seamlessly with the Animation Shop v3.1.1 (the last one ever released). No can
do in any PSP versions after that. This one might be worth having if you need
16-bit support for most of your main processing tools.

PSP11, Fuhgettaboutit. buggy, no reason at all to get it. Bug fixes were dropped
and the "update" started out as vX2 (PSP12)

PSP12, X2, Same bugs in PSP11, some even worse, supposed to have full(er?)
16-bit support, but the HDR tool is pretty and produces some decent results
depending on the photos selected. People are finding that it's not all that good
on most HDR results though. (read corel's PaintShopProPhotoX2 forum to hear the
sob stories from all the paying-for-the-privilege beta-testers)

I check out all versions, but the only reason I keep any of them now is for the
CA filter. I sure wish I could find the way they do that being implemented in a
plugin, I'd finally be able to free up some valuable hard-drive real estate.

Best bang for the buck is no doubt Jasc's original PSP v9.01, but then you are
limited to 8-bit color-depth only in all tools. If all you ever use is JPG files
then it's very much worth getting/having/using. I still find PhotoLine 32 to be
best of all, it's the most full-featured work-horse ever written, its lossless
JPG editing is nice when needed (something no other program can do). The new
version 13.9 coming out is going to have 34 or more adjustment-layer (working
layer) types. Can't wait to see what the final will have in it. Many users can't
handle the rough-hewn GUI of PL32 and require "pretty" for their working
environment (like settling for a Windows 3.1 level capability in all versions of
PhotoShop, because it's a prettier interface), so they never explore PL32 enough
to see its true capabilities. Their loss.
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

"floyyd k" <noreplies RemoveThis @nomail.org> wrote in
message
news:h4d5h3d0bcsk2vmubgkqen762s4oliari8@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer
> Wind" <SummerWind RemoveThis @summer.com> wrote:
>
>>Which would you recommend, aside from
>>Photoshop CS2?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>SW
>>
>
> First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3
> for that matter. It's always been a
> 16-bit only math platform. No better than a
> Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
> data and math involved with 16-bit digital
> images for HDR merging is beyond the
> abilities of any version of PhotoShop to do
> it properly. Those that use it for
> this purpose are only kidding themselves
> and anyone they suggest it to.
>
> 3 payware programs come to mind:
>
> Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
> PhotoLine 32, better than PhotoShop in many
> ways, currently undergoing
> improvements to its HDR features, full
> 32-bit platform.
> PaintShopPro X2 (v12) I don't care for PSP
> these days since Corel bought it,
> but they do a decent job with the HDR
> interface in their latest incarnation.
>
> There's also some excellent freeware for
> this purpose. Those who are more
> familiar with them will hopefully say a few
> words. I know they can be every bit
> as good if not better than payware programs
> that support HDR processing.


I have just installed "Photomatix 2.5" which
is giving stunning results with streetscapes.

Typically with this type of photo one gets
the skyscrapers in brilliant light and the
streets below in stygian gloom.

I cannot get the Photoshop CS2 one to work -
all it wants to do is make a panorama.

With Photomatix 2.5 only two photos seem to
be necessary, one bright & one dark. The
result is far better than I have ever
achieved manually.

I am still new at all this, and I don't
really understand the 8/16/32 bit colour
thing and whether it applies to me.

I have been using a tripod for the
cityscapes, but with this software I will try
for the exposure bracketing with a 3-shot
burst (3/sec), and try to avoid the tripod,
which is bulky.

I have just bought a book "Light & Lighting
in Digital Photography" by M Freeman ISBN10
1-904705-88-X, and this explains numerous
principles and much software available for
this sort of thing.
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

"Peter Jason" <pj.DeleteThis@jostle.com> wrote in message
news:feujqk$1vbv$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
>
>
>
> I have just installed "Photomatix 2.5" which is giving stunning results
> with streetscapes.
>

Thanks. Photomatrix is one of the programs I'm considering. Is there a
trial version available for download?

I download the trial version of Dynamic Photo HDR last night and it looks
like it might be adequate and it's only $40.00.

http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/index.html

It comes with six tonemap methods, Eye-Catching, Ultra-Contrast, Smooth
Compressor, Auto-Adaptive, Photographic, and Human Eye. Eye-Catching and
Ultra-Contrast produce garish results, which might be the desired effect for
some subjects. Of the six, Smooth Compressor gives the most pleasing
results, in my opinion. Auto-Adaptive is less contrasty than Smooth
Compressor. In my tests, Photographic blew out the highlights on some
images and Human Eye made the colors look bizarre.

It's only $40.00, but I'd like to test drive a couple of other programs
before buying one. I suppose that one of these days, HDR will be built into
cameras as an exposure bracketing option.

SW
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

Hi Dave,
There is a huge difference between PSP 7 and the actual version PSPP X2.
Scripts were introduced in PSP 8 and many "photo tools" were introduced too
in each version. But if you are satisfied with v7 (a good one version), no
need to move...
%:>)

You may test the full PSPP X2 version available free as 30 days trial on
www.corel.com
The dedicated PSP forums are available on www.corel.com -> Community ->
Newsgroups

Cordialement,
Jean-Luc Ernst
www.digigrey.com
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

On Oct 14, 7:38 pm, floyyd k <norepl....RemoveThis@nomail.org> wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer Wind" <SummerW....RemoveThis@summer.com> wrote:
> >Which would you recommend, aside from Photoshop CS2?
>
> >Thanks,
> >SW
>
> First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3 for that matter. It's always been a
> 16-bit only math platform. No better than a Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
> data and math involved with 16-bit digital images for HDR merging is beyond the
> abilities of any version of PhotoShop to do it properly. Those that use it for
> this purpose are only kidding themselves and anyone they suggest it to.
>
> 3 payware programs come to mind:
>
> Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
snip
Anyone know of Photomatix can read Nikon D50 RAW files?
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

On Oct 16, 3:57 pm, Don Stauffer in Minnesota <stauf....TakeThisOut@usfamily.net>
wrote:
> On Oct 14, 7:38 pm, floyyd k <norepl....TakeThisOut@nomail.org> wrote:> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer Wind" <SummerW....TakeThisOut@summer.com> wrote:
> > >Which would you recommend, aside from Photoshop CS2?
>
> > >Thanks,
> > >SW
>
> > First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3 for that matter. It's always been a
> > 16-bit only math platform. No better than a Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
> > data and math involved with 16-bit digital images for HDR merging is beyond the
> > abilities of any version of PhotoShop to do it properly. Those that use it for
> > this purpose are only kidding themselves and anyone they suggest it to.
>
> > 3 payware programs come to mind:
>
> > Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
>
> snip
> Anyone know of Photomatix can read Nikon D50 RAW files?


from playing with it, it uses dcraw for raw conversion, so probably
yes. You can download a trial, by the way.
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:38:32 GMT, floyyd k <noreplies DeleteThis @nomail.org> wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer Wind" <SummerWind DeleteThis @summer.com> wrote:
>
>>Which would you recommend, aside from Photoshop CS2?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>SW
>>
>
>First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3 for that matter. It's always been a
>16-bit only math platform. No better than a Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
>data and math involved with 16-bit digital images for HDR merging is beyond the
>abilities of any version of PhotoShop to do it properly. Those that use it for
>this purpose are only kidding themselves and anyone they suggest it to.
>
>3 payware programs come to mind:
>
>Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
>PhotoLine 32, better than PhotoShop in many ways, currently undergoing
>improvements to its HDR features, full 32-bit platform.
>PaintShopPro X2 (v12) I don't care for PSP these days since Corel bought it,
>but they do a decent job with the HDR interface in their latest incarnation.
>
>There's also some excellent freeware for this purpose. Those who are more
>familiar with them will hopefully say a few words. I know they can be every bit
>as good if not better than payware programs that support HDR processing.
>
>

Here's another one I started testing last night

http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/index.html

It does some pretty nice things. Tons of adjustment options for the tone-maps.
Some decent presets to choose from for starting points for your own tweaks.

It's really nice. I'm not too crazy about not being able to resize some of the
GUI panels, but I like the results I'm getting from this one. The instant
previews make it easy to make adjustments.

I also saw this freeware mentioned by someone else, though I've not checked into
it. The intro page looks like it has most of the needed features.

http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net/
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

floyyd k wrote:

>> Summer Wind wrote:
>>
>>> Which would you recommend, aside from Photoshop CS2?
>
> I also saw this freeware mentioned by someone else, though I've not checked into
> it. The intro page looks like it has most of the needed features.
>
> http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net/

The problem there is I cannot open the darn hdr tif files it outputs
using CS1 (or anything). I googled all over about those formats with no
luck. It's probably possible for linux gurus but I can't make any sense
of it. I can't imagine why they don't have an option to output the tone
mapped files to a standard format!

Trying to track that down I found some other options:
http://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/resources/pfstools/#links
No luck finding anything useable though.

--
Paul Furman Photography
http://edgehill.net
Bay Natives Nursery
http://www.baynatives.com
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

"Don Stauffer in Minnesota"
<stauffer RemoveThis @usfamily.net> wrote in message
news:1192543061.656705.56280@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 14, 7:38 pm, floyyd k
> <norepl... RemoveThis @nomail.org> wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:39:40 GMT, "Summer
>> Wind" <SummerW... RemoveThis @summer.com> wrote:
>> >Which would you recommend, aside from
>> >Photoshop CS2?
>>
>> >Thanks,
>> >SW
>>
>> First I would never recommend CS2 or CS3
>> for that matter. It's always been a
>> 16-bit only math platform. No better than
>> a Windows 3.1 program. The amount of
>> data and math involved with 16-bit digital
>> images for HDR merging is beyond the
>> abilities of any version of PhotoShop to
>> do it properly. Those that use it for
>> this purpose are only kidding themselves
>> and anyone they suggest it to.
>>
>> 3 payware programs come to mind:
>>
>> Photomatix, dedicated to HDR images only.
> snip
> Anyone know of Photomatix can read Nikon
> D50 RAW files?

I don't think so. The Raws have to be
converted to jpegs or tiffs for it to work.
But check it out just in case.
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs 

In article <feujqk$1vbv$1@otis.netspace.net.au>, Peter Jason says...

> I have been using a tripod for the
> cityscapes, but with this software I will try
> for the exposure bracketing with a 3-shot
> burst (3/sec), and try to avoid the tripod,
> which is bulky.

Do you always have to use a tripod or is Photomatix 2.5 capable of
merging in a panorama stitch fashion two slightly displaced shots?
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 7070, 8080, E3X0, E4X0 and E5X0 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
http://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site
 >> Stay informed about: High Dynamic Range Image Programs