32 Bit HDR Processing

[Steve.]

I've just come accross this simplified HDR processing method

Using PCS6 I opened 3 bracketed shots in it's "Merge to HDR Pro", when that opened I chose 32 bit mode, all the sliders dissappeared and I clicked ok which processed the image back into Photoshop, where I saved it as a 32 bit Tiff file.

I Imported that into Lightroom and processed it as follows, Highlights all the way down, Shadows all the way up, clarity all the way up,

Thats all there is to this method!


I then chose to edit it back in photoshop where all I gave it was a Saturation of 15 and a vibrance of 12 for some colour pop. Thats all the following photo has had...not even any contrast or sharpening.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...ia/gateHDR.jpg

Whole process, around 3 mins..

Steve...

[miketoll]

It has worked incredibly well. Not having Photoshop it is only of academic interest to me but must be of interest to others. Sounds that you have no real control of the result though?

[Steve.]

Originally Posted by miketoll

Sounds that you have no real control of the result though?

You couldn't be more wrong (no offence intended with that comment), you have far more control.

As my first post above, is how the method was shown to me at first..moving on from that I have learned that the lightroom step is uneeded.

You can reopen your saved 32bit bit tiff file into Camera Raw and make the same edits as in Lightroom, not only that you have a huge advantage in being able to edit in CR, for example the exposure range is around 10 stops.

Steve...

[miketoll]

No offence taken at all, interesting for the folk with Photoshop who want to have a go at HDR without further expense. Wonder how the results compare with a bought plug in?