- Understanding HDR Imaging
- Shooting an HDR Photo
- Editing HDR Images in Photoshop
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Editing HDR Images in Photoshop
Once you’ve shot your images at different exposure levels, you now need to merge those photos into a single HDR image. The easiest way to do this is by using Adobe Photoshop and its Merge to HDR function.
For purposes of this article I’m using Photoshop CS5, which includes an enhanced Merge to HDR Pro function. If you have an older version of Photoshop (CS2, CS3, or CS4), you have the basic Merge to HDR functionality, which does a good job but offers fewer adjustments during the merge process.
Here’s how to do it:
- From within Photoshop CS5, select File > Automate > Merge to HDR Pro. (In older versions, select File > Automate > Merge to HDR.)
- When the Merge to HDR dialog box appears, click the Browse button.
- When the Open dialog box appears, hold down the Ctrl button to select the multiple files you want to merge, then click Open.
- Back in the Merge to HDR dialog box, check the Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images box. (This will help to minimize any changes in your pictures in the multiple shots.)
- Click the OK button. Photoshop now loads the files you selected and begins processing them; depending on the size and number of photos selected, this may take several minutes.
- Photoshop now displays a temporary merged image, in a new window; the individual photographs that comprise the merged image are displayed on the bottom of the window. You can remove individual exposures from this merged image by deselecting them at this point.
- If you’re using Photoshop CS5, you now have a range of adjustments you can make to the merged photo. Perhaps the best way to start is to pull down the Preset list at the top right of the window and select from one of the available configurations: Flat, Monochromatic (artistic, high contrast, or low contrast), Photorealistic (low contrast or high contrast), Surrealistic (low contrast or high contrast), Saturated, or More Saturated.
- You can also adjust any of the other available controls, such as edge glow, gamma, exposure, detail, shadow, highlight, and color vibrance and saturation. Experiment with what each control does, and how it affects the picture.
- You will be saving this 32-bit merged image as a 16-bit image, for printing and screen display purposes. Make sure the Mode (at the top right of the window) is set to 16 Bit Local Adaptation.
- Click the OK button when ready to proceed.
- Photoshop now displays the final merged image. Select File > Save As to save this image.
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Figure 3 Selecting the files to merge.
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Figure 4 Viewing the merged image in Photoshop CS5.
Note that you may need to clean up the merged image a bit. Some HDR images exhibit a color cast, and there may be various types of distortion visible. Use the appropriate tools to edit the image as necessary.
The result should be a stunning image, unlike anything you’ve shot traditionally. Once you get going with HDR photography, it’s easy to get hooked; have fun experimenting with different shots, exposure levels, and Photoshop adjustments!