This is the second part of a multi-part tutorial on creating High Dynamic Range images using Photoshop and Photomatix Pro. In this part we take a detailed look at how you can use Photomatix Pro to create and tone map your images, using both the Tone Compressor and Details Enhancer methods. The bulk of this tutorial is taken up with working through the various settings you need to adjust to produce your tone mapped images, but we also include two example images, both of which were produced using the Details Enhancer method. See below for further details.
The specific topics covered include:
This tutorial contains 6092 words, 93 illustrative images and screen grabs, and has received 9 comments.
Please note that this tutorial requires Photoshop and Photomatix Pro.
Each of our tutorials is based around a series of layered Photoshop files, at the resolution originally posted on chromasia, which you can download after you subscribe to the tutorial. The images used for this tutorial, and a brief description of each, are included below.
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Example image 1 In this example we will be working with a tone mapped image created from a bracketed sequence of seven original exposures – shot from -3 EV to +3 EV. |
![]() -3 EV |
![]() -2 EV |
![]() -1 EV |
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![]() metered exposure |
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![]() +1 EV |
![]() +2 EV |
![]() +3 EV |
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Example image 2 In this example we will be working with a tone mapped image created from a bracketed sequence of four original exposures – shot from -4 EV to +2 EV. |
![]() -4 EV |
![]() -2 EV |
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![]() metered exposure |
![]() +2 EV |
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"Another superb tutorial David, clear, concise and perfectly described. Definitely one of the best ever on HDR and Photomatix." Rog |
"Great work David, you are a great teacher, this is a great one, i'v been doing HDR for almost a year and did learn some interesting facts. I really enjoy the way you explain the concept and your examples are wonderful, BRAVO!!! and thank you." Mike |
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"Thanks David!! Great information, appreciate your time and effort putting these tutorials together. Much better than others I have gone through." Gary Hopkins |
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