Right click, choose Photo Merge, and then HDR. To start creating HDR images, hold down cmd or ctrl and select the exposure sequence. If you are familiar with Lightroom, then “Merge to HDR” may be for you. You can also save money, not buying plug-ins which may not be 100% compatible with Lightroom.
This is a great update for landscape photographers. After the CC 2015 update, Adobe added a new function called “Merge to HDR” in Lightroom.
Previously, you needed to install plug-ins to create HDR images in Lightroom. Today, I would like to focus on three types: Lightroom vs Photoshop vs Photomatix Pro.
There are many types of software on the market to help you combine HDR images.
Although you should try to align them perfectly when shooting, in case you fail to do so, software can help you with that. Since you are combining two or more images in to one, mis-alignment is a huge issue. To put it simply, tone mapping improves flat looking HDR images. Tone mapping helps you to bring back the mid tone contrast and re-map the histogram. By doing this, it lowers the contrast of the image and turns it into a not-so-attractive photo. When creating an HDR image, you are compressing from a very high dynamic range into a normal dynamic rage. HDR software also helps you with tone mapping, image alignment, ghost removal, noise reduction, etc. However, they normally do so much more than that. The most important function of HDR software is to help you combine differently exposed images into a single HDR image. Normally, three exposures with -1EV, 0EV and +1EV will give you a good result. To create an HDR photo, you need to capture two or more different exposures and then combine them into one image on a computer. Cameras still do not have the ability to prevent white or black clipping in these circumstances.
However, HDR photography is still needed in some cases, such as photographing a sunset while directly facing the sun. The new camera gives me 14.8EV dynamic range while my old D700 can only capture 12.2EV. New cameras can capture more dynamic range than the old models.įor example, I recently upgraded from Nikon D700 to Nikon D810. If there are some areas under white or black clipping, you may be under an HDR environment.Ĭamera sensor and resolution is evolving fast. The histogram below offers a clearer review.
HDR, in full high dynamic range, allows you to create an image that contains super high contrast. Sometimes, your camera is unable to capture the full range of contrasts in an environment. Many beginners think that HDR images have a specific “HDR feel”. It is not uncommon for people to misunderstand the meaning of HDR photography.