#7426010 - 12/04/13 10:32 PM
HDR tutorials/software
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tylerdurden
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 03/31/02
Posts: 25906
Loc: Shyea, like I'm telling you
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http://500px.com/photo/52331498
HDR isn't used very well most of the time, but when it's done right I really dig the look (see above). I have for some reason never been able to get satisfactory HDR results. Anybody out there have any tips on software and techniques you're using?
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#7432384 - 12/08/13 08:43 PM
Re: HDR tutorials/software
[Re: scootergeek]
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Nate047
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 03/03/03
Posts: 28558
Loc: La La Land, CA
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I use 32-bit HDR editing on a lot of automotive stuff. Scott, I know you're scared from what I posted on Facebook lol  but it's worth trying. Think of it like this...
By using a 32-bit file, you are able to pile together all the information from your brackets into one big TIFF file. The trick is this though... Ahh fuck it, I'm bored so I'll just go for it.
Disclaimer: This is just an example of how the process works and how you can benefit from it, these exact settings are not what I would use on an actual edit.
Say you have a shot that you know doesn't have the range to give you the final image you want from one bracket. You have a full range of brackets to work with though. Like this Lexus.
When I open this single dark bracket, there isn't a lot of usable data on the bottom end. Same is true with the brighter brackets on the top end.
Bumping up the exposure and shadows looks like shit.
Noise for days.
Now at this point, I could go full manual and just adjust different brackets, and layer and mask everything by hand. That process totally works, but that's a pain in the dick, and ain't nobody got time for that! Instead...
Apply the same RAW settings to all your brackets, select them, and in Bridge go to the menu Tools, Photoshop, Merge to HDR Pro. Click and wait. How long this takes will depend on how many brackets you are using, and how slow your computer is. Usually takes about 30 seconds on my machine. What you get is something like this, which still looks like shit.
But CHILL BITCH, you're not done yet. Don't fuck with any of the settings. Just make sure it's set to 32-bit and do NOT change anything else at all in this dialogue box. Click "Ok." Another 30 seconds or so, then you'll have...
A little less shitty, but still shitty. You're still not done though...
Save as a 32-bit TIFF with these settings, then close the HDR file in Photoshop. Then go back to Bridge.
Right-click and Open that shit in Camera RAW... Now throw the expouse way the fuck up there to compare to before.
BOOM, pretty much no noise.
Now at this point, you can adjust this 32-bit TIFF file, and all of it's associated data, using the Camera RAW dialogue. What I did by throwing the exposure and shadows up is just to illustrate how you can bring in details, that's not how I would actually edit the shot, but it shows the power of this method pretty well. The same truth holds for highlight areas; the skies come back suuuuper nicely and you get a great range of data.
Remember, it's always better to have details and a "flat" looking image as a starting point, and bring contrast back in Photoshop using curves layers, as opposed to trying to bump a shot that's way too dark to begin with.
Unless you have a D800, in which case, fuck you. 
Throw on a few grad filters and you get something pretty cool for a starting point.
And here's the full size image as a JPEG for inspection purposes. I've not done anything else to the file aside from the HDR process and the RAW edits seen above. Don't mind the dust spots.
http://photos.napalm.net/clubsi/Untitled_HDR2.jpg
Quick note: This image is only here for inspecting up close, obviously don't post it anywhere or do anything else with it please, as I hold a copyright to the shot. Not that you guys would, you're not dipshits, but it needs to be said.
So that's that. It's a good method, and you'll notice there are no halos or any of that garbage. I highly encourage you guys to try this out, you can do it using Bridge, Lightroom, I think probably you can do it using Aperture also but who the fuck uses Aperture!
Nate 
_________________________
natehasslerphoto.comFlickrFacebook"Nate047 > NateSTL" - TenTwelve "As long as I have a face, you'll always have a place to sit." - SlowBlackCar *insert picture of stock Fit here* 
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#7432578 - 12/08/13 11:53 PM
Re: HDR tutorials/software
[Re: Duc]
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Nate047
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 03/03/03
Posts: 28558
Loc: La La Land, CA
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fuck you buddy. i used to use aperture until i got hooked on LR. now you gonna get me hooked on bridge
Keep using LR if you're using it now man, I use Bridge for only 2 reasons. Bad habit, and stubbornness/refusal to purchase LR. I use a program called Capture One for certain RAW processing, but it's pretty much splitting hairs when you get to that level of pixel peeping. The way C1 and BR/LR render RAW files is different, and the results routinely do look better from C1. But the interface is shit, C1 crashes almost every time I use it. I use ACR most of the time, because most of the time, super ultimate finite image quality doesn't match the need for speed, especially when you consider the use. And, the fact that no one except you will likely ever see the real image quality that's present in full size files, and compare that objectively to a lower quality version. Again, pixel peepers exist, but they don't typically cut the checks.
All of this is only relevant to RAW files also BTW.
CN: I don't want to pay for LR because that's like 2 nights out lol.
Nate
_________________________
natehasslerphoto.comFlickrFacebook"Nate047 > NateSTL" - TenTwelve "As long as I have a face, you'll always have a place to sit." - SlowBlackCar *insert picture of stock Fit here*
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#7432587 - 12/09/13 12:06 AM
Re: HDR tutorials/software
[Re: Duc]
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GSParker
GSParker
Unregistered
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fuck you buddy. i used to use aperture until i got hooked on LR. now you gonna get me hooked on bridge
LR > Bridge
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#7436837 - 12/10/13 10:03 PM
Re: HDR tutorials/software
[Re: ]
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tylerdurden
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 03/31/02
Posts: 25906
Loc: Shyea, like I'm telling you
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Dope Nate, will try this.
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