HDR: High Range Dynamic pictures
08.08.2008 Tags: HDR,photoshop,pictures,Version française disponible ici! HDR is like "merging" multiple pictures with different exposures time (under, overexposed and with a normal exposure) to obtain some very interesting effects. To make it short, we define multiple exposure values for a pixel allowing us to have more details in bright and dark parts of the picture. For more details, have a look at Wikipedia and idigitalphoto as they'll definitely explain all this better than me =)To create an HDR picture, you have the following options:
- buy a digital camera that allows you to generate HDR pictures
- take multiple shots of the same area/subject with different exposure times and merge/manipulate them with an HDR software
- take a RAW shot, create copies of it redefining and playing with white balance and merge/manipulate them with an HDR software
You can use Photoshop to create HDR pictures (check the link to photoshopcafe.com below).
Otherwise the most popular software, and probably the best too, is Photomatix Pro. You can create HDR pictures and play with the Tone Mapping (modify the tint, shadows intensity, etc...) to have some awesome effects. By the way there is a Photomatix plugin for Photoshop.
For more infos and links, Wikipedia is still here for you. Otherwise, here are some other interesting links:
- http://abduzeedo.com/how-create-hdr-photos-hdrphotomatix-tutorial
- http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/HDR_ps/hdr-ps.htm
- http://www.flickr.com/groups/hdr/
And to finish, here's a test I did with one of my pictures:
original:
HDR:
Or with a before/after effect in Flash (move mouse on the picture below):
