PopPhoto.com -- The online home of American Photo and Popular Photography & Imaging

Free Newsletter: Camera reviews,
lens tests, photo news and more!
January 09, 2009
Search

Subscribe

Popular Photography American Photo
Subscriptions/Customer Service

< Previous ArticleMore Features - Popular Photography Articles (259 of 422)Next Article >
Printer Friendly Send to a Friend Photo Gallery

How-To Make HDR Images

How to combine several exposures into a single, gorgeous, high dynamic range image


April 2007


How-To Make HDR Images
Click photo to launch Debbie's step-by-step slideshow.

It's usually impossible to get lots of detail and good exposure from a digital camera when part of the scene is brightly lit and part is dim. Adobe Photoshop CS2, however, can combine multiple exposures of the same picture to make a single 32-bit image.

Within that merged combo file is enough information to give you a photo that seems beautifully exposed all the way from the shadows to the highlights.

When you're shooting to make an HDR image, always use a tripod, and, holding the aperture constant, change the shutter speed to take an array of versions from dark to light. You'll most likely get better results if you shoot in RAW. Converting to TIFF or another format isn't necessary, although it can help.

To see more of Debbie's Photoshop tips, check out her Dear Debbie blog.

Quick Tips

1. Not enough local contrast? In the Local Adaptation dialogue, pump up the Threshold. If it's too washed out overall, raise the Radius. Just beware of those psychedelic haloes -- unless, of course, you like them.

2. Are you into HDR but don't want to schlep a tripod? The new Photoshop CS3 will solve your problem. Just merge your multiple handheld shots and the program will automatically align them and crop off the excess.

Want More HDR?

Get more detail on HDR imaging in Jack Howard's How to Create High Dynamic Range Images.
Discuss HDR in the PopPhoto Forums.


RELATED ARTICLES
Traveling Photographer: The Everglades
2008 Reader's Photo Contest
Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S IS AF
10 Accessories for Your New DSLR
The Way We See Raw


Search




Click to compare prices on photo equipment: