Post by freemindssanctuary on Nov 8, 2011 17:22:11 GMT
In order to make HDR photos, you need to download the following:
Video tutorial: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kO-UyX71w
The video tutorial doesnt explain what the guy is actually doing(which is a bit annoying since thats the whole point of making a video tutorial). I'll break it down in a list:
1). Have 3 images of the same picture on different exposures. This can be done by lowering/increasing the brightness and contrast. You can use the same program that you use to view a picture. Mine being windows photo gallery. So you'll end up with:
low exposure (dark)
original
high expusure(bright)
2). Open Luminance HDR and load the 3 pictures. Under "selected image exposure" It sometimes adjust automatically, and sometimes it doesnt. You can set up these values by putting the original on zero, the low exposure on -ev, and the high exposure on a +ev value. Click on auto align images box.
Keep clicking next and disregard everything until you click finish.
3). Click "Tone HDR image." You'll have different types of "operators" that you can edit from. The most commonly used are:
Mantiuk '06 - This gives it that painting-like look you see on many HDR photos
Fattal - high contrast, bright colors.
Drago - Adjust brightness
Basically you'll want to make 3 different pictures, each on different operators. You can mess around and find your own three of your choice. Ideally, these are the ones that get you the best results. You can click on "adjust levels" and do any minor changes.
4). Open gimp. Click File, then open as layers. Select the three pictures you just edited with luminance hdr. A window named "layers" will open. click on mode, and you'll see a list of preset settings that blend in all 3 pictures to make one.
You can choose whatever setting you like, and you can finish the final touches by playing around with GIMP's settings.
5). Once you're done, go under Image, then "merge visible layers" and click merge. Click on file, then save as, and if you havent merged the layers, it'll ask you if you'd want to, so click merge if you havent. Then adjust the quality, and click save!
Video tutorial: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kO-UyX71w
The video tutorial doesnt explain what the guy is actually doing(which is a bit annoying since thats the whole point of making a video tutorial). I'll break it down in a list:
1). Have 3 images of the same picture on different exposures. This can be done by lowering/increasing the brightness and contrast. You can use the same program that you use to view a picture. Mine being windows photo gallery. So you'll end up with:
low exposure (dark)
original
high expusure(bright)
2). Open Luminance HDR and load the 3 pictures. Under "selected image exposure" It sometimes adjust automatically, and sometimes it doesnt. You can set up these values by putting the original on zero, the low exposure on -ev, and the high exposure on a +ev value. Click on auto align images box.
Keep clicking next and disregard everything until you click finish.
3). Click "Tone HDR image." You'll have different types of "operators" that you can edit from. The most commonly used are:
Mantiuk '06 - This gives it that painting-like look you see on many HDR photos
Fattal - high contrast, bright colors.
Drago - Adjust brightness
Basically you'll want to make 3 different pictures, each on different operators. You can mess around and find your own three of your choice. Ideally, these are the ones that get you the best results. You can click on "adjust levels" and do any minor changes.
4). Open gimp. Click File, then open as layers. Select the three pictures you just edited with luminance hdr. A window named "layers" will open. click on mode, and you'll see a list of preset settings that blend in all 3 pictures to make one.
You can choose whatever setting you like, and you can finish the final touches by playing around with GIMP's settings.
5). Once you're done, go under Image, then "merge visible layers" and click merge. Click on file, then save as, and if you havent merged the layers, it'll ask you if you'd want to, so click merge if you havent. Then adjust the quality, and click save!
"Free", a lot of good info there for anyone who wants to improve their pics, and well explained too.