How-To: Photomatix - HDR Images....
obviously, the first step is taking the pics....make sure you have a tripod....you CAN do this with only 3 pics, but i usually use 7 (it doesnt take that much longer to take the extra pics)....1 at normal exposure, and then 3 each at over/under exposures, going in increments of 1/3....
once youve got your photos uploaded to your computer, open Photomatix....
Step 1:
click on "automate > batch processing"
Step 2:
select "generate HDR image", then click on "settings"
Step 3:
Photomatix will try to figure out your exposure spacing, i usually dont leave it up to chance....select the first box, then find whichever exposure you used (1/3 in my instance)....once selected, just click OK
Step 4:
click "apply tone mapping to HDR image"....with this, i would just leave the settings alone for now....the defaults are pretty good....plus, there is ALOT to mess with, should you decide to do so....for this one, im leaving them alone....
Step 5:
select the # of images you are using...the default is set at 3....i used 7, so i adjust....
Step 6:
you dont HAVE to do this, but i usually do..."align images", just in case there was any slight "play" with your tripod while taking the pics...photomatix will try to line 'em up as best as possible, to reduce any "blur"....
Step 7:
here your just selecting the source of the images...then the images you want to use...then where to save them (i usually select the destination as "same as source"....makes it easier for me to find it when im done)
Step 8:
easiest step of all....click "RUN" at the top....
after this, a dialogue box will open up, and give you the progress of whats going on...might take a few moments (depending on your computer)...but when its all done, it should look something like this....
now just open Photoshop, go to your selected destination, and open your HDR image (photomatix SHOULD include some type of 'HDR' connotation when it saves your file...in fact, i think it makes its own little HDR subfolder in your destination folder).....anyways, open in photoshop, add your name, border, adjust contrast, etc. until your happy.....
hope this helped a little
-john
glad to help
