Difference between revisions of "Contrast Blending"
Erik Krause (talk | contribs) m (categorized) |
Erik Krause (talk | contribs) m (added link to HDR compression tutorial) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
We refer to contrast blending as a technique to blend several differently exposed (exposure bracketed) images in order to achieve a higher [[Dynamic range]]. | We refer to contrast blending as a technique to blend several differently exposed (exposure bracketed) images in order to achieve a higher [[Dynamic range]]. | ||
| − | There are several more or less automatic approaches realized in commercial programs or plugins like [http://www.hdrsoft.com Photomatix] and Fred Miranda's [http://www.fredmiranda.com/DRI/ DRI] or the free [[photoshop]] actions from [[Contrast Blending Actions|Erik Krause]]. | + | There are several more or less automatic approaches realized in commercial programs or plugins like [http://www.hdrsoft.com Photomatix], [http://fdrtools.com/ FDRTools] and Fred Miranda's [http://www.fredmiranda.com/DRI/ DRI] or the free [[photoshop]] actions from [[Contrast Blending Actions|Erik Krause]]. |
| − | Another way to use bracketed exposures is to assemble them into a single [[HDR]] image. This can be done with free [http://projects.ict.usc.edu/graphics/HDRShop/ HDRShop], new [[Photoshop]] CS2, [[cinepaint]] ([http://people.freenet.de/hsbosny/HDR_Tutorial/HDR_Tutorial-en.html tutorial for using cinepaint here]) or [http://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/resources/hdr/calibration/pfs.html PFScalibration]. The problem here is that the HDR image must be compressed to reveal the complete contrast range on a computer monitor. | + | Another way to use bracketed exposures is to assemble them into a single [[HDR]] image. This can be done with free [http://projects.ict.usc.edu/graphics/HDRShop/ HDRShop], new [[Photoshop]] CS2, [[cinepaint]] ([http://people.freenet.de/hsbosny/HDR_Tutorial/HDR_Tutorial-en.html tutorial for using cinepaint here]) or [http://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/resources/hdr/calibration/pfs.html PFScalibration] and the [http://fdrtools.com/fdrexposer/fdrexposer_e.php FDRExposer]. The problem here is that the HDR image must be compressed to reveal the complete contrast range on a computer monitor. |
| − | This was a major problem for [[HDRShop]] since only [[gamma]] adjustment or (later) the Reinhard [[tone mapping]] plugin existed. It is still a problem for Photoshop CS2, but here the [[HDR]] images can | + | This was a major problem for [[HDRShop]] since only [[gamma]] adjustment or (later) the Reinhard [[tone mapping]] plugin existed. It is still a problem for Photoshop CS2, but here the [[HDR]] images can be converted to a 16 or 8 bit per channel image with more possibilities. Brian Greenstone wrote a nice tutorial about that: [http://www.panomundo.com/panos/howto/workflow_expbracketing.html] |
| + | |||
| + | Meanwhile two photoshop CS2 plugins are available that deal with that problem: Photomatix and FDRCompressor. See [[HDR compression]] for details. | ||
There are several tools that can handle HDR images: [[enblend]], [[Hugin]] and [[Nona]] can work with HDR images of different flavours. [[PTViewer]] 3.1 can display HDR images with adaptive [[dynamic range]] directly. For Linux there are several open source command line tools available that implement different [[tone mapping]] algorithms: [http://www.mpi-sb.mpg.de/resources/pfstools/] | There are several tools that can handle HDR images: [[enblend]], [[Hugin]] and [[Nona]] can work with HDR images of different flavours. [[PTViewer]] 3.1 can display HDR images with adaptive [[dynamic range]] directly. For Linux there are several open source command line tools available that implement different [[tone mapping]] algorithms: [http://www.mpi-sb.mpg.de/resources/pfstools/] | ||
Revision as of 23:22, 9 December 2005
We refer to contrast blending as a technique to blend several differently exposed (exposure bracketed) images in order to achieve a higher Dynamic range.
There are several more or less automatic approaches realized in commercial programs or plugins like Photomatix, FDRTools and Fred Miranda's DRI or the free photoshop actions from Erik Krause.
Another way to use bracketed exposures is to assemble them into a single HDR image. This can be done with free HDRShop, new Photoshop CS2, cinepaint (tutorial for using cinepaint here) or PFScalibration and the FDRExposer. The problem here is that the HDR image must be compressed to reveal the complete contrast range on a computer monitor.
This was a major problem for HDRShop since only gamma adjustment or (later) the Reinhard tone mapping plugin existed. It is still a problem for Photoshop CS2, but here the HDR images can be converted to a 16 or 8 bit per channel image with more possibilities. Brian Greenstone wrote a nice tutorial about that: [1]
Meanwhile two photoshop CS2 plugins are available that deal with that problem: Photomatix and FDRCompressor. See HDR compression for details.
There are several tools that can handle HDR images: enblend, Hugin and Nona can work with HDR images of different flavours. PTViewer 3.1 can display HDR images with adaptive dynamic range directly. For Linux there are several open source command line tools available that implement different tone mapping algorithms: [2]
However, contrast blending can be done completely 'by hand' as described on Michael Reichmann's site - http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml or like described in A simple approach to HDR-blending
Here is a user comment on Michael's technique:
"I use the second technique, the Layer Mask approach, and have found that it works quickly and easily, while still leaving much room for tweaking as necessary. The only change I've made in my approach is at the end where I work in Levels instead of curves. I find that sliding the mid-tones to the right helps make the resulting image look more realistic. In some cases, you just have to play around with all three sliders until you get a good blend. I also will reduce the opacity of the top layer down to about 85% as well."
Mark Fink www.northernlight.net