Lightroom, CS4, Photomatix workflow

[Jon_Are]

Currently I use Photoshop Elements 7 and Photomatix to create HDRs and Exposure Blended images.

I expect that sooner or later I'm going to upgrade to CS4 and Lightroom 2.

I am a little confused, though, on how the three programs integrate and what the workflow would look like (I've searched the forum and I've not found a workflow discussion that included all three).

Here's my guess, tell me how far off I am:

1. Import RAW image from the camera into Lightroom.
2. Do any batch processing that is possible.
3. Send (3) images to Photomatix, convert to a single HDR image. Save as JPEG or TIFF.
4. Send this image into CS3 for final editing.

Yes? No?

Thanks!

Jon

 

[musicaleCA]

That sounds pretty good, but saving as a JPEG will remove a whole ton of information from an HDR image. You really should save that kind of conversion for last with an HDR image; keep it as a 16 bit TIFF at least. Adobe's HDR (called Radiance) format is great for HDR images, because it allows for 32 bits/channel, preserving the whole dynamic range of the image. Only problem is those files are gigantic, in no uncertain terms.

There should be a new specification of TIFF around the bend that allows 32 bits/channel, I just can't remember what it's called at the moment. >.<