Photomatix Free Trial- my 1st attempt

[NancyMoranG]

Hi,
as you can see from the watermark on it, this is the trial version. I took a few bracketed photos a few months back hoping to learn HDR and 'photomerging'.
This may not be the right type of photo for HDR, but I am experimenting.
So it merged the photos and gave me lots of versions, and some sliders to move.
Is THAT it, or is it just the trial version? After I saved it (I think), It automatically went into another folder that I found by its name. I don't know how to save it the best way. I tried TIFF, but my Windows photo gallery is 1 place or into my PSE 11?
And I don't see anywhere it is saved in Photomatix, and again is that because it is a trial version?

It seems I have seen people talk about doing alot more to their photos by area, not just all over.
Any suggestions/help appreciated.
Nancy


beachtrial by Nancy Moran G, on Flickr

 

[KmH]

And I don't see anywhere it is saved in Photomatix, and again is that because it is a trial version?

Yes.

Both the clouds and the land are pretty dark for it being an HDR.
The sliver of sky between the 2 is very bright and 'blown out' - exceeds the dynamic range, the DR part of HDR, of the image sensor - for it being an HDR.

 

[Digibill]

Just because it's HDR does not mean the absence of shadows

 

[KmH]

Who said it did?

 

[NancyMoranG]

This is the basic Photomatix, I believe. It seemed pretty simple when I tried it out on a few photos that were better suited for this.
What does the Pro version do in excess of this one?
On some, I got an automatic 'halo'. Is that difficult to get rid of?
Got PSE 11 but I am on a steep learning curve at the moment.
Nancy

 

[Trblmkr]

With the new Photomatix Pro, you're first presented with the de-ghosting tool. Which will allow you to really help you to eliminate before you go into the actual HDR Merge. Look around on YouTube, there are lots of good video's on HDR and Photomatix to give you some "guidance". I say Guidance because how I process my HDR's for my look/feel, might not be how you do it or someone else might do it. Look through the forums and you'll see a nice conversation on my HDR Shuttle.. some people like it, some people thought it was over processed.

 

[NancyMoranG]

Thank you Tblmkr. I certainly have seen your photos. Very nice!
Will look for guidance as now that I am experimenting, I have alittle more of an idea of it and can ask better questions.
Already though, I see alot of 'ghosting' just by clicking on the different scenes I can choose. 'That' is before I adjust any levels.
Since I am on a big learning curve with PSE 11, I would not know how to get rid of ghosting in any pp.
so much to learn,
Nancy

 

[Trblmkr]

Thank you so much Nancy.

Here's a quick work flow I use to maybe help you out.
I'll use the pre-sets to see if I find what I'm looking for. Usually Photographic, Neutral. If these don't work, I'll go to Default.
Strength goes to 100
Color Saturation, I don't push more then 70
I'll play with Ton Compression and Detail Contrast, moving the sliders to 100% on either side until I find a balance I'm looking for.
I'll use the slider on Lighting Adjustments, not the buttons. I feel I have more control over the lighting using the slider.
And that's it. I very rarely if ever use any of the other sliders.
I'll import the tonemapped.tiff file into Lightroom and do the rest of my adjustments there.

Hope that helps