List of HDR and Tone Mapping Software

[Doug Nelson]

Just so everyone can see what is available, list any HDR and/or tone mapping software you know of, and provide a link to its homepage. If you want to discuss the particulars of one application, please start a new thread.

Photoshop CS3 has fair HDR support, but not much in the way of tone mapping.

Photomatix seems to be the most popular choice. It comes in two flavors, standalone for both HDR and tone mapping, and a Photoshop plugin that offers only tone mapping.

Summary of links to many of the tools mentioned in posts that follow:

* Photomatix: http://www.hdrsoft.com/
* FDRTools: http://www.fdrtools.com/
* Dynamic PHOTO HDR: http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/index.html
* Qtpfsgui: http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net/
* Artizen HDR: http://www.supportingcomputers.net/Applications/Artizen/Artizen.htm
* Picturenaut: http://www.hdrlabs.com/picturenaut/
* ReDynaMix: http://www.mediachance.com/plugins/redynamix.html
* easyHDR: http://www.easyhdr.com/
* wukong: http://www.imagingluminary.com/product.htm

[lkroll]

OK; you broke my arm Doug (lol). The program I like the most for doing HDR's is Qtpfsgui. It's opensource (i.e., free) to boot.

[saby]

Originally Posted by lkroll

OK; you broke my arm Doug (lol). The program I like the most for doing HDR's is Qtpfsgui. It's opensource (i.e., free) to boot.

... has lots of tonemapping algorithms, good choise

saby

[CJ Swartz]

Artizen is available as a stand-alone program and as plug-ins (tone-mapping) for Photoshop.

I'm trying out the trial version.

[CJ Swartz]

Dynamic Photo HDR, found at http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/index.html

[akvis]

AKVIS Enhancer Standalone supports HDRI technology. You can take a series of shots of one and the same object using different exposure settings, then load the images into Enhancer and combine them into one image.
http://akvis.com/en/enhancer-tutoria...nny-slides.php

[saby]

Hi Akvis,

witch tonemapping function Ur software uses

[saby]

FDRT(http://www.fdrtools.com/front_e.php) is another great software especially at deghosting moving objects

[Stephen A]

PTGUI does HDR Tonemapping and photostitching.

[chas18052]

picturenaut.....free download......

[Dudley]

Thanks to all who have contributed. HDR is something I'm drifting into, and hope to improve upon in '08!

[Myphotosoft]

Look at a more detailed view on some of hdr making programs. I've done Photoshop merge to HDR function and Photomatix yet. Artizen is in the process. Comments are welcome.

[Alcar]

Is there a program to make a simulated HDR using a single jpeg image?
Alan

[saby]

Originally Posted by Alcar

Is there a program to make a simulated HDR using a single jpeg image?
Alan

Hi Alan,

the qtpfsgui does it

[palms]

Originally Posted by Alcar

Is there a program to make a simulated HDR using a single jpeg image?
Alan

dynamic photo hdri does as well but they also do a ps plug in on its own just for this

http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/fakehdr.html

Palms

[Alcar]

Saby and Palms, thanks for the information.
Alan

[saby]

A new one is: http://creaceed.com/hydra/
may be it's just new for me, but it's for one file HDR especialy, and gives quite good results:http://www.flickr.com/groups/hdr/pool/

[Biwa]

Originally Posted by saby

A new one is: http://creaceed.com/hydra/
may be it's just new for me, but it's for one file HDR especialy, and gives quite good results:http://www.flickr.com/groups/hdr/pool/

Mac specific and also based on going to their website , that flickr hdr pool group of images are not all from using that software, if you re read the website it seems to simply be a pointer to "hdr examples" not "hdr examples because of our software" .

[saby]

Originally Posted by Biwa

Mac specific and also based on going to their website , that flickr hdr pool group of images are not all from using that software, if you re read the website it seems to simply be a pointer to "hdr examples" not "hdr examples because of our software" .

so it's a hdr software or not, if it is than it placed the right thread, till it's a thread for list of hdr softwares, have U ever tried it? tell the advgs. or disadvgs. I think Ur quite new here so let me tell U just one thing be informative not just tell off others.

[Myphotosoft]

Originally Posted by Alcar

Is there a program to make a simulated HDR using a single jpeg image?
Alan

Artizen HDR does it.

[Biwa]

Originally Posted by saby

so it's a hdr software or not, if it is than it placed the right thread, till it's a thread for list of hdr softwares, have U ever tried it? tell the advgs. or disadvgs. I think Ur quite new here so let me tell U just one thing be informative not just tell off others.

No ones telling anyone off ,the idea that those images in the hdr pool came from that software is misleading .
Just pointing out some facts.
Great thread btw.
cheers

[Doug Nelson]

New to me: Wukong

http://www.imagingluminary.com/product.htm

[Doug Nelson]

Here's a twist, tonemapping for Lightroom with an app called Enfuse

http://lightroom-news.com/2008/03/03...oom/trackback/

[Biwa]

Heres another one I haven't seen listed.

EasyHDR he also offers a no frills free version
http://www.easyhdr.com/

[TreesOfMyTime]

Originally Posted by CJ Swartz

Artizen is available as a stand-alone program and as plug-ins (tone-mapping) for Photoshop.

I'm trying out the trial version.

Do you have an opinion of this product at this point?

I use PSCS3 and Photomatix at present. Also have Lucis Art.

Thanks, Don

[ALEXnicefoto]

I like Wukong (They seem to have changed the codename Wukong to Essential HDR ). It really faster and produce more clear images comparing with Photomatix.

here is the beta test download link (need to register first):

http://imagingluminary.org/support/index.php

Let me know your opinion after the try.

[Estrella]

Here is a good comparison article
Photoshop merging tool, HDR Soft Photomatix, EasyHDR, Artizen, Akvis Enhancer

[franko60]

As a (primarily) food photographer, my workflow is to bracket my shots by adjusting the flash output over only 1/2 to 1 stop either side of correct, then combine using hdr to capture full details in highlights and shadows. I've always used PS's HDR to do this but am starting to test out others so this thread is particularly interesting to me. So far tested photomatix, qtpsfgui and Dynamic photo HDR. Up to now I have to say I prefer qtpfsgui over the other two, but will be checking out some of the others mentioned here. I should point out I'm after realistic increased dynamic range, not surrealistic effects (can't do that with food). I also use PowerRetouche's dynamic range plugin. Thanks guys for this thread.

[creativeretouch]

franko60, as a photographer I would try to use a LM in your case:

http://goodlight.us/writing/luminosi...tymasks-1.html

If you have good lighting it should be a question of a few seconds - when you will get familiar with LM.

[franko60]

Thanks CR. I do use luminosity masks but generally find I have better success with negative masking (can't give you a url as it's a digital adaptation of an old darkroom technique) - basically a blurred inverted layer above the image layer in one of the contrast modes. It's the amount of blur that's critical and differs for every image.

I guess I should say that I individually evaluate my arsenal of techniques for each image, and often don't need any work at all other than sharpening as I'm usually shooting in a controlled studio environment. But - the more tools I have at my disposal, the more likely I am to find precisely the right one for a particular image.

cheers

franko