Photomatix Pro is the HDR software I use to process all my HDR pictures - it’s great, and they’ve agreed to give me a 15% discount code to pass onto you all.
The discount code is DanNorcott, and you type it into the ‘Coupon code’ box of the order page, which can be found here (click ‘purchase’ at the top, then choose the version you want):
If you’re interested in HDR photography, I can heartily recommend it - it’s enabled me to take pictures that would have been impossible without, and it’s a breeze to use.
Make sure you click “recalculate”, and you should see the discount appear.
Benefits of Photomatix Software
Photomatix seems to be the HDR software of choice for people really serious about HDR photography. Whilst others are available, none seem to match Photomatix for simply and flexibly enancing your digital photography - pictures like the one below would be a real pain to produce without it.
If you’re just going to try out one piece of HDR software, I’d absolutely recommend it. You can batch process piles of images to save time, output individual HDR images in various formats and tweak the results until the cows come home. Read my hdr tutorial if you need help getting to grips with it.
The next steps with your HDR software
HDR is one of those things that you can get results with in a few minutes, but takes a lot longer to master. When you first play with your HDR software, you will probably be impressed with the results, but looking back on them as you grow in expertise you will see the flaws. It’s worth putting the time in to become familiar.
As I mentioned above, I’ve got a hdr tutorial, and you can browse my gallery of hdr photography to see what I can do, and try to do better!
40 Responses
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Thanks for a well written un-poncy (if there is such a word) tutorial. I’ve been toying with the idea of HDR and now I’m convinced because you have cleared up most of my concerns. I’m a photographer with limited geek-ism I want images not hours in front of a computer.
Thanks Barry. I’m trying to make this whole site a bit more open about how I do things - I’m far from a pro myself, but it’s all too often you look at photos and people are a bit cagey about how they took them. I’m all for people copying my methods, or learning things from me, or telling me where I’m going wrong. If we all get better as a result, it’s all to the good. Let me know if I can help out in any way!
One thing to watch out for (in fact, I plan on making another page of the tutorial explaining some of the pitfalls) is that some images are just plain wrong for HDR.
Using it all the time, or using it on inappropriate images, will just give you grief. But as you can see from the example I gave, sometimes it works wonders. Just think of it as another tool in your bag and you’re on the right lines.
Also, if you get used to bracketing, even if the photos don’t work as HDR, you’ve got three versions of each pic to play with.
Hi Dan
Great site.
Tell me, what’s the latest version of Photomatix and where can I buy it on CD.
I have a feeling that it’s Pro 3 v1.2.
Any help very much appreciated
Regards
Les.
I’m still running pro 3.0, so probably need to upgrade
If you take a look at
http://www.hdrsoft.com/order/cd.html
they have some info on CD stuff - try the “as a gift” option - it says CD possible there. Not something I’ve done myself but worth a go - or contact them, they seem nice.
I use both Mac and Windows versions of Photomatrix. Recently I’ve moved into Ubuntu. Wondering if you’ve got a linux version available or in the near future.
I just use it, I dont make it
Try support@hdrsoft.com - they’re nice folks.
Dan, thank you for all your hard work on this, its helped lots.
Photomatix now bought with your discount code, and im loving it, think i could get in to this HDR thing. :)))))
Yay. Enjoy!
Great site Dan, very informative. Two questions - 1. Do you have any advice/examples of using HDR techniques on a single image. and 2. Can this be done from a scanned slide?
TIA, Nigels.
Hi Nigel. Ta - glad to be of service
You can produce HDRs (although some would quibble about whether they are *REALLY* HDRs - but who cares!) from single images. It becomes less meaningful as you reduce the number really. You’ll have a truly high dynamic range with many images, and less and less as you reduce the number. With a single raw file, you’ll often be able to produce something nice looking, but with a single jpeg results are going to be a lot less impressive - reason being that the raw files have more data available than can be shown, so it’s possible to extract detail that cannot be seen, which isn’t true of a jpeg.
There’s a flickr group for these images:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/raw2hdr/
which you might be able to get some inspiration from.
With regard to doing it from a scanned slide, I would think this would give you even worse quality than a jpeg. By all means give it a go, but you can’t produce detail that isn’t there, so I suspect the end results wouldn’t be impressive. However, some of the side effects of the HDR process may mean you end up with an image you like.
In short… give it a go and see, but don’t expect miracles!
How many images can this HDR program handle?
I am using a D700 which will bracket up to 9 shots,
Regards,
Gary
I’ve never encountered a limit - I’ve done quite a few 9 shot HDRs with it, and they worked fine. I think I may have done a 12 also.
Their faq says there’s no limit:
http://www.hdrsoft.com/support/faq_photomatix.html#max_image
Am new to hdr, while I found your turoials very helpful,
I think I gained more from the wisdom of your insights.
congrats on a job well done
I am new to hdr and found your site by chance your turoials are verey good and have passed it on keep up the good work
You have made the dream to begin HDR photography a reality…Thank you keep up the hard work. Your images are awesome.
Heh - thanks all
I just need to take some more pictures myself now, as I have completely failed to fora while now. I need the warm weather I think!
Hi Dan. You’ve really inspired me to want to try HDR, and your tutorials will help me SO MUCH !! I have a question however : can I open CR2 (RAW) files directly in Photomatix ? I’m currently stuck with Canon’s own conversion program and it is far too limiting !! Please help !!
Hi Andy
You can, but only to convert them to HDRs (you can even convert a single CR2 to a HDR) - but that doesn’t give you the same sort of flexibility you get from a proper raw converter.
Three things I have tried:
1) http://www.rawtherapee.com/ - a freeware raw converter - the price is right
2) http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/ - Lightroom. A fantastic bit of kit. But pricy
3) http://bibblelabs.com/ - Bibble. Not quite as good as lightroom, but a LOT cheaper and should do everything you need.
I’d suggest trying the freeware one first, then if you don’t like that, try the demo of bibble, and buying it if you like it. Or if you’ve got plenty of cash, run out and get Lightroom!
Very friendly,interesting and helpful site. Great images presented with humility. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort.Greetings from Canada
warm regards
David
Heh - thanks David
I just try and be honest and encouraging. I think it’s because I surprised myself when I realised I could produce decent images - if someone as naturally unartistic as I can do it, anyone can!
I’m told that phptomatix has hdr plugin for about $90. I don’t seem to beable to locate it
I’ve not used the plugin, just the standalone application - looking at their website it looks like the plugin is only available as part of a bundle for $119
Hi Dan,
Certainly gonna give HDR a try. One point that bothers me is the size of the files produced, they’re huge. Is it relatively easy to get them down to a size that is suitable for the web?
Peter
I must say I’ve never particularly noticed - I have a pile of huge drives
I stick them up to flickr at pretty large resolution - you can resize things in any paint package though. I’ve even got a windows addon thing called “Prish resizer” that makes it even easier:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/prish-image-resizer-powertoy-windows-xp-vista/
Hi I’ve just read your very encouraging tutorial, thanks
I’m now looking at purchasing PM.
When I look at the options available,I see theres a standalone vers. and a CS3 plugin vers.
I have CS3 already although I’m not very conversant with it
I’m just wondering which version would be the best for me
thanks
Bryan
Hi Bryan
I’m afraid I’ve only used the standalone version, as I’ve not got Photoshop (I use GIMP instead, which is free). I would guess that the standalone one is more fully featured, but have to confess that I don’t really know
Sorry!
Dan
I have Bibble and am quite happy with it. Am also using a Canon.
That’s just a raw workflow tool though isn’t it, rather than HDR? I used it a bit a year or so back - looked alright, but as far as I know there wasn’t a HDR thing in it (there might be now!)
Hi Dan,
Congratulations on a very professional and informative site. One question though. You do appear rather keen on the Photomatix HDR products and (given your obvious knowledge) I am happy and confident to go with your recommendation and will no doubt purchase the stand-alone product. However…could you confirm that your views are entirely impartial or are you in some way incentivised to ‘push’ this product. Sorry…. can’t suppress my cynical streak!
Presh
Hi Presh
No worries - the truth is a sort of “Yes and no”.
I set up the site and the tutorial impartially, as I liked HDR photography and photomatix (which is the only thing I’ve used to any real extent to build them). i noticed that the HDR blog “stuck in customs” offered a discount code, so I wrote to photomatix and asked them if I could have one - they said yes, and explained that the discount codes have two functions.
1) People using your code get 15% off
2) You get a kickback for recommending the customer in the first place
So, I make a little money from people buying it, but the tutorial would exist even if I didn’t, because I like the software.
Dan
Hi Dan,
That’s okay by me! Thanks for your honesty. As mentioned, given the obvious quality of your work with (and without) the software I am more than happy with your recommendation and keen to emulate your output so will source anyway. I have learnt so much from your site already so why shouldn’t you earn a little money as a by-product for your free service!!
Presh
You may or may not have noticed, also, but I’m actually less keen on HDR nowadays - I’m a neutral density filters man. You can have a lot of fun with HDR, but I think in the end most people tire of it. So you might find it best to try the free demo first, and see if you like it
Dan, this is fantastic! I imagine that it is for Mac as well..?
Hi Duane
Yep, although I’ve not used it myself on the Mac.
Trial here:
http://www.hdrsoft.com/download.html
Hi Dan, The discount code didn’t work! After all that time you spent torturing me at school I though it was time to take something back, but it wouldn’t let me have it! Bugger. Guy.
Hmm - how queer. Perhaps it’s expired. I’ll drop them a line - ta for pointing it out.
Continuing the Discussion