How do you create an HDR image using Photoshop CS4?

cord4 · by **cord4** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:47 pm

I'm on vacation so I don't have access to a decent computer.
I'm in a "3rd world country" right now

I have taken some pictures and I used bracketing.
I heard you need that to make an HDR.

So how do I do it exactly?
I have 3 images of the same thing, all at different exposures
and I have photoshop CS4 on my brothers iMac.

konstanz40 · by **konstanz40** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:48 pm

The camera needs to be on a tripod, and you need to use Shutter Speed Priority mode. Make at least three pictures (5 is better), keeping the f-stop the same, but varying the shutter speed to cover the range of brightness in the scene, from deep shadows to highlights..

Here’s a hypothetical example:

Exposure 1 – 1/100 @ f/16
Exposure 2 -- 1/20 @ f/16
Exposure 3 – 2 seconds @ f/16

These are combined in Photoshop using FILE > AUTOMATE> MERGE TO HDR PRO. You can play with the various choices in this, but it should render a single image that encompasses the complete dynamic range.

There are probably many tutorials about HDR on the on the ‘Net.