HDR Effect

[Ruski]

I am using the free trial of Lightroom 4.1 at the moment and was wondering if i could create a HDR image using that program.If anybody could point me to a tutorial or offer advice that would be good. If i cannot do this in Lightroom is there another program that i can use preferably one i could try before i have to buy.

Thanks Ruski

[ricktas]

photomatix, or download the trial of the Nik software HDR efex, and that plugin will work within lightroom.

[WhoDo]

I am using the free trial of Lightroom 4.1 at the moment and was wondering if i could create a HDR image using that program.If anybody could point me to a tutorial or offer advice that would be good. If i cannot do this in Lightroom is there another program that i can use preferably one i could try before i have to buy.

You can create a pseudo-HDR effect using Matt Kloskowski's free LightRoom HDR presets (http://lightroomkillertips.com/2012/is-a-lightroom-hdr-effect-really-hdr/) but it's limited to a single image effort.

If you want true HDR effects then you need to blend multiple images and for that you'd need at least Photoshop Elements or something like GIMP if you can't afford the money for PSE. Lightroom can import 32-bit images from PS (http://lightroomkillertips.com/2012/lightroom-video-a-new-hdr-feature-in-lightroom-4-1/) so you can finish your HDR there, but it can't blend the images for you in the first place.

[fess67]

Get Photomatix. It is very well priced and it does an excellent job

[ricktas]

A while ago, I did a comparison of three different HDR options : http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?79000-HDR-Software-A-comparison&highlight=hdr+software+comparison

[WhoDo]

Get Photomatix. It is very well priced and it does an excellent job

Just read an article that Photomatix is about to release a US$29 plug-in for LightRoom 4.1 to produce 32-bit merged images for final processing in LR4. When that comes out, I may go that way. Until then Photomatix is too dear for me.

I've just downloaded the Nik HDR Efex Pro2 free trial, so we'll see what's possible for US$49 in the meantime.

Fact is, though, that if I can blend the images for around $30 then I already have the capability in LR4 to do the processing. Win-Win. :confused013

[Ruski]

Thanks for the advice and i will look into all the different downloads you have suggested. Now i just have to try to learn how to do it...:scrtch: