HDR

For anyone interested playing with HDR, I thought I'd share how to do it using Photoshop. Plus share some setting I've saved.

There are two ways that I know how to do HDR photos in Photoshop. I'm sure there are lots of other fun things you can do but here's the basic information. The first way is with multiple photos of the same thing.  The second is simply using one photo that you want edited in an HDR fashion.

Multiple Files:

File>Automate>Merge to HDR Pro> a box will appear instructing you to select your "Source Files," browse and select at least two files ... I always make sure that the box is checked where it says "Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images" > click "OK" once you've finished selecting your files.

A window will appear so you can alter the look of your photo. There are several Presets you can pick from, or you can play with the settings yourself to make the photo look the way you want. If you make a custom setting you'd like to keep... click on the menu to the RIGHT of the Preset setting, and select "Save Preset"... name it whatever you'd like. The new preset will now be saved in your HDR Preset options. Once you're finished, click "OK" and the finished photo will open in your regular Photoshop window, where you can continue to edit if you'd like.

Single File:

Image>Adjustments>HDR Toning>

A window will appear so you can alter the look of your photo. There are several Presets you can pick from, or you can play with the settings yourself to make the photo look the way you want. If you make a custom setting you'd like to keep... click on the menu to the RIGHT of the Preset setting, and select "Save Preset"... name it whatever you'd like. The new preset will now be saved in your HDR Preset options. Once you're finished, click "OK" and the finished photo will open in your regular Photoshop window, where you can continue to edit if you'd like.

Sharing Some of My Custom Presets

Here are some presets I made and use. They are a good starting place... then adjust to your liking. Be sure to save your custom settings.

Heidi's Underwater HDR

Edge Glow
Radius: 28
Strength: 0.52
Tone and Detail
Gamma: 1.00
Exposure: -0.64
Detail: +84
Shadow: 0
Highlight: 0
Color
Vibrance: 0
Saturation: +20

Heidi's Night Time

Edge Glow
Radius: 500
Strength: 4.00
Tone and Detail
Gamma: 0.01
Exposure: -4.19
Detail: +300
Shadow: -100
Highlight: -100
Color
Vibrance: +60
Saturation: +10

Heidi's Soft Look

Edge Glow
Radius: 24
Strength: 0.31
Tone and Detail
Gamma: 1.99
Exposure: 0.00
Detail: -100
Shadow: +59
Highlight: 0
Color
Vibrance: +62
Saturation: +3

Heidi's Go To HDR

Edge Glow
Radius: 175
Strength: 0.46
Tone and Detail
Gamma: 0.75
Exposure: +0.30
Detail: +300
Shadow: -100
Highlight: -100
Color
Vibrance: +22
Saturation: +26

Heidi's Flower and Bird HDR II

Edge Glow
Radius: 138
Strength: 0.76
Tone and Detail
Gamma: 1.84
Exposure: -0.05
Detail: +41
Shadow: -46
Highlight: -48
Color
Vibrance: +26
Saturation: +17