What software do you use? POLL

Our first official poll question on Strictly HDR!

What is the primary software that you use to create your HDR images?

To be an effective poll, perhaps the list should be expanded to include most of the popular software packages such as Artizen, Dynamic Photo HDR, Easy HDR, HDRShop, FDR Tools, PTGui, Qtpfsgui, Picturenaut, etc.?

Don't forget Areia's HDR MAX.

Would you say that Topaz or Lucis really create HDR Images?

arkitekt wrote:Would you say that Topaz or Lucis really create HDR Images?

I don't know if I would, necessarily, but other people seem to put them in that category. I only use Photomatix, so I can't judge the other softwares.

dddphoto, that's an excellent idea, to include the other software. The reason I didn't include them in the original poll is because, until now, I was unaware of the others! I'm a Photomatix snob. I'm glad you all pointed them out to me. How about I delete the original poll and start from scratch, with all the softwares mentioned? Do we think, as a group, that Topaz and LucisArt belong on that poll?

I think that's a great topic for discussion in its own thread...

Melanie

I am sure everyone is tired of hearing this, but here goes. There is a difference between a true High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) and a tone mapped image. HDRI is a 32 bit image that has been created from multiple exposures covering a dynamic range greater than what can be covered with a single image. HDRI cannot be displayed on conventional monitors or in print. A tone mapped image is the process to take HDRI and compress the dynamic range so it can be displayed on monitors and print.

Software that applies effects to a single image, like Topaz and Lucas Art, are not HDRI creators. So if your poll is asking what HDR software you use, it should only include true HDR programs. However, if you want to know what all software people are using to get to final end image, then including other programs and plug-ins would be appropriate.

I mainly use Photomatix but I've also experimented with Essential HDR. Initially, I thought this was a very promissing piece of software which gave me very crisp results, in many cases better than Photomatix. But soon I started to discover some very serious misallignment in some of the results. Other users have reported this problem as well. Also, the program is known to produce strange red dots in the darker areas, and the shots taken with a Canon 50D can't be loaded at all by Essential HDR. The developers say they're working on these problems, so maybe you should wait for the next (hopefully improved) release. For those who are interested this is the link: http://www.imagingluminary.com/.