Batch Processing
The Batch Processing function works with differently exposed images and is detailed below. In some cases, you may be interested in processing a single file. For example, you can tone map a previously saved HDR image file. In such cases, choose Automate > Batch Single Files.
The Batch Processing function does the following:
· | Lists all files in the specified source location and organizes them alphabetically. If you have selected the Process subfolders option, each folder is processed separately.
· | Loads N files at a time. N is the number of images to select at a time. For example, N should be set to 3 if your bracketed shots consist of 3 frames, i.e. you have taken 3 different exposures for each scene.
· | Runs each selected process on the N files loaded.
· | Saves the result of each process according to the Destination Settings. You can choose the destination location, the format to save the result with, and the format used to name each result. By default, the name of the results file starts with the prefix "Set" to which the number of the sequence is appended followed by the name of the process. You can also have the filename be based on the first image of the set.
· | Repeats step 2-4 with the next N files if any.
To automatically process differently exposed images
1. | On the Automate menu, click Batch Processing.
2. | On the PROCESS frame, select each process you want to run.
3. | On the combo box located below the checkboxes of the processes, select the number of multiple exposures to be combined (see the note below). For example, select 3 if your bracketed shots consist of 3 frames, i.e. you have taken for each scene one photograph at median exposure, one underexposed and one overexposed.
4. | On the Source subframe, select the location of the folder where your differently exposed images are. The batch will arrange the files of this folder in alphabetical order. It will process N files at a time, N being the number you specified in step 2.
5. | Check the Process subfolders checkbox if you want to process the files listed under the subfolders of the folder you have selected in step 3.
6. | On the Destination subframe, check the Customize location option if you want to save the results under a different folder than the folder containing your source images. If you have chosen the option Created under source folder, then the batch will create a subfolder with the name "PhotomatixResults" and will store the resulting images under this folder.
7. | On the Save as combo box, select the image format you want for the resulting images. If you have chosen to save in the results using the JPEG format, then select the JPEG quality you want in the JPEG quality combo box.
8. | Click on the Run button to start the automatic batch processing.
Note
- | Instead of specifying a number of bracketed images, you can select the option "All" in step 3 above. If you select "All", Photomatix will combine all images that are available in the specified folder(s). If you have chosen the option "Process subfolders" in step 5, Photomatix will combine in one single run all images in each one of the subfolders. This way, you can process sequentially different numbers of shots.
| Before selecting the option "all", it is recommended to check that the chosen folders only contain multi-exposed shots of the same view. If, for instance, your folder contains 100 images and you have selected the option "All", Photomatix will try to open and process together all 100 images.

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