Using Photomatix
Photomatix lets you create an image with increased dynamic range from two or more differently exposed photos.
Photomatix Pro offers two types of processes to achieve increase dynamic range. One process is called HDR Tone Mapping and is available from the HDR menu. The other process is called Exposure Blending and is available from the Combine menu.
The Exposure Blending process is the easiest to understand. This process combines your differently exposed photos, merging them into one image that shows details in both highlights and shadows.
The second process, HDR Tone Mapping, involves two steps. The first step creates an HDR image from your differently exposed photos. The second step processes the HDR image in order to reveal its details in highlights and shadows.
Both Exposure Blending and HDR Tone Mapping are designed to produce an image with increased apparent dynamic range, but their results are different. We recommend to try both and then choose the result that works best with your images. This is easy to do with the Batch Processing available under the Automate menu.
Before starting using Photomatix, you may want to check the Getting Started section.
HDR Tone Mapping:
1. | Click on Generate from menu HDR to create an HDR image from photos of the same scene taken under different exposures.
2. | Click on Tone Mapping from menu HDR to reveal details in highlights and shadows in your HDR image.
Exposure Blending:
1. | Open images of the same scene taken under different exposures.
2. | Click on Highlights & Shadows - Auto from menu Combine.
3. | Optionally, you may want to try another combination method (for instance Highlights & Shadows - Adjust) with the same images. Photomatix will only combine the source images you have opened, i.e. excluding resulting images.
The first time you are using Photomatix, it makes sense to run it from the interface, as described above, so that you get familiar with the functions of the software. For subsequent uses, we recommend processing your images with Batch Processing, and then only open your images to view and compare the results. This will save you a lot of time and make it easier to process large files.
Using Batch Processing:
1. | Click on Batch Processing from the Automate menu.
2. | Check the process(es) you want to run on the PROCESS frame.
3. | Select the number of differently exposed images on the combo box at the bottom of the PROCESS frame.
4. | Select the location of your source images and where you want to save the results on the LOCATION frame.
5. | Click on Run.
More details are available under the section Batch Processing.

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