Faux HDR Creation – HDR Tutorial Part II

As promised this next entry will go through the process of creating a multi-exposure faux HDR. For this example I’ll be using enfuseGUI (‘a free Open Source command-line application’) which you can google the location of online; Adobe Raw plugin which comes with Photoshop; ‘and a Raw File. Mind you, I’ve been shooting raw since I’ve begun my journey in 2007 with DSLR cameras and haven’t let up since. Of course I could easily make adjustments to the Raw file through the many adjustments afforded within Camera Raw and end up with a mighty presentable image…Something I often do. But that’s not the purpose of this quickie tutorial. The idea here is to show how one can create multiple exposures that are so very easily usable by the likes of EnfuseGUI, Photomatix, ReDynamix amongst others.

Now before I go on, I’ll just put it out there real quick for those of you savvy enough to not need further explanations. Open up your Raw file in the editor of choice and adjust the exposure by the increment of choice saving each subsequent change as a Tiff file, appropriately named to your liking. I often go for a span of -2 to +2 ending up with 3 files named as such:
File-02.TIF,
File+00.TIF,
File+02.TIF

Follow?

Then use those files as the foundation for your faux HDR file. It’s so darned obvious that I’m embarrassed now to be mentioning it. I figure folks either knew of it already and weren’t speaking of it or refused to believe that such an approach was feasible. Regardless it works more often than not.

NOW, on to the rest of the show for those not entirely familiar with how to go about this. As mentioned I’m only using the Camera Raw plugin but for those of you using other applications/plugins then the routine is basically the same. Open up your Raw File and create/save multiple versions at various exposures.

The image below shows you what the original RAW file looks like as opened up in Camera Raw.

Upon opening your RAW file in Camera Raw you then change the Exposure. Let’s say we’re planning on just three (3) images okay? For the first one we’ll change the exposure to -2 and then hit the ‘Save Image’ found on the lower left hand corner.

Upon doing so you’ll then be prompted with the following Dialog Box:

This is up to you how you go about saving your own images. I myself have a rather complex system for naming all of my images. Wellll, not THAT complex but more complex than most other folks. The thing to keep in mind though is that when saving each image, you’ll want to give each name something descriptive so that you know exactly which one is which exposured item. I usually just append the name with “+2″, “+0″, “+-2″
Just as I’d illustrated above at the beginning of this discussion. Again:
File-02.TIF,
File+00.TIF,
File+02.TIF

Follow?
‘and Remember! You be sure to save with .TIF file extensions. Have tried it with Jpeg and others and it does work but not to the same extent as with .TIF files.

Look below at the individual FAKE-Exposures I’d created. Went as far as Seven (7). Was it necessary? Probably not. LOL. But it’s FUN TO PLAY AROUND !!!

Please note my naming convention. See what I mean?

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067-3

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067-2

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067-1

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067+0

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067+1

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067+2

Oct-20-Lincoln-Ctr-D7000-067+3

‘and below is the FINAL Image after doing some very minor post-processing with Photoshop’s Native Tools:

COMING UP NEXT: Using these files in various applications for creating that HDR File.
There are many of you out there who’ll already know what to do…’and that’s great! For those of you who don’t then stay tuned for the next entry wherein I’ll be putting these to use in EnfuseGUI and others.