Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> Now that I've actually read the full 17(?) pages of the link I realize
> that I didn't comprehend the complexity of tone mapping an HDR image
> (which I've not done yet). I don't know if the latest incarnation of
> ACR can work on an HDR image. Maybe I do need the Photomatix plug-in.
Erm, I'm not quite sure I've understood what you've written.
ACR converts camera raw images to a format that PS can actually
manipulate. If you want to create an HDR image, that can be done in PS
by combining several images brought in either by opening, importing or
through ACR. You can then save that image in an info-rich format (i.e.,
32 bpp), and/or do manipulations in PS to bring out details that would
otherwise be lost in the highlight and shadow areas of the image, with
the ultimate goal of seeing said detail on your chosen output device.
PS CS3 handles HDR and can do manipulations on the file info, thus
allowing you to play with the "toe and shoulder" of the image. You
don't need Photomatix for that, but Photomatix has some additional
techniques for bringing out the otherwise-obscured detail, techniques
that don't exist (at least not yet) in PS.
Hmmm. Is that clear? Photomatix, in my opinion, is a custom applet
that's really good at creating and manipulating HDR files, whereas the
process is clunkier in PS (and doesn't have quite the flexibility). If
you've got CS3, you already have one toolset for HDR work -- but many
people would claim the toolset is somewhat sparse. Thus Photomatix.
Man, I need more coffee.
Garth
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